TEI vs VTI
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, TEI or VTI?
Emerging Markets Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. TEI led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 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 | TEI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.14% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2,711.9 | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.56% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 151 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +9.27% | +13.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +25.28%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.33%Best | +21.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.03% | +11.77%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -71.1% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,714 | $17,443Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Emerging Markets Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 23, 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 3, 2026 (25.3 years).
TEI 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.
TEI vs VTI Performance
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund Inc. (TEI) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TEI returned +25.28% while VTI returned +21.44%. Year to date, TEI is up 9.27% versus a gain of 13.95% for VTI.
Over three years, TEI compounded at +24.33% per year against +21.10% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.03% and +11.77% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.11% annualized vs +0.58%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TEI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 15.3% 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 -71.1% for TEI 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TEI charges 1.14% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $114 vs $3 annually, a gap of $111 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TEI currently yields 12.56% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 18 holdings in TEI and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 29.8% and 92.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, TEI as of Mar 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 18 positions we hold weights for in TEI and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 151 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TEI 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, TEI or VTI?
TEI has an expense ratio of 1.14% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $111 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TEI or VTI?
Over the past year TEI returned +25.28% vs +21.44% for VTI, so TEI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), TEI annualized +0.58% vs +8.11% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TEI or VTI?
TEI has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: TEI -71.1% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both TEI and VTI?
TEI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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, TEI or VTI?
TEI yields 12.56% while VTI yields 1.07%, so TEI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than TEI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. TEI led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.