JQC vs VTI
Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, JQC or VTI?
Bank Loan against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. JQC is less concentrated, with 23.6% 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 | JQC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 5.48% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $780M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.63% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 471 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +1.95% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.28% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.89% | +23.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.62% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.7% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.3% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,534 | $18,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.6%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2003 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2003 to Oct 2, 2026 (23.3 years).
JQC 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
JQC vs VTI Performance
Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund (JQC) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JQC returned +0.28% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, JQC is up 1.95% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, JQC compounded at +10.89% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.62% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.78% annualized vs -2.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JQC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 14.9% 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 -81.3% for JQC 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JQC charges 5.48% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $548 vs $3 annually, a gap of $545 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JQC currently yields 11.63% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of JQC's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, JQC as of Jan 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 264 positions we hold weights for in JQC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 471 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,147 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for JQC (97.4% of the fund), and 251 for JQC that do not appear in VTI (103.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JQC and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, JQC or VTI?
JQC has an expense ratio of 5.48% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $545 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JQC or VTI?
Over the past year JQC returned +0.28% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), JQC annualized -2.32% vs +9.78% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JQC or VTI?
JQC has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 14.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: JQC -81.3% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both JQC and VTI?
JQC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, JQC or VTI?
JQC yields 11.63% while VTI yields 1.03%, so JQC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than JQC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. JQC is less concentrated, with 23.6% 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.