PWS vs VTI
Pacer WealthShield ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PWS or VTI?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PWS is less concentrated, with 30.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | PWS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $25M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 359 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -0.19% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.07% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.17% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.79% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 16.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.9%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,928 | $17,908Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.4%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2017 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2017 to Sep 18, 2026 (8.8 years).
PWS 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 8.8 years both funds cover.
PWS vs VTI Performance
Pacer WealthShield ETF (PWS) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PWS returned +2.07% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, PWS is down 0.19% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, PWS compounded at +7.17% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +1.79% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.17% annualized vs +4.24%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.8% compared with 12.5% for PWS. 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 -24.9% for PWS 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PWS 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, PWS currently yields 1.27% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
98.4% of PWS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 46.5% of VTI's money is in holdings PWS also owns.
Most of PWS is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
338 positions in common, counted across the 352 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 359 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 902 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PWS (51.0% of the fund), and 6 for PWS that do not appear in VTI (0.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PWS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.44% | 6.40% | 1.96% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.86% | 6.29% | 2.43% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.13% | 4.79% | 1.66% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 6.10% | 0.89% | 5.21% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 3.52% | 0.52% | 3.00% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.46% | 2.56% | 1.10% |
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 2.66% | 0.23% | 2.43% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 2.08% | 0.19% | 1.89% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.90% | 1.29% | 0.39% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 1.65% | 0.14% | 1.51% |
98.4% of PWS is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PWS or VTI?
PWS 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 performed better, PWS or VTI?
Over the past year PWS returned +2.07% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PWS annualized +4.24% vs +13.17% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PWS or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.8% annualized versus 12.5% for PWS. Worst drawdown: PWS -24.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both PWS and VTI?
PWS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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 PWS and VTI?
98.4% of PWS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 46.5% of VTI's is in holdings PWS also owns. They hold 338 positions in common, counted across the 352 positions we hold weights for in PWS and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PWS or VTI?
PWS yields 1.27% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PWS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PWS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. PWS is less concentrated, with 30.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.