MDY vs VTI
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MDY or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. MDY led over the full window, VTI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. MDY is less concentrated, with 7.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | MDY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $26.1B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.02% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 401 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +9.60% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.32% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.86% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.09% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.3%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,755 | $17,908Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 4, 1995 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 18, 2026 (25.3 years).
MDY 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
MDY vs VTI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MDY returned +11.32% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, MDY is up 9.60% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, MDY compounded at +13.86% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.09% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, MDY has the edge at +8.26% annualized vs +8.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MDY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 15.3% 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 -56.3% for MDY and -56.6% 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 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MDY charges 0.23% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $3 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MDY currently yields 1.02% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
97.3% of MDY's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 4.9% of VTI's money is in holdings MDY also owns.
Most of MDY is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
393 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in MDY and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 401 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 803 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for MDY (92.7% of the fund), and 3 for MDY that do not appear in VTI (0.7%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MDY | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TWLOTwilio Inc. Class A | 1.00% | 0.04% | 0.96% |
| ILMNIllumina, Inc. | 0.90% | 0.04% | 0.86% |
| 0RMV:LNTechnipfmc Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.87% | 0.04% | 0.83% |
| PSTGPure Storage Inc. Class A | 0.82% | 0.03% | 0.79% |
| OKTAOkta Inc. | 0.81% | 0.03% | 0.78% |
| ATIAti Inc | 0.78% | 0.04% | 0.74% |
| NVT:IENvent Electric Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.68% | 0.03% | 0.65% |
| CRSCarpenter Technology Corpcommon Stock | 0.66% | 0.03% | 0.63% |
| THCTenet Healthcare Corp Common Stock Usd 0.05 | 0.64% | 0.03% | 0.61% |
| USFDUS Foods Holding Corp | 0.64% | 0.03% | 0.61% |
97.3% of MDY 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, MDY or VTI?
MDY has an expense ratio of 0.23% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MDY or VTI?
Over the past year MDY returned +11.32% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), MDY annualized +8.26% vs +8.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MDY or VTI?
MDY has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: MDY -56.3% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both MDY and VTI?
MDY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between MDY and VTI?
97.3% of MDY's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 4.9% of VTI's is in holdings MDY also owns. They hold 393 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in MDY and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, MDY or VTI?
MDY yields 1.02% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MDY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. MDY led over the full window, VTI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. MDY is less concentrated, with 7.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.