MDST vs VTI
Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MDST or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. MDST led over 1Y, VTI over 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 | MDST | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $297M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.98% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 110 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +18.75%Best | +13.59% |
| 1Y Return | +21.82%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.2%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.4 years | $15,053 | $15,136Best |
| Fund Family | Westwood Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 8, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 9, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (2.4 years).
MDST 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 2.4 years both funds cover.
MDST vs VTI Performance
Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) is an ETF from Westwood Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MDST returned +21.82% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, MDST is up 18.75% versus a gain of 13.59% 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 12.0% compared with 10.7% for MDST. 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 -14.2% for MDST 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 0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MDST 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, MDST currently yields 9.98% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 42.8% of MDST's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 92.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, MDST as of Aug 18, 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.
9 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in MDST and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 110 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MDST | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMBWilliams Cos Inc/the | 8.44% | 0.12% | 8.32% |
| DTMDT Midstream Inc | 5.87% | 0.02% | 5.85% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 5.62% | 0.08% | 5.54% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Inc | 5.06% | 0.08% | 4.98% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 5.02% | 0.08% | 4.94% |
| LNGCheniere Energy Inc | 5.00% | 0.07% | 4.93% |
| AMAntero Midstream Corp | 4.58% | 0.01% | 4.57% |
| VGVenture Global, Inc. | 2.40% | 0.00% | 2.40% |
| NEXTNextdecade Corp Common Stock | 0.76% | 0.00% | 0.76% |
42.8% of MDST is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, MDST or VTI?
MDST 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, MDST or VTI?
Over the past year MDST returned +21.82% vs +20.00% for VTI, so MDST leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), MDST annualized +18.58% vs +18.85% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MDST or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 10.7% for MDST. Worst drawdown: MDST -14.2% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both MDST and VTI?
MDST and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.29, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between MDST and VTI?
At least 42.8% of MDST's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in MDST and 2,788 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, MDST or VTI?
MDST yields 9.98% while VTI yields 1.07%, so MDST currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MDST?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. MDST led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.