NATO vs VTI
Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NATO or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. NATO led over the full window, VTI over 1Y.
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 | NATO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $98M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 94 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -2.45% | +11.65%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.30% | +17.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.35% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 13.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.0%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $15,049Best | $13,299 |
| Fund Family | Themes ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 10, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.9 years).
NATO 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 covers the 1.9 years both funds cover.
NATO vs VTI Performance
Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF (NATO) is an ETF from Themes ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NATO returned +4.30% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, NATO is down 2.45% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NATO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 13.3% for VTI. 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 -16.0% for NATO and -19.3% 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NATO charges 0.35% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NATO currently yields 0.43% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 63.6% of NATO's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, NATO as of Aug 18, 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.
48 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in NATO and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 94 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NATO | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTXRaytheon Technologies Corp | 8.49% | 0.35% | 8.14% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 7.74% | 0.54% | 7.20% |
| BABoeing Co | 7.36% | 0.23% | 7.13% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 4.72% | 0.16% | 4.56% |
| HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. | 4.46% | 0.15% | 4.31% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 3.87% | 0.12% | 3.75% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 3.60% | 0.10% | 3.50% |
| HONHoneywell International Inc | 3.23% | 0.10% | 3.13% |
| TDGTransdigm Group Inc. | 3.01% | 0.10% | 2.91% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 2.29% | 0.07% | 2.22% |
63.6% of NATO is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NATO or VTI?
NATO has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NATO or VTI?
Over the past year NATO returned +4.30% vs +17.34% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NATO annualized +24.00% vs +16.19% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NATO or VTI?
NATO has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 13.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: NATO -16.0% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both NATO and VTI?
NATO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between NATO and VTI?
At least 63.6% of NATO's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 48 positions in common, counted across the 89 positions we hold weights for in NATO and 2,787 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, NATO or VTI?
NATO yields 0.43% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NATO?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. NATO led over the full window, VTI over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.