SAWS vs VTI
AAM Sawgrass US Small Cap Quality Growth ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SAWS or VTI?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | SAWS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 75 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +11.09% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.21% | +20.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.0% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $12,368 | $14,290Best |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (2.1 years).
SAWS 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SAWS vs VTI Performance
AAM Sawgrass US Small Cap Quality Growth ETF (SAWS) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SAWS returned +11.21% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, SAWS is up 11.09% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAWS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 12.4% 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 -22.0% for SAWS 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAWS charges 0.55% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAWS currently yields 0.02% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 83.3% of SAWS'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.
Most of SAWS is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, SAWS as of Aug 17, 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.
57 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in SAWS and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 75 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SAWS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNEXStonex Group Inc | 3.66% | 0.01% | 3.65% |
| BTSGBrightspring Health Services Common Stock Usd100.0 | 3.19% | 0.02% | 3.17% |
| PSMTPricesmart Inc | 3.06% | 0.00% | 3.06% |
| DGIIDigi International Inc | 2.91% | 0.00% | 2.91% |
| IRMDIradimed Corp | 2.77% | 0.00% | 2.77% |
| AROCArchrock, Inc. | 2.75% | 0.00% | 2.75% |
| GRDNGuardian Pharmacy Services Inc | 2.69% | 0.00% | 2.69% |
| SANMSanmina Corp | 2.63% | 0.02% | 2.61% |
| GRCGorman-rupp Co/the | 2.57% | 0.00% | 2.57% |
| AEISAdvanced Energy Industries Inc. | 2.40% | 0.02% | 2.38% |
83.3% of SAWS 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, SAWS or VTI?
SAWS has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SAWS or VTI?
Over the past year SAWS returned +11.21% vs +20.00% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SAWS annualized +10.65% vs +18.53% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAWS or VTI?
SAWS has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 12.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SAWS -22.0% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both SAWS and VTI?
SAWS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 SAWS and VTI?
At least 83.3% of SAWS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 57 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in SAWS and 2,787 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SAWS or VTI?
SAWS yields 0.02% while VTI yields 1.07%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SAWS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.