REFA vs VTI
Columbia Research Enhanced International Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, REFA or VTI?
VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. REFA is less concentrated, with 24.8% 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 | REFA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.32% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.03% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 432 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +10.56% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Columbia Threadneedle Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
REFA 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.
REFA vs VTI Performance
Columbia Research Enhanced International Equity ETF (REFA) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, REFA is up 10.56% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
REFA charges 0.32% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $32 vs $3 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, REFA currently yields 0.03% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of REFA's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 210 positions we hold weights for in REFA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 432 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for REFA (97.5% of the fund), and 2 for REFA that do not appear in VTI (0.6%).
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 REFA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGP:AUStockland | 0.11% | 0.00% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of REFA 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, REFA or VTI?
REFA has an expense ratio of 0.32% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, REFA or VTI?
REFA yields 0.03% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than REFA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. REFA is less concentrated, with 24.8% 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.