NIE vs VTI
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NIE or VTI?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NIE is less concentrated, with 28.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | NIE | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $793M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.01% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 196 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +4.96% | +11.06%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.95% | +15.41%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.20% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.42% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 15.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.8% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,981 | $17,249Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.3%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 23, 2007 to Sep 16, 2026 (19.6 years).
NIE 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
NIE vs VTI Performance
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NIE returned +9.95% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, NIE is up 4.96% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, NIE compounded at +17.20% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.42% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.14% annualized vs +3.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NIE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 15.9% 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 -63.8% for NIE 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NIE charges 1.07% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $3 annually, a gap of $104 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NIE currently yields 9.01% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
92.4% of NIE's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 54.8% of VTI's money is in holdings NIE also owns.
Most of NIE is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, NIE as of Feb 27, 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.
152 positions in common, counted across the 161 positions we hold weights for in NIE and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 196 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,017 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for NIE (42.6% of the fund), and 4 for NIE that do not appear in VTI (2.2%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NIE | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.65% | 6.40% | 0.75% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.55% | 6.29% | 1.74% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.16% | 4.79% | 1.63% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.52% | 2.90% | 0.62% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.52% | 3.65% | 1.13% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.84% | 2.56% | 0.72% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.47% | 1.70% | 0.23% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.50% | 2.31% | 1.81% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 2.41% | 0.08% | 2.33% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.06% | 1.29% | 0.23% |
92.4% of NIE 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NIE or VTI?
NIE has an expense ratio of 1.07% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $104 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NIE or VTI?
Over the past year NIE returned +9.95% vs +15.41% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), NIE annualized +3.32% vs +9.14% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NIE or VTI?
NIE has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 15.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: NIE -63.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both NIE and VTI?
NIE and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 NIE and VTI?
92.4% of NIE's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 54.8% of VTI's is in holdings NIE also owns. They hold 152 positions in common, counted across the 161 positions we hold weights for in NIE and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, NIE or VTI?
NIE yields 9.01% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NIE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NIE?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NIE is less concentrated, with 28.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.