RQI vs VTI

RQI vs VTI

Which is better, RQI or VTI?

VTI has been ahead.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

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

MetricRQIVTI
Expense Ratio3.45%0.03%Best
AUM$1,620.47$666.9B
Dividend Yield8.96%1.03%
Holdings2083,543
YTD Return+5.80%+12.30%Best
1Y Return+0.08%+16.08%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+9.84%+21.01%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+2.09%+12.36%Best
Volatility (annualized)33.2%15.3%Best
Max Drawdown-94.1%-56.6%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$11,090$17,908Best
Fund FamilyCohen & Steers FundsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionFeb 28, 2002May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2002 to Sep 18, 2026 (24.6 years).

RQI 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 24.6 years both funds cover.

RQI vs VTI Performance

Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund Inc (RQI) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RQI returned +0.08% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, RQI is up 5.80% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.

Over three years, RQI compounded at +9.84% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.09% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.79% annualized vs +0.75%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

RQI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.2% compared with 15.3% 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 -94.1% for RQI 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

RQI charges 3.45% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $345 vs $3 annually, a gap of $342 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RQI currently yields 8.96% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

VTI already in RQI2.5%

At least 2.5% of VTI's money is in holdings RQI also owns.

Only one direction is shown: for RQI, our book for it lists positions totalling 138.2% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.

VTI and RQI share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, RQI as of Mar 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

41 positions in common, counted across the 170 positions we hold weights for in RQI and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 208 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in RQIWeight in VTIDifference
WELLWelltower, Inc.17.16%0.23%16.93%
DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc.10.71%0.09%10.62%
AMTAmerican Tower Corporation8.41%0.11%8.30%
CCICrown Castle International Corp6.89%0.05%6.84%
PLDPrologis Inc6.49%0.19%6.30%
EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust4.71%0.14%4.57%
EXRExtra Space Storage Inc.4.75%0.04%4.71%
KIMKimco Realty Corp.4.33%0.02%4.31%
IRMIron Mtn Inc New Com Npv4.13%0.05%4.08%
ELSEquity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.3.42%0.02%3.40%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of RQI and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

RQIVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, RQI or VTI?

RQI has an expense ratio of 3.45% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $342 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, RQI or VTI?

Over the past year RQI returned +0.08% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), RQI annualized +0.75% vs +8.79% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, RQI or VTI?

RQI has been the more volatile fund at 33.2% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RQI -94.1% vs VTI -56.6%.

Should I hold both RQI and VTI?

RQI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 RQI and VTI?

At least 2.5% of VTI's money is in holdings RQI also owns. Our book for RQI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 41 positions in common, counted across the 170 positions we hold weights for in RQI and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, RQI or VTI?

RQI yields 8.96% while VTI yields 1.03%, so RQI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than RQI?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.