MPA vs VTI

MPA vs VTI

Which is better, MPA or VTI?

Municipal Pennsylvania against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

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

MetricMPAVTI
Expense Ratio1.48%0.03%Best
AUM$155M$666.9B
Dividend Yield5.35%1.03%
Holdings1653,543
YTD Return-4.97%+12.30%Best
1Y Return-5.92%+16.08%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+3.46%+21.01%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-3.92%+12.36%Best
Volatility (annualized)13.3%Best15.3%
Max Drawdown-52.1%Best-56.6%
$10,000 over 5 years$8,188$17,908Best
Fund FamilyBlackRock, Inc. (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryTax PreferredEquity
StyleMunicipal PennsylvaniaLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 30, 1992May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 18, 2026 (25.3 years).

MPA 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.

MPA vs VTI Performance

BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund (MPA) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MPA returned -5.92% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, MPA is down 4.97% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.

Over three years, MPA compounded at +3.46% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -3.92% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.03% annualized vs -0.03%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 13.3% for MPA. 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 -52.1% for MPA 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 0.22. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

MPA charges 1.48% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $148 vs $3 annually, a gap of $145 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MPA currently yields 5.35% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 54 holdings in MPA and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 49.6% 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 181 days apart, MPA as of Jan 31, 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 54 positions we hold weights for in MPA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 165 and 3,543.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of MPA and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

MPAVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, MPA or VTI?

MPA has an expense ratio of 1.48% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $145 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, MPA or VTI?

Over the past year MPA returned -5.92% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), MPA annualized -0.03% vs +8.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, MPA or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 13.3% for MPA. Worst drawdown: MPA -52.1% vs VTI -56.6%.

Should I hold both MPA and VTI?

MPA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.22, 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, MPA or VTI?

MPA yields 5.35% while VTI yields 1.03%, so MPA currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than MPA?

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.