MEMX vs VTI
Matthews Emerging Markets ex China Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MEMX or VTI?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. MEMX led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.0%.
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 | MEMX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $57M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.82% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 75 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +25.11%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | +43.25%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.70%Best | +22.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.31% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3%Tie | -19.3%Tie |
| $10,000 over 3.7 years | $20,195Best | $19,814 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.0% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Matthews Asia Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 10, 2023 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 11, 2023 to Oct 1, 2026 (3.7 years).
MEMX 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 3.7 years both funds cover.
MEMX vs VTI Performance
Matthews Emerging Markets ex China Active ETF (MEMX) 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 MEMX returned +43.25% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, MEMX is up 25.11% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, MEMX compounded at +26.70% per year against +22.50% for VTI. Across the full 4-year window we track, MEMX has the edge at +20.92% annualized vs +20.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MEMX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 12.7% 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 -19.3% for MEMX 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MEMX charges 0.79% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $3 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MEMX currently yields 3.82% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 75 holdings in MEMX 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.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, MEMX as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in MEMX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 75 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for MEMX (97.5% of the fund), and 5 for MEMX that do not appear in VTI (7.5%).
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 MEMX 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, MEMX or VTI?
MEMX has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MEMX or VTI?
Over the past year MEMX returned +43.25% vs +15.23% for VTI, so MEMX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), MEMX annualized +20.92% vs +20.30% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MEMX or VTI?
MEMX has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 12.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: MEMX -19.3% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both MEMX and VTI?
MEMX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, MEMX or VTI?
MEMX yields 3.82% while VTI yields 1.03%, so MEMX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MEMX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. MEMX led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.