KDEF vs VTI
PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, KDEF or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. KDEF led over the full window, VTI over 1Y. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.2%.
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 | KDEF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $110M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.86% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 21 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -9.51% | +11.06%Best |
| 1Y Return | -14.46% | +15.41%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 54.8% | 13.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $20,433Best | $12,586 |
| Top 10 Weight | 70.2% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | PLUS ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 5, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2025 to Sep 16, 2026 (1.6 years).
KDEF 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
KDEF vs VTI Performance
PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF (KDEF) is an ETF from PLUS ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year KDEF returned -14.46% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, KDEF is down 9.51% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 54.8% compared with 13.3% 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 -48.6% for KDEF and -19.3% 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 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KDEF charges 0.65% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KDEF currently yields 5.86% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 20 holdings in KDEF and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.8% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 20 positions we hold weights for in KDEF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 21 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for KDEF (97.5% of the fund), and 0 for KDEF that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 KDEF 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, KDEF or VTI?
KDEF has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KDEF or VTI?
Over the past year KDEF returned -14.46% vs +15.41% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), KDEF annualized +56.30% vs +15.46% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KDEF or VTI?
KDEF has been the more volatile fund at 54.8% annualized versus 13.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: KDEF -48.6% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both KDEF and VTI?
KDEF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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, KDEF or VTI?
KDEF yields 5.86% while VTI yields 1.03%, so KDEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than KDEF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. KDEF led over the full window, VTI over 1Y. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.