IYT vs VTI
iShares US Transportation ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IYT or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IYT led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 73.1%.
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 | IYT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.93% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 98 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | +12.58%Best | +12.23% |
| 1Y Return | +17.38%Best | +12.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.95% | +21.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.14% | +10.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -60.7% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,848 | $16,722Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 73.1% | 34.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 6, 2003 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 10, 2003 to Nov 11, 2026 (23.1 years).
IYT 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 23.1 years both funds cover.
IYT vs VTI Performance
iShares US Transportation ETF (IYT) 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 IYT returned +17.38% while VTI returned +12.74%. Year to date, IYT is up 12.58% versus a gain of 12.23% for VTI.
Over three years, IYT compounded at +14.95% per year against +21.44% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +5.14% and +10.83% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.49% annualized vs +8.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 15.0% 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 -60.7% for IYT 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYT charges 0.37% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $37 vs $3 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYT currently yields 0.93% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
99.8% of IYT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.2% of VTI's money is in holdings IYT also owns.
Most of IYT is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
43 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in IYT and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 98 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,101 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IYT (95.7% of the fund), and 2 for IYT that do not appear in VTI (0.2%).
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 IYT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 18.13% | 0.22% | 17.91% |
| UBERUber Technologies Inc | 15.08% | 0.18% | 14.90% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 9.53% | 0.12% | 9.41% |
| ODFLOld Dominion Freight Line Inc. | 4.67% | 0.04% | 4.63% |
| NSCNorfolk Southern Corp | 4.62% | 0.09% | 4.53% |
| DALDl Co., Ltd. | 4.49% | 0.07% | 4.42% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service Inc | 4.45% | 0.10% | 4.35% |
| FDXFedex Corp | 4.34% | 0.08% | 4.26% |
| UALUnited Airlines Holdings Inc. | 4.26% | 0.05% | 4.21% |
| EXPDExpeditors International Of Washington Inc. | 3.57% | 0.03% | 3.54% |
99.8% of IYT 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, IYT or VTI?
IYT has an expense ratio of 0.37% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYT or VTI?
Over the past year IYT returned +17.38% vs +12.74% for VTI, so IYT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), IYT annualized +8.83% vs +9.49% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYT or VTI?
IYT has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 15.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IYT -60.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both IYT and VTI?
IYT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IYT and VTI?
99.8% of IYT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.2% of VTI's is in holdings IYT also owns. They hold 43 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in IYT and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYT or VTI?
IYT yields 0.93% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IYT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IYT led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 73.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.