PCQ vs VTI
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PCQ or VTI?
Municipal California against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | PCQ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $566M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.51% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 263 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -3.37% | +14.05%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.84% | +16.93%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.38% | +22.65%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -11.47% | +12.46%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -60.6% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $5,438 | $17,988Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal California | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2001 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 27, 2001 to Sep 22, 2026 (25.2 years).
PCQ 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.
PCQ vs VTI Performance
PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund (PCQ) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PCQ returned -1.84% while VTI returned +16.93%. Year to date, PCQ is down 3.37% versus a gain of 14.05% for VTI.
Over three years, PCQ compounded at +3.38% per year against +22.65% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -11.47% and +12.46% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.26% annualized vs -1.38%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PCQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 15.3% 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 -60.6% for PCQ 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 0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PCQ charges 1.20% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $120 vs $3 annually, a gap of $117 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PCQ currently yields 4.51% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 84 holdings in PCQ and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 60.0% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, PCQ as of Mar 31, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 84 positions we hold weights for in PCQ and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 263 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PCQ and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PCQ or VTI?
PCQ has an expense ratio of 1.20% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $117 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PCQ or VTI?
Over the past year PCQ returned -1.84% vs +16.93% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), PCQ annualized -1.38% vs +8.26% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PCQ or VTI?
PCQ has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PCQ -60.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both PCQ and VTI?
PCQ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.29, 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, PCQ or VTI?
PCQ yields 4.51% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PCQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PCQ?
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.