RING vs VTI
iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RING or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RING led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.8%.
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 | RING | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.37% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 53 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +12.19% | +13.14%Best |
| 1Y Return | +30.70%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +56.88%Best | +22.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +29.34%Best | +12.01% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 38.6% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $36,196Best | $17,631 |
| Top 10 Weight | 66.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2012 to Sep 23, 2026 (14.6 years).
RING 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 14.6 years both funds cover.
RING vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RING returned +30.70% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, RING is up 12.19% versus a gain of 13.14% for VTI.
Over three years, RING compounded at +56.88% per year against +22.30% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +29.34% and +12.01% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.97% annualized vs +3.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RING has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 38.6% compared with 14.4% 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 -80.2% for RING 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 0.20. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RING charges 0.39% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RING currently yields 1.37% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
19.6% of RING's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings RING also owns.
RING and VTI share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in RING and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 53 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,148 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for RING (97.3% of the fund), and 3 for RING that do not appear in VTI (2.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RING 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, RING or VTI?
RING has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RING or VTI?
Over the past year RING returned +30.70% vs +16.63% for VTI, so RING leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), RING annualized +3.98% vs +12.97% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RING or VTI?
RING has been the more volatile fund at 38.6% annualized versus 14.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RING -80.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both RING and VTI?
RING and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.20, 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 RING and VTI?
19.6% of RING's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's is in holdings RING also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in RING and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RING or VTI?
RING yields 1.37% while VTI yields 1.03%, so RING currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RING?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RING led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.