PBE vs VTI
Invesco Biotechnology and Genome ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PBE or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PBE led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | PBE | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $477M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.60% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 33 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +17.80%Best | +14.00% |
| 1Y Return | +38.55%Best | +16.88% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.52% | +22.75%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.91% | +12.68%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.2% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.7%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,708 | $18,165Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 23, 2005 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 23, 2005 to Sep 21, 2026 (21.2 years).
PBE 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 21.2 years both funds cover.
PBE vs VTI Performance
Invesco Biotechnology and Genome ETF (PBE) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PBE returned +38.55% while VTI returned +16.88%. Year to date, PBE is up 17.80% versus a gain of 14.00% for VTI.
Over three years, PBE compounded at +19.52% per year against +22.75% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.91% and +12.68% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.57% annualized vs +9.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PBE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.2% compared with 15.4% 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 -45.7% for PBE 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PBE charges 0.58% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $3 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PBE currently yields 1.60% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
90.7% of PBE's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.1% of VTI's money is in holdings PBE also owns.
Most of PBE is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
27 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in PBE and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 33 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,132 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PBE (96.3% of the fund), and 2 for PBE that do not appear in VTI (1.6%).
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 PBE | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 5.42% | 0.29% | 5.13% |
| VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 5.28% | 0.17% | 5.11% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 5.30% | 0.11% | 5.19% |
| CDNACaredx Inc | 5.35% | 0.00% | 5.35% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 4.61% | 0.22% | 4.39% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 4.73% | 0.04% | 4.69% |
| UTHRUnited Therapeutics Corp | 3.71% | 0.03% | 3.68% |
| OMEROmeros Corp Com | 3.71% | 0.00% | 3.71% |
| RGENRepligen Corp | 3.61% | 0.01% | 3.60% |
| HALOHalozyme Therapeutics Inc | 3.56% | 0.01% | 3.55% |
90.7% of PBE 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, PBE or VTI?
PBE has an expense ratio of 0.58% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PBE or VTI?
Over the past year PBE returned +38.55% vs +16.88% for VTI, so PBE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), PBE annualized +9.34% vs +9.57% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PBE or VTI?
PBE has been the more volatile fund at 21.2% annualized versus 15.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PBE -45.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both PBE and VTI?
PBE and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 PBE and VTI?
90.7% of PBE's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.1% of VTI's is in holdings PBE also owns. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in PBE and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PBE or VTI?
PBE yields 1.60% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PBE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PBE?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PBE led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.