SMCO vs VTI
Hilton Small-MidCap Opportunity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SMCO or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. SMCO is less concentrated, with 23.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | SMCO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $134M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.94% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 131 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +2.83% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.00% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.7% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $14,091 | $17,287Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.9%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Hilton Capital Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2023 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 29, 2023 to Oct 2, 2026 (2.8 years).
SMCO 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
SMCO vs VTI Performance
Hilton Small-MidCap Opportunity ETF (SMCO) is an ETF from Hilton Capital Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMCO returned +4.00% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, SMCO is up 2.83% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMCO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 11.9% 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 -22.7% for SMCO 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMCO 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, SMCO currently yields 0.94% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
94.4% of SMCO's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.1% of VTI's money is in holdings SMCO also owns.
Most of SMCO is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, SMCO as of Sep 15, 2026 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.
60 positions in common, counted across the 64 positions we hold weights for in SMCO and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 131 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,099 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SMCO (96.4% of the fund), and 3 for SMCO that do not appear in VTI (3.3%).
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 SMCO | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLHClean Harbors Inc | 2.96% | 0.02% | 2.94% |
| CFRCullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. | 2.63% | 0.01% | 2.62% |
| WSTWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc | 2.53% | 0.03% | 2.50% |
| EQTEQT Corp. | 2.47% | 0.05% | 2.42% |
| HQYHealthequity Inc | 2.49% | 0.01% | 2.48% |
| TDYTeledyne Technologies Inc | 2.33% | 0.04% | 2.29% |
| IDAIdacorp Inc Ida | 2.22% | 0.01% | 2.21% |
| RDNTRadnet Inc | 2.13% | 0.01% | 2.12% |
| STE:IESteris Plc Ordinary Shares | 2.07% | 0.03% | 2.04% |
| DYDycom Industries Inc_None_0 | 2.04% | 0.02% | 2.02% |
94.4% of SMCO 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, SMCO or VTI?
SMCO 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, SMCO or VTI?
Over the past year SMCO returned +4.00% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMCO or VTI?
SMCO has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 11.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SMCO -22.7% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both SMCO and VTI?
SMCO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 SMCO and VTI?
94.4% of SMCO's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.1% of VTI's is in holdings SMCO also owns. They hold 60 positions in common, counted across the 64 positions we hold weights for in SMCO and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMCO or VTI?
SMCO yields 0.94% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SMCO?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. SMCO is less concentrated, with 23.9% 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.