RUSC vs VTI
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RUSC or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | RUSC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $81M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 490 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +21.07%Best | +12.95% |
| 1Y Return | +25.02%Best | +19.17% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.86% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 11.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.2% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $14,245Best | $13,184 |
| Fund Family | Russell Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 13, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2025 to Sep 8, 2026 (1.3 years).
RUSC 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
RUSC vs VTI Performance
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF (RUSC) is an ETF from Russell Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RUSC returned +25.02% while VTI returned +19.17%. Year to date, RUSC is up 21.07% versus a gain of 12.95% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RUSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 11.7% 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 -9.2% for RUSC and -8.9% 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
RUSC charges 0.64% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $3 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RUSC currently yields 0.32% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 56.3% of RUSC's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 92.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 51 days apart, RUSC as of Aug 20, 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.
283 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 490 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RUSC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTZUtz Brands Inc Class A | 0.50% | 0.00% | 0.50% |
| CDNACaredx Inc | 0.47% | 0.00% | 0.47% |
| ARTNAArtesian Resources Corporation | 0.46% | 0.00% | 0.46% |
| BBIOBridgebio Pharma Inc | 0.44% | 0.02% | 0.42% |
| OCFCOceanfirst Financial Corp Common Stock Usd 0.01 | 0.45% | 0.00% | 0.45% |
| RYNRayonier Inc - Common | 0.44% | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| CXTCrane Nxt Co | 0.44% | 0.00% | 0.44% |
| PDFSPdf Solutions | 0.41% | 0.00% | 0.41% |
| TVTXTravere Therapeutics Inc | 0.41% | 0.00% | 0.41% |
| UVEUniversal Insurance Holdings Inc | 0.41% | 0.00% | 0.41% |
56.3% of RUSC 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RUSC or VTI?
RUSC has an expense ratio of 0.64% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RUSC or VTI?
Over the past year RUSC returned +25.02% vs +19.17% for VTI, so RUSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RUSC annualized +31.28% vs +23.69% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RUSC or VTI?
RUSC has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 11.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RUSC -9.2% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both RUSC and VTI?
RUSC 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.
What is the holdings overlap between RUSC and VTI?
At least 56.3% of RUSC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 283 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 2,788 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RUSC or VTI?
RUSC yields 0.32% while VTI yields 1.07%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RUSC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.