IWS vs VTI
iShares Russell Mid-cap Value ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IWS or VTI?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IWS led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. IWS is less concentrated, with 6.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | IWS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $15.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.30% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 724 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +16.05%Best | +11.06% |
| 1Y Return | +20.21%Best | +15.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.80% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.00% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.9% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,386 | $17,249Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.4%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 17, 2001 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 24, 2001 to Sep 16, 2026 (25.1 years).
IWS vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 25.1 years both funds cover.
IWS vs VTI Performance
iShares Russell Mid-cap Value ETF (IWS) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IWS returned +20.21% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, IWS is up 16.05% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, IWS compounded at +16.80% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.00% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.32% annualized vs +8.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 15.4% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -63.9% for IWS and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWS charges 0.23% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $3 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWS currently yields 1.30% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
95.0% of IWS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 15.1% of VTI's money is in holdings IWS also owns.
Most of IWS is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
652 positions in common, counted across the 687 positions we hold weights for in IWS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 724 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 564 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IWS (82.6% of the fund), and 17 for IWS that do not appear in VTI (1.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IWS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.89% | 0.12% | 0.77% |
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 0.66% | 0.09% | 0.57% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 0.66% | 0.09% | 0.57% |
| ALLAllstate Corp. | 0.64% | 0.09% | 0.55% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 0.64% | 0.09% | 0.55% |
| BKRBaker Hughes Co | 0.60% | 0.08% | 0.52% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 0.60% | 0.08% | 0.52% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 0.58% | 0.08% | 0.50% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 0.52% | 0.13% | 0.39% |
| ORealty Income Corp. | 0.55% | 0.08% | 0.47% |
95.0% of IWS is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IWS or VTI?
IWS has an expense ratio of 0.23% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWS or VTI?
Over the past year IWS returned +20.21% vs +15.41% for VTI, so IWS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IWS annualized +8.08% vs +8.32% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWS or VTI?
IWS has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IWS -63.9% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both IWS and VTI?
IWS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IWS and VTI?
95.0% of IWS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 15.1% of VTI's is in holdings IWS also owns. They hold 652 positions in common, counted across the 687 positions we hold weights for in IWS and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWS or VTI?
IWS yields 1.30% while VTI yields 1.03%, so IWS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IWS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IWS led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. IWS is less concentrated, with 6.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.