PICK vs VTI

PICK vs VTI

Which is better, PICK or VTI?

Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. PICK led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: split

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

MetricPICKVTI
Expense Ratio0.39%0.03%Best
AUM$2.6B$666.9B
Dividend Yield2.03%1.03%
Holdings2913,543
YTD Return+26.76%Best+12.34%
1Y Return+62.31%Best+18.37%
3Y Return (annualized)+21.83%Best+20.62%
5Y Return (annualized)+12.86%Best+11.68%
Volatility (annualized)27.2%14.4%Best
Max Drawdown-80.4%-35.0%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$18,311Best$17,373
Fund FamilyiShares by BlackRock (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap ValueLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJan 31, 2012May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2012 to Sep 9, 2026 (14.6 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 14.6 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 +62.31% while VTI returned +18.37%. Year to date, PICK is up 26.76% versus a gain of 12.34% for VTI.

Over three years, PICK compounded at +21.83% per year against +20.62% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.86% and +11.68% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.95% annualized vs +5.78%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

PICK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.2% 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

PICK already in VTI16.6%

At least 16.6% of PICK's money is in holdings VTI also owns.

Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

PICK and VTI share little of their money.

19 positions in common, counted across the 256 positions we hold weights for in PICK and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 291 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in PICKWeight in VTIDifference
FCXFreeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc5.95%0.12%5.83%
NUENucor Corp.3.64%0.07%3.57%
STLDSteel Dynamics Inc2.18%0.04%2.14%
RSReliance Steel & Aluminum Co.1.29%0.03%1.26%
AAAlcoa Corp0.75%0.02%0.73%
CMCCommercial Metals Co0.50%0.00%0.50%
CLFCleveland-Cliffs, Inc.0.43%0.00%0.43%
MPMp Materials Corp0.41%0.01%0.40%
MTRNMaterion Corp0.36%0.00%0.36%
HCCWarrior Met Coal Inc0.26%0.00%0.26%

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.

PICKVTI

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 +62.31% vs +18.37% for VTI, so PICK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), PICK annualized +5.78% vs +12.95% 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 27.2% 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?

At least 16.6% of PICK's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 256 positions we hold weights for in PICK and 2,787 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, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.