TPZ vs VTI
Tortoise Essential Energy Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, TPZ or VTI?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.1%.
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 | TPZ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $113M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.84% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 87 | 3,524 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.4% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -87.9% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 15.5 years | $34,218 | $64,506Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.1% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Tortoise Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 29, 2009 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 611 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. TPZ has data through Jan 28, 2025 and VTI through Oct 1, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 15.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 29, 2009 to Jan 28, 2025 (15.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TPZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.4% compared with 15.0% 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 -87.9% for TPZ 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TPZ charges 0.85% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $3 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TPZ currently yields 2.84% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
70.3% of TPZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.6% of VTI's money is in holdings TPZ also owns.
Most of TPZ is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, TPZ as of Sep 15, 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.
26 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in TPZ and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 87 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,126 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for TPZ (95.8% of the fund), and 7 for TPZ that do not appear in VTI (21.1%).
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 TPZ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LNGCheniere Energy Inc. | 7.51% | 0.08% | 7.43% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 6.54% | 0.08% | 6.46% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 5.99% | 0.07% | 5.92% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 5.62% | 0.12% | 5.50% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 4.52% | 0.12% | 4.40% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 4.19% | 0.08% | 4.11% |
| DTMDT Midstream Inc | 3.42% | 0.02% | 3.40% |
| CNPCenterpoint Energy Inc. | 3.40% | 0.04% | 3.36% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 3.14% | 0.08% | 3.06% |
| WECWec Energy Group Inc. | 3.12% | 0.05% | 3.07% |
70.3% of TPZ 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, TPZ or VTI?
TPZ has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, TPZ or VTI?
TPZ has been the more volatile fund at 24.4% annualized versus 15.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: TPZ -87.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both TPZ and VTI?
TPZ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 TPZ and VTI?
70.3% of TPZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.6% of VTI's is in holdings TPZ also owns. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in TPZ and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, TPZ or VTI?
TPZ yields 2.84% while VTI yields 1.03%, so TPZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than TPZ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.