SWTSX vs VTI
Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SWTSX or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
SWTSX led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SWTSX is less concentrated, with 32.8% 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 | SWTSX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Tie | 0.03%Tie |
| AUM | $44.9B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.97% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 2,987 | 3,543 |
| YTD Price Return | +12.04%Best | +10.86% |
| 1Y Price Return | +14.98%Best | +14.41% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | -37.65% | +19.09%Best |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -25.35% | +10.04%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 41.6% | 16.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -86.0% | -26.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $2,318 | $16,134Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 1, 1999 | May 24, 2001 |
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for SWTSX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. SWTSX yields 0.97% and VTI 1.03% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 16, 2021 to Sep 14, 2026 (5 years).
SWTSX 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 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
SWTSX vs VTI Performance
Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX) is a mutual fund from Charles Schwab Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SWTSX returned +14.98% while VTI returned +14.41%. Year to date, SWTSX is up 12.04% versus a gain of 10.86% for VTI.
Over three years, SWTSX compounded at -37.65% per year against +19.09% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -25.35% and +10.04% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SWTSX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.6% compared with 16.1% 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 -86.0% for SWTSX and -26.2% 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SWTSX charges 0.03% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $3 annually. On income, SWTSX currently yields 0.97% against 1.03% for VTI.
Structure and taxes
SWTSX is a mutual fund and VTI is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
94.4% of SWTSX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 94.1% of VTI's money is in holdings SWTSX also owns.
Most of SWTSX is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, SWTSX as of Jan 31, 2026 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.
2,786 positions in common, counted across the 2,962 positions we hold weights for in SWTSX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 2,987 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 18 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SWTSX (3.7% of the fund), and 28 for SWTSX that do not appear in VTI (0.7%).
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 SWTSX | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 6.91% | 6.40% | 0.51% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.70% | 6.29% | 0.59% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.76% | 4.79% | 0.03% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.46% | 3.65% | 0.19% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.93% | 2.31% | 0.62% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.33% | 2.56% | 0.23% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.32% | 1.70% | 0.62% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.80% | 1.22% | 0.58% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway, Inc. | 1.31% | 1.28% | 0.03% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.23% | 1.35% | 0.12% |
94.4% of SWTSX 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, SWTSX or VTI?
SWTSX has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VTI charges 0.03%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, SWTSX or VTI?
Over the past year SWTSX returned +14.98% vs +14.41% for VTI, so SWTSX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SWTSX or VTI?
SWTSX has been the more volatile fund at 41.6% annualized versus 16.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SWTSX -86.0% vs VTI -26.2%.
Should I hold both SWTSX and VTI?
SWTSX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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 SWTSX and VTI?
94.4% of SWTSX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 94.1% of VTI's is in holdings SWTSX also owns. They hold 2,786 positions in common, counted across the 2,962 positions we hold weights for in SWTSX and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SWTSX or VTI?
SWTSX yields 0.97% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold SWTSX or VTI in a taxable account?
VTI is an ETF and SWTSX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VTI better than SWTSX?
SWTSX led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SWTSX is less concentrated, with 32.8% 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.