SQLT vs VTI
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SQLT or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SQLT is less concentrated, with 8.6% 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 | SQLT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.19% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 513 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +8.40% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.6%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2026 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
SQLT 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SQLT vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Quality Factor ETF (SQLT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, SQLT is up 8.40% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SQLT charges 0.20% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SQLT currently yields 0.19% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
98.5% of SQLT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.1% of VTI's money is in holdings SQLT also owns.
Most of SQLT is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
480 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in SQLT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 513 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 901 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SQLT (94.4% of the fund), and 2 for SQLT that do not appear in VTI (0.9%).
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 SQLT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFGNational Fuel Gas Co | 1.17% | 0.01% | 1.16% |
| SNXSynnex Corp | 0.94% | 0.03% | 0.91% |
| RGLDRoyal Gold Inc | 0.92% | 0.02% | 0.90% |
| MANHManhattan Associates Inc | 0.88% | 0.02% | 0.86% |
| EWBCEast West Bancorp, Inc. | 0.82% | 0.02% | 0.80% |
| ZBRAZebra Technologies Corp | 0.79% | 0.02% | 0.77% |
| WWDWoodward Inc | 0.78% | 0.03% | 0.75% |
| MEDPMedpace Holdings Inc | 0.78% | 0.02% | 0.76% |
| THCTenet Healthcare Corp Common Stock Usd 0.05 | 0.76% | 0.03% | 0.73% |
| ONTOOnto Innovation Inc | 0.72% | 0.02% | 0.70% |
98.5% of SQLT 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, SQLT or VTI?
SQLT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between SQLT and VTI?
98.5% of SQLT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.1% of VTI's is in holdings SQLT also owns. They hold 480 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in SQLT and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SQLT or VTI?
SQLT yields 0.19% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SQLT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SQLT is less concentrated, with 8.6% 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.