SMOT vs VTI
VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SMOT or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMOT is less concentrated, with 15.4% 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 | SMOT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $339M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.21% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 111 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +7.27% | +11.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.92% | +15.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.01% | +20.67%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 13.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.4% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $15,450 | $20,755Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.4%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 4, 2022 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 6, 2022 to Sep 15, 2026 (3.9 years).
SMOT 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
SMOT vs VTI Performance
VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF (SMOT) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMOT returned +7.92% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, SMOT is up 7.27% versus a gain of 11.53% for VTI.
Over three years, SMOT compounded at +11.01% per year against +20.67% for VTI. Across the full 4-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +20.59% annualized vs +11.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMOT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 13.4% 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 -23.4% for SMOT 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMOT charges 0.49% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMOT currently yields 1.21% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
96.3% of SMOT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.8% of VTI's money is in holdings SMOT also owns.
Most of SMOT is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
107 positions in common, counted across the 110 positions we hold weights for in SMOT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 111 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,045 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SMOT (93.6% of the fund), and 2 for SMOT that do not appear in VTI (2.1%).
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 SMOT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IQVI Q V I A Holdings Inc. | 1.78% | 0.05% | 1.73% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 1.68% | 0.08% | 1.60% |
| TECHBio-Techne Corp | 1.66% | 0.02% | 1.64% |
| BDXBecton Dickinson And Co. | 1.48% | 0.06% | 1.42% |
| CTVACorteva Inc Ctva | 1.43% | 0.07% | 1.36% |
| LWLambwestonholdings Inc. | 1.47% | 0.01% | 1.46% |
| TRUTransunion - Common | 1.46% | 0.02% | 1.44% |
| SQBlock Inc | 1.42% | 0.06% | 1.36% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 1.42% | 0.04% | 1.38% |
| CNHI:ASCnh Industrial Nv | 1.43% | 0.01% | 1.42% |
96.3% of SMOT 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, SMOT or VTI?
SMOT has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMOT or VTI?
Over the past year SMOT returned +7.92% vs +15.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SMOT annualized +11.80% vs +20.59% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMOT or VTI?
SMOT has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 13.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SMOT -23.4% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both SMOT and VTI?
SMOT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 SMOT and VTI?
96.3% of SMOT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.8% of VTI's is in holdings SMOT also owns. They hold 107 positions in common, counted across the 110 positions we hold weights for in SMOT and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMOT or VTI?
SMOT yields 1.21% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SMOT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SMOT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMOT is less concentrated, with 15.4% 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.