PMTL vs VTI
First Trust Indxx Quality Precious Metals Miners ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PMTL or VTI?
Precious Metals against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.8%.
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 | PMTL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 75 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +15.44%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | - | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.31% |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Precious Metals | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 22, 2026 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
PMTL 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
PMTL vs VTI Performance
First Trust Indxx Quality Precious Metals Miners ETF (PMTL) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, PMTL is up 15.44% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PMTL charges 0.65% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PMTL currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
11.0% of PMTL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings PMTL also owns.
PMTL and VTI share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, PMTL 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in PMTL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 75 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,146 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PMTL (97.3% of the fund), and 6 for PMTL that do not appear in VTI (8.5%).
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 PMTL 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, PMTL or VTI?
PMTL has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between PMTL and VTI?
11.0% of PMTL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's is in holdings PMTL also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in PMTL and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PMTL or VTI?
PMTL yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PMTL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.