NMBL vs VTI

NMBL vs VTI

Which is better, NMBL or VTI?

Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 81.6%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTILess Concentrated: VTI

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

MetricNMBLVTI
Expense Ratio1.99%0.03%Best
AUM$24M$689.2B
Dividend Yield0.90%1.06%
Holdings543,542
YTD Return+2.51%+12.23%Best
1Y Return+3.50%+12.74%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.44%
5Y Return (annualized)-+10.83%
Volatility (annualized)9.9%Best12.6%
Max Drawdown-8.1%Best-8.9%
$10,000 over 1 years$10,267$11,246Best
Top 10 Weight81.6%34.6%Best
Fund FamilyNovaTideVanguard (US)
CategoryAllocation/BalancedEquity
StyleAllocation/BalancedLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 30, 2025May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 31, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1 years).

NMBL 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 years both funds cover.

NMBL vs VTI Performance

NovaTide Flexible Allocation ETF (NMBL) is an ETF from NovaTide and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NMBL returned +3.50% while VTI returned +12.74%. Year to date, NMBL is up 2.51% versus a gain of 12.23% for VTI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 9.9% for NMBL. 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 -8.1% for NMBL and -8.9% 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

NMBL charges 1.99% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $199 vs $3 annually, a gap of $196 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NMBL currently yields 0.90% against 1.06% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 20 holdings in NMBL and 3,464 in VTI, totalling 96.8% and 97.2% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 20 positions we hold weights for in NMBL and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 54 and 3,542.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,129 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for NMBL (96.9% of the fund), and 11 for NMBL that do not appear in VTI (21.5%).

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.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of NMBL and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

NMBLVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, NMBL or VTI?

NMBL has an expense ratio of 1.99% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $196 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, NMBL or VTI?

Over the past year NMBL returned +3.50% vs +12.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), NMBL annualized +2.67% vs +12.46% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, NMBL or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 9.9% for NMBL. Worst drawdown: NMBL -8.1% vs VTI -8.9%.

Should I hold both NMBL and VTI?

NMBL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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, NMBL or VTI?

NMBL yields 0.90% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than NMBL?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 81.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.