MINT vs VTI
PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active Exchange-Traded Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MINT or VTI?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and 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 | MINT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.36% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $17.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.18% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,018 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +2.97% | +12.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.36% | +16.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.13% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.70% | +11.94%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.2%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.8%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,992 | $17,576Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 16, 2009 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 17, 2009 to Sep 17, 2026 (16.8 years).
MINT 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
MINT vs VTI Performance
PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active Exchange-Traded Fund (MINT) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MINT returned +4.36% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, MINT is up 2.97% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Over three years, MINT compounded at +5.13% per year against +20.89% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +3.70% and +11.94% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.47% annualized vs +1.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 1.2% for MINT. 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 -4.8% for MINT and -35.0% 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MINT charges 0.36% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $36 vs $3 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MINT currently yields 4.18% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings MINT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for MINT, our book for it covers 63.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 695 positions we hold weights for in MINT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,018 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MINT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDPKeurig Dr Pepper Inc (kdp Us) | 0.39% | 0.06% | 0.33% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MINT 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, MINT or VTI?
MINT has an expense ratio of 0.36% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MINT or VTI?
Over the past year MINT returned +4.36% vs +16.78% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), MINT annualized +1.22% vs +12.47% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MINT or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 1.2% for MINT. Worst drawdown: MINT -4.8% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both MINT and VTI?
MINT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, MINT or VTI?
MINT yields 4.18% while VTI yields 1.03%, so MINT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MINT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.