MLPA vs VTI
Global X MLP ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MLPA or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. MLPA led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y 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 | MLPA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.77% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.04% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 22 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +24.39%Best | +12.57% |
| 1Y Return | +25.36%Best | +17.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.63% | +20.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.25%Best | +11.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.3% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -86.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,115Best | $17,514 |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 18, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 19, 2012 to Sep 11, 2026 (14.4 years).
MLPA 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 14.4 years both funds cover.
MLPA vs VTI Performance
Global X MLP ETF (MLPA) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MLPA returned +25.36% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, MLPA is up 24.39% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, MLPA compounded at +17.63% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +19.25% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.91% annualized vs -0.24%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MLPA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.3% compared with 14.5% 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 -86.2% for MLPA 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MLPA charges 0.77% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $77 vs $3 annually, a gap of $74 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MLPA currently yields 7.04% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 20 holdings in MLPA and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 109.1% and 90.6% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 2 positions appear in both.
2 positions in common, counted across the 20 positions we hold weights for in MLPA and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 22 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MLPA 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, MLPA or VTI?
MLPA has an expense ratio of 0.77% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $74 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MLPA or VTI?
Over the past year MLPA returned +25.36% vs +17.22% for VTI, so MLPA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), MLPA annualized -0.24% vs +12.91% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MLPA or VTI?
MLPA has been the more volatile fund at 26.3% annualized versus 14.5% for VTI. Worst drawdown: MLPA -86.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both MLPA and VTI?
MLPA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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, MLPA or VTI?
MLPA yields 7.04% while VTI yields 1.03%, so MLPA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MLPA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. MLPA led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.