MRGR vs VTI
ProShares Merger ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MRGR or VTI?
Multi Alternative 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 | MRGR | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $16M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.26% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 50 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +1.31% | +14.05%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.89% | +16.93%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.16% | +22.65%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.49% | +12.46%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.3%Best | 14.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.5%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,871 | $17,988Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 13, 2012 to Sep 22, 2026 (13.8 years).
MRGR 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.
MRGR vs VTI Performance
ProShares Merger ETF (MRGR) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MRGR returned +5.89% while VTI returned +16.93%. Year to date, MRGR is up 1.31% versus a gain of 14.05% for VTI.
Over three years, MRGR compounded at +6.16% per year against +22.65% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +3.49% and +12.46% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.36% annualized vs +1.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 8.3% for MRGR. 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 -22.5% for MRGR 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 0.11. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MRGR charges 0.75% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $3 annually, a gap of $72 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MRGR currently yields 1.26% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings MRGR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for MRGR, our book for it covers 91.3% 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.
30 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in MRGR and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 50 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MRGR | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSNLPersonalis Inc | 2.89% | 0.00% | 2.89% |
| BLFSBiolife Solutions Com New | 2.73% | 0.00% | 2.73% |
| KVUEKenvue Inc | 2.59% | 0.05% | 2.54% |
| ROKURoku, Inc | 2.55% | 0.03% | 2.52% |
| SLABSilicon Laboratories Inc | 2.41% | 0.01% | 2.40% |
| OGNOrganon & Co | 2.39% | 0.00% | 2.39% |
| TECHBio-Techne Corp | 2.34% | 0.02% | 2.32% |
| ATAIAtaibeckley Inc | 2.35% | 0.00% | 2.35% |
| DVDoubleverify Holdings Inc Ser A Pc Pp | 2.34% | 0.00% | 2.34% |
| APGEAllogene Therapeutics Inc | 2.33% | 0.01% | 2.32% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MRGR 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, MRGR or VTI?
MRGR has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MRGR or VTI?
Over the past year MRGR returned +5.89% vs +16.93% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), MRGR annualized +1.92% vs +13.36% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MRGR or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 8.3% for MRGR. Worst drawdown: MRGR -22.5% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both MRGR and VTI?
MRGR and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.11, 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, MRGR or VTI?
MRGR yields 1.26% while VTI yields 1.03%, so MRGR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MRGR?
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.