PEX vs VTI
ProShares Global Listed Private Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PEX or VTI?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.3%.
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 | PEX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $12M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.54% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 31 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -8.04% | +12.25%Best |
| 1Y Return | -13.53% | +15.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.32% | +22.45%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.12% | +12.32%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 114.8% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -77.9% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,452 | $17,877Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.3% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 26, 2013 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2013 to Sep 29, 2026 (13.6 years).
PEX 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 13.6 years both funds cover.
PEX vs VTI Performance
ProShares Global Listed Private Equity ETF (PEX) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PEX returned -13.53% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, PEX is down 8.04% versus a gain of 12.25% for VTI.
Over three years, PEX compounded at +4.32% per year against +22.45% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.12% and +12.32% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.87% annualized vs +4.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PEX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 114.8% compared with 14.7% 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 -77.9% for PEX and -35.0% 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 0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PEX charges 2.95% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $295 vs $3 annually, a gap of $292 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PEX currently yields 8.54% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in PEX and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.4% 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 30 positions we hold weights for in PEX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 31 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 PEX (97.5% of the fund), and 15 for PEX that do not appear in VTI (47.9%).
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 PEX 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, PEX or VTI?
PEX has an expense ratio of 2.95% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $292 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PEX or VTI?
Over the past year PEX returned -13.53% vs +15.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), PEX annualized +4.83% vs +12.87% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PEX or VTI?
PEX has been the more volatile fund at 114.8% annualized versus 14.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PEX -77.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both PEX and VTI?
PEX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.06, 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, PEX or VTI?
PEX yields 8.54% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PEX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PEX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.