SABA vs VTI
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SABA or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 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 | SABA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.71% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $253M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.32% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 740 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +3.30% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.74% | +18.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.03% | +23.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.17% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.4%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -62.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,689 | $17,734Best |
| Fund Family | Saba Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 17, 1988 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 25, 2026 (25.3 years).
SABA 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
SABA vs VTI Performance
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II (SABA) is an ETF from Saba Capital and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SABA returned -2.74% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, SABA is up 3.30% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, SABA compounded at +11.03% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +3.17% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.07% annualized vs +0.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 13.4% for SABA. 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 -62.0% for SABA 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SABA charges 0.71% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $71 vs $3 annually, a gap of $68 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SABA currently yields 8.32% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 24.8% of VTI's money is in holdings SABA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SABA, our book for it covers 38.1% 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 SABA share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 365 days apart, SABA as of Jul 31, 2025 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.
179 positions in common, counted across the 379 positions we hold weights for in SABA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 740 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SABA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | -0.14% | 6.40% | 6.54% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | -0.45% | 3.65% | 4.10% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | -0.05% | 1.35% | 1.40% |
| CNNECannae Holdings Incorporation Com | 1.27% | 0.00% | 1.27% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | -0.61% | 1.70% | 2.31% |
| BMBLBumble Inc | 0.93% | 0.00% | 0.93% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | -0.08% | 0.83% | 0.91% |
| SNAPSnap Inc. | 0.61% | 0.01% | 0.60% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | -0.02% | 0.55% | 0.57% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | -0.03% | 0.52% | 0.55% |
24.8% of VTI is already inside SABA.
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, SABA or VTI?
SABA has an expense ratio of 0.71% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $68 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SABA or VTI?
Over the past year SABA returned -2.74% vs +18.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), SABA annualized +0.19% vs +8.07% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SABA or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 13.4% for SABA. Worst drawdown: SABA -62.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SABA and VTI?
SABA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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 SABA and VTI?
At least 24.8% of VTI's money is in holdings SABA also owns. Our book for SABA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 179 positions in common, counted across the 379 positions we hold weights for in SABA and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SABA or VTI?
SABA yields 8.32% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SABA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SABA?
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.