SPE vs VTI
Special Opportunities Fund Inc vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SPE or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SPE | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 4.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $171M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.33% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 158 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -5.40% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | -8.60% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.87% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.84% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -58.5% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,921 | $17,908Best |
| Fund Family | Special Opportunities Fund | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 8, 1993 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 18, 2026 (25.3 years).
SPE 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
SPE vs VTI Performance
Special Opportunities Fund Inc (SPE) is an ETF from Special Opportunities Fund and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPE returned -8.60% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, SPE is down 5.40% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, SPE compounded at +14.87% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.84% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.03% annualized vs +2.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 14.6% for SPE. 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 -58.5% for SPE 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPE charges 4.89% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $489 vs $3 annually, a gap of $486 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPE currently yields 8.33% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 104 holdings in SPE and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 132.7% and 98.1% of the two funds. That is not enough of SPE to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 6 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, SPE as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
6 positions in common, counted across the 104 positions we hold weights for in SPE and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 158 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPE and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPE or VTI?
SPE has an expense ratio of 4.89% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $486 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPE or VTI?
Over the past year SPE returned -8.60% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), SPE annualized +2.15% vs +8.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPE or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.6% for SPE. Worst drawdown: SPE -58.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SPE and VTI?
SPE and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPE or VTI?
SPE yields 8.33% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SPE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SPE?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.