RFEM vs VTI
First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RFEM or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RFEM led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.4%.
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 | RFEM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.99% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $84M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 119 | 3,543 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.6% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 10.2 years | $24,312 | $38,193Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.4% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 14, 2016 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 14 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. RFEM has data through Sep 11, 2026 and VTI through Sep 25, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 10.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 15, 2016 to Sep 11, 2026 (10.2 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 15.7% 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 -45.6% for RFEM 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFEM charges 0.99% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $99 vs $3 annually, a gap of $96 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFEM currently yields 2.51% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of RFEM'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 111 positions we hold weights for in RFEM and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 119 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for RFEM (97.4% of the fund), and 8 for RFEM that do not appear in VTI (6.3%).
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 RFEM | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCIService Corp International | 0.46% | 0.02% | 0.44% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RFEM 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, RFEM or VTI?
RFEM has an expense ratio of 0.99% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $96 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, RFEM or VTI?
RFEM has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RFEM -45.6% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both RFEM and VTI?
RFEM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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, RFEM or VTI?
RFEM yields 2.51% while VTI yields 1.03%, so RFEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RFEM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RFEM led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.