QSML vs VTI
WisdomTree US SmallCap Quality Growth Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, QSML or VTI?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. QSML is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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 | QSML | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $13M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 391 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +14.02%Best | +12.30% |
| 1Y Return | +14.41% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 12.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.3% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $13,284 | $15,853Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.7%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 25, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 25, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.6 years).
QSML 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
QSML vs VTI Performance
WisdomTree US SmallCap Quality Growth Fund (QSML) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QSML returned +14.41% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, QSML is up 14.02% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QSML has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 12.3% 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 -28.3% for QSML 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QSML charges 0.38% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $3 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QSML currently yields 0.52% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
95.2% of QSML's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.1% of VTI's money is in holdings QSML also owns.
Most of QSML is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
358 positions in common, counted across the 375 positions we hold weights for in QSML and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 391 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,046 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for QSML (96.4% of the fund), and 9 for QSML that do not appear in VTI (1.8%).
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 QSML | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATHUipath Inc Series D-1 | 0.78% | 0.01% | 0.77% |
| TGTXTg Therapeutics Inc Common Stock | 0.76% | 0.01% | 0.75% |
| VCTRVictory Receivables Corp | 0.68% | 0.01% | 0.67% |
| ELFElf Beauty, Inc. | 0.66% | 0.01% | 0.65% |
| ESNT:BMEssent Group Ltd | 0.65% | 0.01% | 0.64% |
| EPAMEpam Systems, Inc. | 0.64% | 0.01% | 0.63% |
| GTLBGitlab Inc Cl A | 0.64% | 0.01% | 0.63% |
| LYFTLyft Inc. Class A | 0.64% | 0.01% | 0.63% |
| ANFAbercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 0.63% | 0.01% | 0.62% |
| ZETAZeta Global Holdings Corp-A | 0.63% | 0.01% | 0.62% |
95.2% of QSML 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, QSML or VTI?
QSML has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QSML or VTI?
Over the past year QSML returned +14.41% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QSML or VTI?
QSML has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 12.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: QSML -28.3% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both QSML and VTI?
QSML and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 QSML and VTI?
95.2% of QSML's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.1% of VTI's is in holdings QSML also owns. They hold 358 positions in common, counted across the 375 positions we hold weights for in QSML and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QSML or VTI?
QSML yields 0.52% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than QSML?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. QSML is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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.