SAMM vs VTI

SAMM vs VTI

Which is better, SAMM or VTI?

Each has led over a different period.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. SAMM led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. SAMM is less concentrated, with 27.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: splitLess Concentrated: SAMM

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

MetricSAMMVTI
Expense Ratio0.65%0.03%Best
AUM$45M$690.1B
Dividend Yield0.95%1.03%
Holdings413,524
YTD Return+18.68%Best+13.35%
1Y Return+24.83%Best+15.92%
3Y Return (annualized)-+23.41%
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.83%
Volatility (annualized)15.1%11.8%Best
Max Drawdown-24.6%-19.3%Best
$10,000 over 2.5 years$14,788$15,322Best
Top 10 Weight27.8%Best33.3%
Fund FamilyStrategas Asset Management, LLCVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionApr 3, 2024May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 4, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026 (2.5 years).

SAMM 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 2.5 years both funds cover.

SAMM vs VTI Performance

Strategas Macro Momentum ETF (SAMM) is an ETF from Strategas Asset Management, LLC and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SAMM returned +24.83% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, SAMM is up 18.68% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SAMM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 11.8% 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 -24.6% for SAMM and -19.3% 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

SAMM charges 0.65% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAMM currently yields 0.95% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

SAMM already in VTI95.2%
VTI already in SAMM7.0%

95.2% of SAMM's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 7.0% of VTI's money is in holdings SAMM also owns.

Most of SAMM is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

38 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in SAMM and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 41 and 3,524.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,114 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SAMM (90.5% of the fund), and 1 for SAMM that do not appear in VTI (2.3%).

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

StockWeight in SAMMWeight in VTIDifference
MUMicron Technology, Inc.2.53%1.29%1.24%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc2.60%1.08%1.52%
INTCIntel Corporation2.82%0.50%2.32%
DELLDell Technologies Inc3.03%0.16%2.87%
BECfd Bloom Energy Corp- A3.06%0.08%2.98%
CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc2.69%0.26%2.43%
HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co2.79%0.09%2.70%
SNDKSandisk Corp/De2.63%0.25%2.38%
VLOValero Energy2.72%0.13%2.59%
AMATApplied Materials, Inc.2.29%0.56%1.73%

95.2% of SAMM 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.

SAMMVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SAMM or VTI?

SAMM has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SAMM or VTI?

Over the past year SAMM returned +24.83% vs +15.92% for VTI, so SAMM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SAMM or VTI?

SAMM has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 11.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SAMM -24.6% vs VTI -19.3%.

Should I hold both SAMM and VTI?

SAMM 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 SAMM and VTI?

95.2% of SAMM's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 7.0% of VTI's is in holdings SAMM also owns. They hold 38 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in SAMM and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, SAMM or VTI?

SAMM yields 0.95% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than SAMM?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. SAMM led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. SAMM is less concentrated, with 27.8% 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.