IYW vs VTI
iShares US Technology ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IYW or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IYW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.1%.
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 | IYW | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $24.7B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.10% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 153 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +25.25%Best | +11.06% |
| 1Y Return | +31.79%Best | +15.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +32.52%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +18.72%Best | +11.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.4% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.6% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $23,584Best | $17,249 |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.1% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 16, 2026 (25.3 years).
IYW 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
IYW vs VTI Performance
iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) 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 IYW returned +31.79% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, IYW is up 25.25% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, IYW compounded at +32.52% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +18.72% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, IYW has the edge at +11.81% annualized vs +7.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 15.3% 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 -62.6% for IYW 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYW charges 0.38% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $3 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYW currently yields 0.10% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
99.8% of IYW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 39.1% of VTI's money is in holdings IYW also owns.
Most of IYW is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
146 positions in common, counted across the 150 positions we hold weights for in IYW and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 153 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,018 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IYW (58.5% of the fund), and 3 for IYW that do not appear in VTI (0.1%).
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 IYW | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 14.21% | 6.40% | 7.81% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 12.77% | 6.29% | 6.48% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 11.04% | 4.79% | 6.25% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 5.57% | 2.90% | 2.67% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 4.50% | 2.31% | 2.19% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.16% | 2.56% | 1.60% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.69% | 1.70% | 1.99% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.28% | 1.29% | 1.99% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.86% | 1.08% | 1.78% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.02% | 0.50% | 1.52% |
99.8% of IYW 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, IYW or VTI?
IYW has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYW or VTI?
Over the past year IYW returned +31.79% vs +15.41% for VTI, so IYW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IYW annualized +11.81% vs +7.99% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYW or VTI?
IYW has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IYW -62.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both IYW and VTI?
IYW and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 IYW and VTI?
99.8% of IYW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 39.1% of VTI's is in holdings IYW also owns. They hold 146 positions in common, counted across the 150 positions we hold weights for in IYW and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYW or VTI?
IYW yields 0.10% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IYW?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IYW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.