NAD vs VTI
Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NAD 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 | NAD | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.74% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.35% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,159 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -3.97% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.01% | +17.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.50% | +20.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.92% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -51.9%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,076 | $17,514Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | 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 11, 2026 (25.3 years).
NAD 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.
NAD vs VTI Performance
Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAD) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NAD returned -0.01% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, NAD is down 3.97% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, NAD compounded at +8.50% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.92% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.05% annualized vs +0.17%.
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 12.3% for NAD. 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 -51.9% for NAD 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 0.23. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NAD charges 3.74% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $374 vs $3 annually, a gap of $371 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NAD currently yields 7.35% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 431 holdings in NAD and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 75.8% 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, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, NAD as of Jan 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 431 positions we hold weights for in NAD and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 1,159 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NAD | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MHDBlackrock Muniholdings Fund | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NAD 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, NAD or VTI?
NAD has an expense ratio of 3.74% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $371 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NAD or VTI?
Over the past year NAD returned -0.01% vs +17.22% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), NAD annualized +0.17% vs +8.05% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NAD or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 12.3% for NAD. Worst drawdown: NAD -51.9% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both NAD and VTI?
NAD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.23, 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, NAD or VTI?
NAD yields 7.35% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NAD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NAD?
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.