MATR vs VTI
Harbor Multi-Asset Total Return ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MATR or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.5%.
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 | MATR | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $11M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.76% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 24 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +5.72% | +11.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.92% | +15.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.56% | +20.67%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.5%Best | 12.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.9%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $14,921 | $17,328Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 66.5% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 13, 2023 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 14, 2023 to Sep 15, 2026 (3 years).
MATR 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 3 years both funds cover.
MATR vs VTI Performance
Harbor Multi-Asset Total Return ETF (MATR) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MATR returned +9.92% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, MATR is up 5.72% versus a gain of 11.53% for VTI.
Over three years, MATR compounded at +14.56% per year against +20.67% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 8.5% for MATR. 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 -12.9% for MATR 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MATR charges 0.80% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $3 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MATR currently yields 2.76% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 25 holdings in MATR and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 95.6% 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 25 positions we hold weights for in MATR and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 24 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 MATR (97.5% of the fund), and 23 for MATR that do not appear in VTI (92.5%).
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 MATR 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, MATR or VTI?
MATR has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MATR or VTI?
Over the past year MATR returned +9.92% vs +15.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MATR or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 8.5% for MATR. Worst drawdown: MATR -12.9% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both MATR and VTI?
MATR and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, MATR or VTI?
MATR yields 2.76% while VTI yields 1.03%, so MATR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MATR?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.