RMT vs VTI
Royce Micro-Cap Trust Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RMT or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RMT led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. RMT is less concentrated, with 14.9% 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 | RMT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $830M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.27% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 171 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +35.51%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +40.44%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.54%Best | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.65% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.4% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.4% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,141 | $18,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.9%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 14, 1993 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 1, 2003 to Oct 2, 2026 (22.8 years).
RMT 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 22.8 years both funds cover.
RMT vs VTI Performance
Royce Micro-Cap Trust Inc. (RMT) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RMT returned +40.44% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, RMT is up 35.51% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, RMT compounded at +28.54% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.65% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.46% annualized vs +2.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RMT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.4% compared with 15.0% 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 -80.4% for RMT and -56.6% 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RMT charges 1.35% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $135 vs $3 annually, a gap of $132 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RMT currently yields 5.27% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
85.3% of RMT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings RMT also owns.
Most of RMT is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
137 positions in common, counted across the 169 positions we hold weights for in RMT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 171 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,142 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for RMT (97.3% of the fund), and 10 for RMT that do not appear in VTI (5.4%).
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 RMT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICHRIchor Holdings Ltd | 1.82% | 0.00% | 1.82% |
| UCTTUltra Clean Hold | 1.80% | 0.00% | 1.80% |
| COHUCohu Inc | 1.65% | 0.00% | 1.65% |
| GHMGraham Corp Com | 1.54% | 0.00% | 1.54% |
| NWPXNorthwest Pipe Co | 1.46% | 0.00% | 1.46% |
| BELFBBel Fuse Inc Class B | 1.44% | 0.00% | 1.44% |
| EZPWEzcorp, Inc. - Class A | 1.37% | 0.00% | 1.37% |
| LINDLindblad Expeditions Holdings Inc | 1.31% | 0.00% | 1.31% |
| RELLRichardson Electronics Ltd/United States | 1.29% | 0.00% | 1.29% |
| CECOCeco Environmental Corp Common Stock Usd 0.01 | 1.26% | 0.00% | 1.26% |
85.3% of RMT 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, RMT or VTI?
RMT has an expense ratio of 1.35% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $132 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RMT or VTI?
Over the past year RMT returned +40.44% vs +15.92% for VTI, so RMT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), RMT annualized +2.17% vs +9.46% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RMT or VTI?
RMT has been the more volatile fund at 23.4% annualized versus 15.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RMT -80.4% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both RMT and VTI?
RMT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 RMT and VTI?
85.3% of RMT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's is in holdings RMT also owns. They hold 137 positions in common, counted across the 169 positions we hold weights for in RMT and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RMT or VTI?
RMT yields 5.27% while VTI yields 1.03%, so RMT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RMT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RMT led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. RMT is less concentrated, with 14.9% 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.