SLYG vs VTI
State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SLYG or VTI?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SLYG led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SLYG is less concentrated, with 9.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%.
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 | SLYG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.6B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.71% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 702 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | +17.87%Best | +12.23% |
| 1Y Return | +19.73%Best | +12.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.02% | +21.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.25% | +10.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -60.4% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,313 | $16,722Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.3%Best | 34.6% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2000 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Nov 11, 2026 (25.4 years).
SLYG 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 25.4 years both funds cover.
SLYG vs VTI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SLYG returned +19.73% while VTI returned +12.74%. Year to date, SLYG is up 17.87% versus a gain of 12.23% for VTI.
Over three years, SLYG compounded at +17.02% per year against +21.44% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.25% and +10.83% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +7.98% annualized vs +7.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SLYG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 15.3% 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 -60.4% for SLYG 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SLYG charges 0.15% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $3 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SLYG currently yields 0.71% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
98.1% of SLYG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.1% of VTI's money is in holdings SLYG also owns.
Most of SLYG is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
342 positions in common, counted across the 348 positions we hold weights for in SLYG and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 702 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,020 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SLYG (95.8% of the fund), and 5 for SLYG that do not appear in VTI (1.3%).
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
| Stock | Weight in SLYG | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PTGXProtagonist Therapeutics Inc | 1.10% | 0.01% | 1.09% |
| VSATViasat Inc | 1.06% | 0.01% | 1.05% |
| RHPRyman Hospitality Properties | 1.04% | 0.01% | 1.03% |
| TGTXTg Therapeutics Inc Common Stock | 0.96% | 0.01% | 0.95% |
| ETSYEtsy Inc | 0.88% | 0.01% | 0.87% |
| FSSFederal Signal Corp | 0.86% | 0.01% | 0.85% |
| ZWSZurn Water Solutions Corporation | 0.86% | 0.01% | 0.85% |
| AWIArmstrong World Industries Inc | 0.86% | 0.01% | 0.85% |
| MSGSMadison Square Garden Co/the | 0.86% | 0.00% | 0.86% |
| GKOSGlaukos Corp. | 0.85% | 0.01% | 0.84% |
98.1% of SLYG 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, SLYG or VTI?
SLYG has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SLYG or VTI?
Over the past year SLYG returned +19.73% vs +12.74% for VTI, so SLYG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), SLYG annualized +7.34% vs +7.98% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SLYG or VTI?
SLYG has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SLYG -60.4% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SLYG and VTI?
SLYG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 SLYG and VTI?
98.1% of SLYG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.1% of VTI's is in holdings SLYG also owns. They hold 342 positions in common, counted across the 348 positions we hold weights for in SLYG and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SLYG or VTI?
SLYG yields 0.71% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SLYG?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SLYG led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SLYG is less concentrated, with 9.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.