NAC vs VTI
Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NAC or VTI?
Municipal California 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 | NAC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.79% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.80% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 346 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -3.83% | +11.06%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.76% | +15.41%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.44% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.68% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.7%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,188 | $17,249Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal California | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 26, 1999 | 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 16, 2026 (25.3 years).
NAC 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.
NAC vs VTI Performance
Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAC) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NAC returned +1.76% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, NAC is down 3.83% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, NAC compounded at +9.44% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.68% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +7.99% annualized vs +0.34%.
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 12.8% for NAC. 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 -53.7% for NAC 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 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NAC charges 3.79% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $379 vs $3 annually, a gap of $376 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NAC currently yields 7.80% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in NAC and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 0.4% 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 61 days apart, NAC as of May 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 2 positions we hold weights for in NAC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 346 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NAC 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, NAC or VTI?
NAC has an expense ratio of 3.79% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $376 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NAC or VTI?
Over the past year NAC returned +1.76% vs +15.41% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), NAC annualized +0.34% vs +7.99% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NAC or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 12.8% for NAC. Worst drawdown: NAC -53.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both NAC and VTI?
NAC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, 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, NAC or VTI?
NAC yields 7.80% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NAC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NAC?
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.