PDN vs VTI
Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-US Small-Mid ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PDN or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth 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 | PDN | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $361M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.11% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,591 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +12.43% | +14.05%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.65% | +16.93%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.38% | +22.65%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.10% | +12.46%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 16.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -60.1% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,091 | $17,988Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 27, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 27, 2007 to Sep 22, 2026 (19 years).
PDN 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 19 years both funds cover.
PDN vs VTI Performance
Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-US Small-Mid ETF (PDN) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PDN returned +16.65% while VTI returned +16.93%. Year to date, PDN is up 12.43% versus a gain of 14.05% for VTI.
Over three years, PDN compounded at +19.38% per year against +22.65% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.10% and +12.46% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.32% annualized vs +4.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PDN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% compared with 16.1% 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 -60.1% for PDN 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PDN charges 0.47% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $3 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PDN currently yields 3.11% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings PDN also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PDN, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
9 positions in common, counted across the 1,350 positions we hold weights for in PDN and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,591 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PDN | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEAMAtlassian Corp-Cl A | 0.29% | 0.02% | 0.27% |
| CCCSCcc Intelligent Solutions Hold | 0.20% | 0.00% | 0.20% |
| SRESempra Energy | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| SCIService Corp International | 0.10% | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| ALKS:IEAlkermes Plc. Ordinary Shares | 0.09% | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 0.09% | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| CCLCarnival Corporation Common Stock | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.01% |
| LION:CALionsgate Studios Corp. Common Shares | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PDN 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, PDN or VTI?
PDN has an expense ratio of 0.47% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PDN or VTI?
Over the past year PDN returned +16.65% vs +16.93% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), PDN annualized +4.13% vs +9.32% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PDN or VTI?
PDN has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 16.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PDN -60.1% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both PDN and VTI?
PDN 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, PDN or VTI?
PDN yields 3.11% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PDN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PDN?
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.