PSMD vs VTI
Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (January) ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PSMD or VTI?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95.
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 | PSMD | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $94M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 6 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +7.56% | +11.65%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.26% | +17.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.11% | +20.35%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.31% | +11.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.4%Best | 15.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0%Best | -25.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,606 | $17,404Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 22, 2020 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 23, 2020 to Sep 10, 2026 (5.7 years).
PSMD 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 5.7 years both funds cover.
PSMD vs VTI Performance
Pacer Swan SOS Moderate (January) ETF (PSMD) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PSMD returned +11.26% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, PSMD is up 7.56% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.
Over three years, PSMD compounded at +12.11% per year against +20.35% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.31% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.72% annualized vs +9.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 7.4% for PSMD. 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 -12.0% for PSMD and -25.4% 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSMD charges 0.49% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSMD currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in PSMD and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 0.3% and 90.6% 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 63 days apart, PSMD as of Sep 1, 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 1 positions we hold weights for in PSMD and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 6 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PSMD 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, PSMD or VTI?
PSMD has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSMD or VTI?
Over the past year PSMD returned +11.26% vs +17.34% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), PSMD annualized +9.77% vs +13.72% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSMD or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 7.4% for PSMD. Worst drawdown: PSMD -12.0% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both PSMD and VTI?
PSMD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, PSMD or VTI?
PSMD yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PSMD?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.