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. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.0% 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 | RUSC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $80M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 490 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +15.64%Best | +11.95% |
| 1Y Return | +19.60%Best | +15.05% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.32% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.50% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.2% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,742Best | $13,174 |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.0%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Russell Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 13, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026 (1.4 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 1.4 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 +19.60% while VTI returned +15.05%. Year to date, RUSC is up 15.64% versus a gain of 11.95% 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 15.4% compared with 11.9% 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 0.74. 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 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
75.3% of RUSC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.7% of VTI's money is in holdings RUSC also owns.
Most of RUSC is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
365 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 490 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,014 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for RUSC (95.8% of the fund), and 17 for RUSC that do not appear in VTI (3.2%).
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 RUSC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGNDLigand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.64% | 0.01% | 0.63% |
| APPNAppian Corp | 0.59% | 0.00% | 0.59% |
| WTTRSelect Energy Services Inc | 0.58% | 0.00% | 0.58% |
| UTZUtz Brands, Inc. | 0.50% | 0.00% | 0.50% |
| ORKAOruka Therapeutics Inc Orka | 0.47% | 0.01% | 0.46% |
| CDNACaredx Inc | 0.47% | 0.00% | 0.47% |
| ARTNAArtesian Resources Corporation | 0.46% | 0.00% | 0.46% |
| BBIOBridgebio Pharma Inc_None_0 | 0.44% | 0.02% | 0.42% |
| OCFCOceanfirst Financial Corp. Com | 0.45% | 0.00% | 0.45% |
| RYNRayonier Inc | 0.44% | 0.01% | 0.43% |
75.3% 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
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 +19.60% vs +15.05% for VTI, so RUSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RUSC annualized +25.49% vs +21.76% 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 15.4% annualized versus 11.9% 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 0.74, 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?
75.3% of RUSC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.7% of VTI's is in holdings RUSC also owns. They hold 365 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RUSC or VTI?
RUSC yields 0.32% while VTI yields 1.03%, 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. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.0% 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.