TOTL vs VTI
State Street DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, TOTL or VTI?
Short Term Low Quality 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 | TOTL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.37% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,723 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -2.20% | +12.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.56% | +16.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.15% | +20.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.05% | +11.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.5%Best | 15.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.0%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,975 | $17,537Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Low Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 23, 2015 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2015 to Sep 14, 2026 (11.6 years).
TOTL 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.
TOTL vs VTI Performance
State Street DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF (TOTL) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TOTL returned -1.56% while VTI returned +16.31%. Year to date, TOTL is down 2.20% versus a gain of 12.08% for VTI.
Over three years, TOTL compounded at +4.15% per year against +20.83% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -0.05% and +11.89% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +11.97% annualized vs -0.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 4.5% for TOTL. 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 -18.0% for TOTL and -35.0% 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 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TOTL charges 0.55% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TOTL currently yields 5.37% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of VTI's money is in holdings TOTL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for TOTL, our book for it covers 60.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 926 positions we hold weights for in TOTL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,723 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TOTL 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, TOTL or VTI?
TOTL has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TOTL or VTI?
Over the past year TOTL returned -1.56% vs +16.31% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), TOTL annualized -0.15% vs +11.97% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TOTL or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 4.5% for TOTL. Worst drawdown: TOTL -18.0% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both TOTL and VTI?
TOTL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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, TOTL or VTI?
TOTL yields 5.37% while VTI yields 1.03%, so TOTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than TOTL?
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.