PICK vs VTI
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PICK or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PICK led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.8%.
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 | PICK | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.6B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.03% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 291 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +14.51%Best | +11.95% |
| 1Y Return | +36.88%Best | +15.05% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.91% | +22.32%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.74%Best | +12.50% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.3% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.4% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,213Best | $18,020 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2012 to Sep 30, 2026 (14.7 years).
PICK 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 14.7 years both funds cover.
PICK vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF (PICK) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PICK returned +36.88% while VTI returned +15.05%. Year to date, PICK is up 14.51% versus a gain of 11.95% for VTI.
Over three years, PICK compounded at +18.91% per year against +22.32% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.74% and +12.50% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.87% annualized vs +5.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PICK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.3% compared with 14.4% 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 -80.4% for PICK 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PICK charges 0.39% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PICK currently yields 2.03% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
16.1% of PICK's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's money is in holdings PICK also owns.
PICK and VTI share little of their money.
22 positions in common, counted across the 246 positions we hold weights for in PICK and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 291 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,140 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PICK (97.1% of the fund), and 5 for PICK that do not appear in VTI (1.6%).
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
| Stock | Weight in PICK | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCXFreeport-mcmoran Copper & Gold Inc. | 6.26% | 0.12% | 6.14% |
| NUENucor Corp. | 3.19% | 0.08% | 3.11% |
| STLDSteel Dynamics, Inc. | 1.83% | 0.05% | 1.78% |
| RSReliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | 1.13% | 0.03% | 1.10% |
| AAAlcoa Corp | 0.76% | 0.02% | 0.74% |
| MPMp Materials Corp | 0.45% | 0.01% | 0.44% |
| CMCCommercial Metals Co | 0.43% | 0.01% | 0.42% |
| CLFCliffs Natural Resources Inc. | 0.38% | 0.01% | 0.37% |
| HCCWarrior Met Coal Inc | 0.33% | 0.01% | 0.32% |
| MTRNMaterion Corp | 0.28% | 0.01% | 0.27% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PICK 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, PICK or VTI?
PICK has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PICK or VTI?
Over the past year PICK returned +36.88% vs +15.05% for VTI, so PICK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PICK annualized +5.03% vs +12.87% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PICK or VTI?
PICK has been the more volatile fund at 27.3% annualized versus 14.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PICK -80.4% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both PICK and VTI?
PICK and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 PICK and VTI?
16.1% of PICK's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's is in holdings PICK also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 246 positions we hold weights for in PICK and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PICK or VTI?
PICK yields 2.03% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PICK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PICK?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PICK led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.