PEY vs VTI

PEY vs VTI

Which is better, PEY 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. PEY is less concentrated, with 30.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTILess Concentrated: PEY

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

MetricPEYVTI
Expense Ratio0.68%0.03%Best
AUM$1.1B$690.1B
Dividend Yield4.19%1.03%
Holdings1063,524
YTD Return+15.37%Best+13.35%
1Y Return+13.54%+15.92%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+12.47%+23.41%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+7.28%+12.83%Best
Volatility (annualized)17.7%15.3%Best
Max Drawdown-75.6%-56.6%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$14,210$18,286Best
Top 10 Weight30.7%Best33.3%
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleSmall Cap ValueLarge Cap Blend
InceptionDec 9, 2004May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 9, 2004 to Oct 2, 2026 (21.8 years).

PEY 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 21.8 years both funds cover.

PEY vs VTI Performance

Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF (PEY) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PEY returned +13.54% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, PEY is up 15.37% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.

Over three years, PEY compounded at +12.47% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.28% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.36% annualized vs +3.24%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

PEY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% 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 -75.6% for PEY 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

PEY charges 0.68% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $3 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PEY currently yields 4.19% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

PEY already in VTI97.4%
VTI already in PEY2.3%

97.4% of PEY's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.3% of VTI's money is in holdings PEY also owns.

Most of PEY is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, PEY as of Sep 15, 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.

49 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in PEY and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 106 and 3,524.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,115 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PEY (95.1% of the fund), and 2 for PEY that do not appear in VTI (2.6%).

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

StockWeight in PEYWeight in VTIDifference
PRGOPerrigo Company Plc Ordinary Shares4.76%0.00%4.76%
RHIRobert Half International Inc.3.99%0.01%3.98%
NSPInsperity Inc3.89%0.00%3.89%
FLOFlowers Foods Inc3.07%0.00%3.07%
PFEPfizer Inc2.67%0.20%2.47%
LYBLyondellbasell-a2.64%0.02%2.62%
VZVerizon Communications Inc Vz2.35%0.24%2.11%
PRUPrudential Financial Inc2.48%0.06%2.42%
MOAltria Group Inc.2.29%0.16%2.13%
UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc2.21%0.11%2.10%

97.4% of PEY 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.

PEYVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, PEY or VTI?

PEY has an expense ratio of 0.68% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, PEY or VTI?

Over the past year PEY returned +13.54% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), PEY annualized +3.24% vs +9.36% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, PEY or VTI?

PEY has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PEY -75.6% vs VTI -56.6%.

Should I hold both PEY and VTI?

PEY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 PEY and VTI?

97.4% of PEY's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.3% of VTI's is in holdings PEY also owns. They hold 49 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in PEY and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, PEY or VTI?

PEY yields 4.19% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PEY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than PEY?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PEY is less concentrated, with 30.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.