JRI vs VTI
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, JRI or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | JRI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.97% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.87% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 413 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -3.26% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.91% | +20.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.14% | +20.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.71% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.3% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,588 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 25, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 25, 2012 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.4 years).
JRI 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 14.4 years both funds cover.
JRI vs VTI Performance
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (JRI) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JRI returned +0.91% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, JRI is down 3.26% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, JRI compounded at +16.14% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.71% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.93% annualized vs +0.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JRI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.0% compared with 14.5% 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 -64.3% for JRI and -35.0% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JRI charges 3.97% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $397 vs $3 annually, a gap of $394 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JRI currently yields 11.87% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 247 holdings in JRI and 2,788 in VTI, totalling 69.9% and 92.3% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 88 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 151 days apart, JRI as of Jan 30, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
88 positions in common, counted across the 247 positions we hold weights for in JRI and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 413 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JRI | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOSouthern Co. | 1.29% | 0.15% | 1.14% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc. Reit Com | 1.15% | 0.09% | 1.06% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 1.15% | 0.08% | 1.07% |
| BNLBroadstone Net Lease, Inc. | 1.16% | 0.00% | 1.16% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 1.13% | 0.03% | 1.10% |
| GLPIGaming And Leisure Properties Inc | 1.08% | 0.02% | 1.06% |
| CCICrown Castle International Corp | 0.99% | 0.05% | 0.94% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 0.94% | 0.08% | 0.86% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 0.75% | 0.08% | 0.67% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.45% | 0.25% | 0.20% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JRI 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, JRI or VTI?
JRI has an expense ratio of 3.97% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $394 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JRI or VTI?
Over the past year JRI returned +0.91% vs +20.00% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), JRI annualized +0.81% vs +12.93% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JRI or VTI?
JRI has been the more volatile fund at 20.0% annualized versus 14.5% for VTI. Worst drawdown: JRI -64.3% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both JRI and VTI?
JRI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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, JRI or VTI?
JRI yields 11.87% while VTI yields 1.07%, so JRI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than JRI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.