NEA vs VTI
Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NEA 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 | NEA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.53% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.38% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,108 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -2.84% | +11.65%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.95% | +17.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.04% | +20.35%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.79% | +11.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -48.1%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,136 | $17,404Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 21, 2002 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 22, 2002 to Sep 10, 2026 (23.8 years).
NEA 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.
NEA vs VTI Performance
Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NEA) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NEA returned +1.95% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, NEA is down 2.84% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.
Over three years, NEA compounded at +9.04% per year against +20.35% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.79% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.80% annualized vs -0.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 13.1% for NEA. 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 -48.1% for NEA 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
NEA charges 3.53% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $353 vs $3 annually, a gap of $350 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NEA currently yields 7.38% against 1.03% for VTI.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NEA 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, NEA or VTI?
NEA has an expense ratio of 3.53% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $350 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NEA or VTI?
Over the past year NEA returned +1.95% vs +17.34% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), NEA annualized -0.04% vs +9.80% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NEA or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 13.1% for NEA. Worst drawdown: NEA -48.1% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both NEA and VTI?
NEA 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, NEA or VTI?
NEA yields 7.38% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NEA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NEA?
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.