RTAI vs VTI

RTAI vs VTI

Which is better, RTAI 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

MetricRTAIVTI
Expense Ratio4.59%0.03%Best
AUM$18M$666.9B
Dividend Yield4.98%1.03%
Holdings153,543
YTD Return-5.93%+11.65%Best
1Y Return-4.19%+17.34%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+5.35%+20.35%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-3.07%+11.72%Best
Volatility (annualized)13.7%Best15.7%
Max Drawdown-34.3%-25.4%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$8,556$17,404Best
Fund FamilyRareview CapitalVanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
Style-Large Cap Blend
InceptionOct 21, 2020May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 21, 2020 to Sep 10, 2026 (5.9 years).

RTAI 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 5.9 years both funds cover.

RTAI vs VTI Performance

Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF (RTAI) is an ETF from Rareview Capital and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RTAI returned -4.19% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, RTAI is down 5.93% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.

Over three years, RTAI compounded at +5.35% per year against +20.35% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -3.07% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +15.22% annualized vs +0.03%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 13.7% for RTAI. 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 -34.3% for RTAI and -25.4% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

RTAI charges 4.59% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $459 vs $3 annually, a gap of $456 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RTAI currently yields 4.98% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

RTAI already in VTI17.4%

At least 17.4% of RTAI's money is in holdings VTI also owns.

Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

RTAI and VTI share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, RTAI as of Aug 18, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

1 positions in common, counted across the 10 positions we hold weights for in RTAI and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 15 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in RTAIWeight in VTIDifference
MHDBlackrock Muniholdings Fund17.45%0.00%17.45%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

RTAIVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, RTAI or VTI?

RTAI has an expense ratio of 4.59% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $456 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, RTAI or VTI?

Over the past year RTAI returned -4.19% vs +17.34% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), RTAI annualized +0.03% vs +15.22% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, RTAI or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 13.7% for RTAI. Worst drawdown: RTAI -34.3% vs VTI -25.4%.

Should I hold both RTAI and VTI?

RTAI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 RTAI and VTI?

At least 17.4% of RTAI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 10 positions we hold weights for in RTAI and 2,787 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, RTAI or VTI?

RTAI yields 4.98% while VTI yields 1.03%, so RTAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than RTAI?

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.