PEMX vs VTI
Putnam Emerging Markets ex-China ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PEMX or VTI?
PEMX has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PEMX led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 53.9%.
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 | PEMX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $32M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.24% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 57 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +30.18%Best | +12.30% |
| 1Y Return | +44.85%Best | +16.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +32.01%Best | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.0%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 3.3 years | $23,872Best | $18,697 |
| Top 10 Weight | 53.9% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Putnam Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 17, 2023 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 18, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (3.3 years).
PEMX 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 3.3 years both funds cover.
PEMX vs VTI Performance
Putnam Emerging Markets ex-China ETF (PEMX) is an ETF from Putnam Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PEMX returned +44.85% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, PEMX is up 30.18% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, PEMX compounded at +32.01% per year against +21.01% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PEMX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 13.2% 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 -19.0% for PEMX and -19.3% 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PEMX charges 0.69% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $3 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PEMX currently yields 5.24% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 50 holdings in PEMX and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 100.4% 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 50 positions we hold weights for in PEMX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 57 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PEMX (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for PEMX that do not appear in VTI (1.4%).
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 PEMX 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, PEMX or VTI?
PEMX has an expense ratio of 0.69% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PEMX or VTI?
Over the past year PEMX returned +44.85% vs +16.08% for VTI, so PEMX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PEMX or VTI?
PEMX has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 13.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PEMX -19.0% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both PEMX and VTI?
PEMX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, PEMX or VTI?
PEMX yields 5.24% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PEMX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PEMX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PEMX led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 53.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.