PHB vs VTI
Invesco Fundamental High Yield Corporate Bond ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PHB or VTI?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. PHB is less concentrated, with 10.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | PHB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $387M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.06% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 268 | 3,543 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1%Tie | 16.1%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -71.2% | -55.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 18.3 years | $7,403 | $50,733Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.1%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 209 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. PHB has data through Feb 20, 2026 and VTI through Sep 17, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 18.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2007 to Feb 20, 2026 (18.3 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PHB and VTI have been equally volatile, both at 16.1% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -71.2% for PHB and -55.3% 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 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PHB charges 0.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PHB currently yields 5.06% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of PHB's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 304 days apart, PHB as of Sep 30, 2025 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 260 positions we hold weights for in PHB and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 268 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,148 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PHB (97.4% of the fund), and 258 for PHB that do not appear in VTI (97.7%).
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
| Stock | Weight in PHB | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| THCTenet Healthcare Corporation 6.13 06/15/2030 | 0.39% | 0.03% | 0.36% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PHB 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, PHB or VTI?
PHB has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, PHB or VTI?
PHB and VTI have been equally volatile, both at 16.1% annualized. Worst drawdown: PHB -71.2% vs VTI -55.3%.
Should I hold both PHB and VTI?
PHB and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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, PHB or VTI?
PHB yields 5.06% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PHB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PHB?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. PHB is less concentrated, with 10.1% 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.