SMOG vs VTI
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SMOG or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.1%.
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 | SMOG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $125M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 57 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +3.33% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.54% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.28% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.06% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.5% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.4% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,481 | $17,908Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.1% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 3, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 9, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.4 years).
SMOG 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 19.4 years both funds cover.
SMOG vs VTI Performance
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMOG returned +11.54% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, SMOG is up 3.33% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, SMOG compounded at +8.28% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.06% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.09% annualized vs +1.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.5% compared with 16.0% 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 -84.4% for SMOG 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMOG charges 0.64% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $3 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMOG currently yields 1.56% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
33.9% of SMOG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.7% of VTI's money is in holdings SMOG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
14 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in SMOG and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 57 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,138 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SMOG (95.8% of the fund), and 3 for SMOG that do not appear in VTI (3.4%).
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 SMOG | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSLATesla Inc | 7.75% | 1.22% | 6.53% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 7.08% | 0.25% | 6.83% |
| BECfd Bloom Energy Corp- A | 5.68% | 0.08% | 5.60% |
| FSLRFirst Solar, Inc | 2.98% | 0.03% | 2.95% |
| RIVNRivian Automotive | 2.68% | 0.02% | 2.66% |
| OCOwens Corning | 1.67% | 0.02% | 1.65% |
| NXTNextpower Inc Class A Common Stock | 1.56% | 0.02% | 1.54% |
| ENSEnersys | 0.97% | 0.01% | 0.96% |
| ORAOrange - Adr | 0.85% | 0.01% | 0.84% |
| ENPHEnphase Energy Inc Common Stock | 0.68% | 0.01% | 0.67% |
33.9% of SMOG 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, SMOG or VTI?
SMOG has an expense ratio of 0.64% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMOG or VTI?
Over the past year SMOG returned +11.54% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SMOG annualized +1.55% vs +9.09% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMOG or VTI?
SMOG has been the more volatile fund at 28.5% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SMOG -84.4% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SMOG and VTI?
SMOG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 SMOG and VTI?
33.9% of SMOG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.7% of VTI's is in holdings SMOG also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in SMOG and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMOG or VTI?
SMOG yields 1.56% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SMOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SMOG?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.