SVAL vs VTI
iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SVAL or VTI?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SVAL led over 1Y and the full window, VTI over 3Y and 5Y. SVAL is less concentrated, with 7.1% 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 | SVAL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $155M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.02% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 502 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +21.60%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | +26.35%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.01% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.54% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.8% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.4% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,064 | $17,869Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.1%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 27, 2020 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 29, 2020 to Oct 1, 2026 (5.9 years).
SVAL 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 5.9 years both funds cover.
SVAL vs VTI Performance
iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF (SVAL) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SVAL returned +26.35% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, SVAL is up 21.60% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, SVAL compounded at +19.01% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.54% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SVAL has the edge at +16.19% annualized vs +15.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SVAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.8% compared with 15.6% 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 -27.4% for SVAL and -25.4% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SVAL 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, SVAL currently yields 2.02% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
92.0% of SVAL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's money is in holdings SVAL also owns.
Most of SVAL is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
221 positions in common, counted across the 240 positions we hold weights for in SVAL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 502 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,117 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SVAL (97.1% of the fund), and 5 for SVAL that do not appear in VTI (2.5%).
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 SVAL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSITInsight Enterprises Inc | 0.86% | 0.01% | 0.85% |
| CRSRCorsair Gaming Inc | 0.76% | 0.00% | 0.76% |
| OCFCOceanfirst Financial Corp. Com | 0.75% | 0.00% | 0.75% |
| MGNIMagnite | 0.71% | 0.00% | 0.71% |
| HZOMarinemax Inc | 0.69% | 0.00% | 0.69% |
| UTZUtz Brands, Inc. | 0.68% | 0.00% | 0.68% |
| CBZCbiz Inc. | 0.68% | 0.00% | 0.68% |
| FIVNFive9 Inc | 0.68% | 0.00% | 0.68% |
| ANFAbercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 0.65% | 0.01% | 0.64% |
| GEOGeo Group Inc | 0.65% | 0.01% | 0.64% |
92.0% of SVAL 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, SVAL or VTI?
SVAL 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.
Which performed better, SVAL or VTI?
Over the past year SVAL returned +26.35% vs +15.23% for VTI, so SVAL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SVAL annualized +16.19% vs +15.98% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SVAL or VTI?
SVAL has been the more volatile fund at 21.8% annualized versus 15.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SVAL -27.4% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both SVAL and VTI?
SVAL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 SVAL and VTI?
92.0% of SVAL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's is in holdings SVAL also owns. They hold 221 positions in common, counted across the 240 positions we hold weights for in SVAL and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SVAL or VTI?
SVAL yields 2.02% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SVAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SVAL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SVAL led over 1Y and the full window, VTI over 3Y and 5Y. SVAL is less concentrated, with 7.1% 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.