PPEM vs VTI

PPEM vs VTI

Which is better, PPEM or VTI?

All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. PPEM led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: PPEM

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

MetricPPEMVTI
Expense Ratio0.60%0.03%Best
AUM$2M$666.9B
Dividend Yield49.41%1.07%
Holdings1163,543
Volatility (annualized)16.7%13.3%Best
Max Drawdown-18.4%Best-19.3%
$10,000 over 3.4 years$19,275Best$19,184
Fund FamilyPutnam InvestmentsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleAll Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJan 19, 2023May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.

The two price series end 87 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. PPEM has data through Jun 9, 2026 and VTI through Sep 4, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 20, 2023 to Jun 9, 2026 (3.4 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

PPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 13.3% 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 -18.4% for PPEM and -19.3% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

PPEM charges 0.60% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $3 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PPEM currently yields 49.41% against 1.07% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 109 holdings in PPEM and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 108.0% and 92.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

The two holdings books were reported 123 days apart, PPEM as of Feb 27, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

0 positions in common, counted across the 109 positions we hold weights for in PPEM and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 116 and 3,543.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of PPEM and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

PPEMVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, PPEM or VTI?

PPEM has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, PPEM or VTI?

PPEM has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 13.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PPEM -18.4% vs VTI -19.3%.

Should I hold both PPEM and VTI?

PPEM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, PPEM or VTI?

PPEM yields 49.41% while VTI yields 1.07%, so PPEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than PPEM?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. PPEM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.