MUA vs VTI
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MUA or VTI?
Municipal 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 | MUA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.67% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $712M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.23% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 561 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -5.60% | +11.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -11.82% | +15.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.92% | +20.67%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.00% | +11.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.6%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,738 | $17,303Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 25, 1993 | May 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 15, 2026 (25.3 years).
MUA 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.
MUA vs VTI Performance
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc (MUA) 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 MUA returned -11.82% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, MUA is down 5.60% versus a gain of 11.53% for VTI.
Over three years, MUA compounded at +6.92% per year against +20.67% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -5.00% and +11.59% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.00% annualized vs +0.10%.
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 14.1% for MUA. 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 -46.6% for MUA 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 0.21. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MUA charges 1.67% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $167 vs $3 annually, a gap of $164 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MUA currently yields 6.23% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 165 holdings in MUA and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 60.0% 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, MUA 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 165 positions we hold weights for in MUA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 561 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MUA 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, MUA or VTI?
MUA has an expense ratio of 1.67% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $164 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MUA or VTI?
Over the past year MUA returned -11.82% vs +15.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), MUA annualized +0.10% vs +8.00% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MUA or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.1% for MUA. Worst drawdown: MUA -46.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both MUA and VTI?
MUA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.21, 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, MUA or VTI?
MUA yields 6.23% while VTI yields 1.03%, so MUA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MUA?
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.