MEMS vs VTI
Matthews Emerging Markets Discovery Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MEMS or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. MEMS is less concentrated, with 29.2% 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 | MEMS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $22M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.31% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 88 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +18.31%Best | +12.30% |
| 1Y Return | +12.77% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 12.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.2% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $12,664 | $16,386Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 29.2%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Matthews Asia Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 10, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 11, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.7 years).
MEMS 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
MEMS vs VTI Performance
Matthews Emerging Markets Discovery Active ETF (MEMS) is an ETF from Matthews Asia Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MEMS returned +12.77% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, MEMS is up 18.31% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MEMS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 12.3% 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 -21.2% for MEMS 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MEMS charges 0.89% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $3 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MEMS currently yields 2.31% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 83 holdings in MEMS and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.9% 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 83 positions we hold weights for in MEMS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 88 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 MEMS (97.5% of the fund), and 6 for MEMS that do not appear in VTI (13.8%).
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 MEMS 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, MEMS or VTI?
MEMS has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MEMS or VTI?
Over the past year MEMS returned +12.77% vs +16.08% 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, MEMS or VTI?
MEMS has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 12.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: MEMS -21.2% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both MEMS and VTI?
MEMS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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, MEMS or VTI?
MEMS yields 2.31% while VTI yields 1.03%, so MEMS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MEMS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. MEMS is less concentrated, with 29.2% 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.