NLR vs VTI
VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NLR or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. NLR led over 5Y, VTI over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.0%.
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 | NLR | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.66% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 52 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -22.77% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | -23.42% | +15.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.27% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.44%Best | +12.31% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.8% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -65.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,405Best | $17,869 |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.0% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 15, 2007 to Oct 1, 2026 (19.1 years).
NLR 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 19.1 years both funds cover.
NLR vs VTI Performance
VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF (NLR) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NLR returned -23.42% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, NLR is down 22.77% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, NLR compounded at +17.27% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +16.44% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.64% annualized vs +3.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NLR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.8% compared with 16.0% 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 -65.0% for NLR 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NLR charges 0.52% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $3 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NLR currently yields 2.66% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
47.1% of NLR's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings NLR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, NLR as of Sep 15, 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.
11 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in NLR and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 52 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,144 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for NLR (97.2% of the fund), and 0 for NLR that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 NLR | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 9.37% | 0.12% | 9.25% |
| PEGPub Serv Enterp | 6.43% | 0.05% | 6.38% |
| BWXTBwx Technologies, Inc. | 5.32% | 0.02% | 5.30% |
| UECUranium Energy Corp | 4.98% | 0.01% | 4.97% |
| LEUCentrus Energy Corp. Class A | 4.66% | 0.00% | 4.66% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc | 4.24% | 0.00% | 4.24% |
| SMRNuscale Power Corp Class A | 4.16% | 0.00% | 4.16% |
| OKLOOklo Inc Class A | 3.68% | 0.01% | 3.67% |
| XEX-Energy Inc Class A | 1.97% | 0.00% | 1.97% |
| NNENano Nuclear Energy Inc Common Stock USD 0.0001 | 1.52% | 0.00% | 1.52% |
47.1% of NLR 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, NLR or VTI?
NLR has an expense ratio of 0.52% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NLR or VTI?
Over the past year NLR returned -23.42% vs +15.23% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), NLR annualized +3.08% vs +9.64% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NLR or VTI?
NLR has been the more volatile fund at 23.8% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: NLR -65.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both NLR and VTI?
NLR and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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 NLR and VTI?
47.1% of NLR's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's is in holdings NLR also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in NLR and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, NLR or VTI?
NLR yields 2.66% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NLR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NLR?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. NLR led over 5Y, VTI over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.