NMT vs VTI

NMT vs VTI

Which is better, NMT or VTI?

Municipal Massachusetts against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: 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

MetricNMTVTI
Expense Ratio3.90%0.03%Best
AUM-$666.9B
Dividend Yield7.01%1.03%
Holdings1143,543
YTD Return+2.92%+14.00%Best
1Y Return+0.91%+16.88%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+10.55%+22.75%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-1.29%+12.68%Best
Volatility (annualized)12.6%Best15.3%
Max Drawdown-49.0%Best-56.6%
$10,000 over 5 years$9,371$18,165Best
Fund FamilyNuveenVanguard (US)
CategoryTax PreferredEquity
StyleMunicipal MassachusettsLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMar 18, 1993May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 21, 2026 (25.3 years).

NMT 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.

NMT vs VTI Performance

Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund (NMT) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NMT returned +0.91% while VTI returned +16.88%. Year to date, NMT is up 2.92% versus a gain of 14.00% for VTI.

Over three years, NMT compounded at +10.55% per year against +22.75% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.29% and +12.68% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.09% annualized vs -0.16%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 12.6% for NMT. 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 -49.0% for NMT 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 0.17. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

NMT charges 3.90% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $390 vs $3 annually, a gap of $387 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NMT currently yields 7.01% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 27 holdings in NMT and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 26.5% and 98.1% 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 27 positions we hold weights for in NMT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 114 and 3,543.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

NMTVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, NMT or VTI?

NMT has an expense ratio of 3.90% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $387 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, NMT or VTI?

Over the past year NMT returned +0.91% vs +16.88% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), NMT annualized -0.16% vs +8.09% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, NMT or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 12.6% for NMT. Worst drawdown: NMT -49.0% vs VTI -56.6%.

Should I hold both NMT and VTI?

NMT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.17, 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, NMT or VTI?

NMT yields 7.01% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NMT currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than NMT?

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.