SAA vs VTI
ProShares Ultra SmallCap600 vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SAA or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SAA led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y 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 | SAA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $28M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.79% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 607 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +25.67%Best | +12.30% |
| 1Y Return | +25.25%Best | +16.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.45% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.66% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 41.1% | 15.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.1% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,969 | $17,908Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 23, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 25, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.6 years).
SAA 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
SAA vs VTI Performance
ProShares Ultra SmallCap600 (SAA) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SAA returned +25.25% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, SAA is up 25.67% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, SAA compounded at +18.45% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +3.66% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.31% annualized vs +8.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.1% compared with 15.9% 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 -88.1% for SAA 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAA charges 0.95% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAA currently yields 0.79% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.9% of VTI's money is in holdings SAA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SAA, our book for it covers 74.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and SAA share little of their money.
578 positions in common, counted across the 595 positions we hold weights for in SAA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 607 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SAA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CORTCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 0.45% | 0.01% | 0.44% |
| GKOSGlaukos Corp. | 0.44% | 0.01% | 0.43% |
| EATBrinker International, Inc. | 0.41% | 0.01% | 0.40% |
| MTCHMatch Group Inc | 0.40% | 0.01% | 0.39% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.39% | 0.01% | 0.38% |
| VSATViasat Inc | 0.38% | 0.01% | 0.37% |
| PTGXProtagonist Therapeutics Inc | 0.37% | 0.01% | 0.36% |
| KMXCarmax Inc. | 0.36% | 0.01% | 0.35% |
| RHPRyman Healthcare Limited | 0.36% | 0.01% | 0.35% |
| EMNEastman Chemical Co. | 0.35% | 0.01% | 0.34% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SAA and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SAA or VTI?
SAA has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SAA or VTI?
Over the past year SAA returned +25.25% vs +16.08% for VTI, so SAA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SAA annualized +8.32% vs +9.31% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAA or VTI?
SAA has been the more volatile fund at 41.1% annualized versus 15.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SAA -88.1% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SAA and VTI?
SAA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 SAA and VTI?
At least 1.9% of VTI's money is in holdings SAA also owns. Our book for SAA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 578 positions in common, counted across the 595 positions we hold weights for in SAA and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SAA or VTI?
SAA yields 0.79% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SAA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SAA led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.