SMDX vs VTI
Intech S&P Small-Mid Cap Diversified Alpha ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SMDX or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SMDX led over 1Y and the full window. SMDX is less concentrated, with 9.4% 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 | SMDX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $125M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.53% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,109 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | +14.87%Best | +12.23% |
| 1Y Return | +18.89%Best | +12.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -16.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $13,274Best | $13,040 |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.4%Best | 34.6% |
| Fund Family | Intech ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 1, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.7 years).
SMDX 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
SMDX vs VTI Performance
Intech S&P Small-Mid Cap Diversified Alpha ETF (SMDX) is an ETF from Intech ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMDX returned +18.89% while VTI returned +12.74%. Year to date, SMDX is up 14.87% versus a gain of 12.23% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 12.5% for SMDX. 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 -14.5% for SMDX and -16.5% 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMDX charges 0.35% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMDX currently yields 0.53% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
97.8% of SMDX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 4.1% of VTI's money is in holdings SMDX also owns.
Most of SMDX is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
543 positions in common, counted across the 552 positions we hold weights for in SMDX and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 1,109 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 819 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SMDX (93.0% of the fund), and 6 for SMDX that do not appear in VTI (1.0%).
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 SMDX | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| THCTenet Healthcare Corp Common Stock Usd 0.05 | 1.32% | 0.03% | 1.29% |
| JLLJones Lang Lasalle Inc. | 1.15% | 0.02% | 1.13% |
| DINOHollyfrontier | 1.04% | 0.02% | 1.02% |
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.94% | 0.02% | 0.92% |
| XPOXpo Logistics Inc. | 0.92% | 0.03% | 0.89% |
| UTHRUnited Therapeutics Corp | 0.87% | 0.03% | 0.84% |
| USFDUS Foods Holding Corp | 0.79% | 0.03% | 0.76% |
| WWDWoodward Inc | 0.79% | 0.03% | 0.76% |
| LAMRLamar Advertising Co | 0.78% | 0.02% | 0.76% |
| AMGAffiliated Managers Group Inc. | 0.79% | 0.01% | 0.78% |
97.8% of SMDX 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, SMDX or VTI?
SMDX has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMDX or VTI?
Over the past year SMDX returned +18.89% vs +12.74% for VTI, so SMDX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SMDX annualized +18.13% vs +16.90% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMDX or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 12.5% for SMDX. Worst drawdown: SMDX -14.5% vs VTI -16.5%.
Should I hold both SMDX and VTI?
SMDX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 SMDX and VTI?
97.8% of SMDX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 4.1% of VTI's is in holdings SMDX also owns. They hold 543 positions in common, counted across the 552 positions we hold weights for in SMDX and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMDX or VTI?
SMDX yields 0.53% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SMDX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SMDX led over 1Y and the full window. SMDX is less concentrated, with 9.4% 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.