SIL vs VTI
Global X Silver Miners ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SIL or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SIL led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 75.7%.
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 | SIL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.1B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 42 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +3.76% | +11.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.54%Best | +15.05% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +57.62%Best | +22.32% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +21.06%Best | +12.50% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 40.4% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.4% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $26,002Best | $18,020 |
| Top 10 Weight | 75.7% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2010 to Sep 30, 2026 (16.4 years).
SIL 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 16.4 years both funds cover.
SIL vs VTI Performance
Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SIL returned +21.54% while VTI returned +15.05%. Year to date, SIL is up 3.76% versus a gain of 11.95% for VTI.
Over three years, SIL compounded at +57.62% per year against +22.32% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +21.06% and +12.50% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.09% annualized vs +4.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SIL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 40.4% compared with 14.9% 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 -83.4% for SIL and -35.0% 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SIL 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, SIL currently yields 1.04% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
16.7% of SIL's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
SIL and VTI share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in SIL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 42 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,148 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SIL (97.4% of the fund), and 3 for SIL that do not appear in VTI (5.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SIL 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, SIL or VTI?
SIL 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, SIL or VTI?
Over the past year SIL returned +21.54% vs +15.05% for VTI, so SIL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SIL annualized +4.53% vs +12.09% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SIL or VTI?
SIL has been the more volatile fund at 40.4% annualized versus 14.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SIL -83.4% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both SIL and VTI?
SIL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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 SIL and VTI?
16.7% of SIL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.0% of VTI's is in holdings SIL also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in SIL and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SIL or VTI?
SIL yields 1.04% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SIL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SIL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SIL led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 75.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.