KIO vs VTI

KIO vs VTI

Which is better, KIO or VTI?

High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

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

MetricKIOVTI
Expense Ratio4.59%0.03%Best
AUM$490M$666.9B
Dividend Yield12.29%1.07%
Holdings3273,543
YTD Return+3.80%+13.59%Best
1Y Return-0.07%+20.00%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+8.30%+20.95%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+2.88%+11.81%Best
Volatility (annualized)14.3%Best14.8%
Max Drawdown-54.5%-35.0%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$11,525$17,474Best
Fund FamilyKKR FundsVanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleHigh Yield BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJul 26, 2013May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 26, 2013 to Sep 4, 2026 (13.1 years).

KIO 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 13.1 years both funds cover.

KIO vs VTI Performance

KKR Income Opportunities Fund (KIO) is an ETF from KKR Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year KIO returned -0.07% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, KIO is up 3.80% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.

Over three years, KIO compounded at +8.30% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.88% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.50% annualized vs +0.09%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 14.3% for KIO. 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 -54.5% for KIO 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

KIO charges 4.59% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $459 vs $3 annually, a gap of $456 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KIO currently yields 12.29% against 1.07% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 97 holdings in KIO and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 72.8% 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, 1 positions appear in both.

The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, KIO as of Jan 31, 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.

1 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in KIO and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 327 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in KIOWeight in VTIDifference
NCLHNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings0.34%0.01%0.33%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of KIO and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

KIOVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, KIO or VTI?

KIO has an expense ratio of 4.59% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $456 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, KIO or VTI?

Over the past year KIO returned -0.07% vs +20.00% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), KIO annualized +0.09% vs +12.50% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, KIO or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 14.3% for KIO. Worst drawdown: KIO -54.5% vs VTI -35.0%.

Should I hold both KIO and VTI?

KIO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, KIO or VTI?

KIO yields 12.29% while VTI yields 1.07%, so KIO currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than KIO?

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.