NMAI vs VTI
Nuveen Multi-Asset Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NMAI or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. NMAI led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y 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 | NMAI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.87% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.43% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,312 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +18.30%Best | +12.25% |
| 1Y Return | +22.64%Best | +15.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.82% | +22.45%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.32% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.6% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.9 years | $13,665 | $16,779Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 22, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 22, 2021 to Sep 29, 2026 (4.9 years).
NMAI 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 4.9 years both funds cover.
NMAI vs VTI Performance
Nuveen Multi-Asset Income Fund (NMAI) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NMAI returned +22.64% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, NMAI is up 18.30% versus a gain of 12.25% for VTI.
Over three years, NMAI compounded at +21.82% per year against +22.45% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NMAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% 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 -35.6% for NMAI and -25.4% 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
NMAI charges 1.87% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $187 vs $3 annually, a gap of $184 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NMAI currently yields 9.43% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 66.3% of VTI's money is in holdings NMAI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NMAI, our book for it covers 66.5% 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 182 days apart, NMAI as of Jan 30, 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.
306 positions in common, counted across the 664 positions we hold weights for in NMAI and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,312 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NMAI | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.01% | 6.40% | 4.39% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.07% | 6.29% | 4.22% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.00% | 4.79% | 2.79% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.43% | 3.65% | 2.22% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.45% | 2.56% | 1.11% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.82% | 2.90% | 2.08% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.99% | 2.31% | 1.32% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.20% | 1.31% | 0.11% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 0.71% | 1.70% | 0.99% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.69% | 1.35% | 0.66% |
66.3% of VTI is already inside NMAI.
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, NMAI or VTI?
NMAI has an expense ratio of 1.87% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $184 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NMAI or VTI?
Over the past year NMAI returned +22.64% vs +15.74% for VTI, so NMAI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NMAI or VTI?
NMAI has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: NMAI -35.6% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both NMAI and VTI?
NMAI 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 NMAI and VTI?
At least 66.3% of VTI's money is in holdings NMAI also owns. Our book for NMAI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 306 positions in common, counted across the 664 positions we hold weights for in NMAI and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, NMAI or VTI?
NMAI yields 9.43% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NMAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NMAI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. NMAI led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.