TSI vs VTI
TCW Strategic Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, TSI or VTI?
Diversified Sectoral Bond 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 | TSI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.03% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.68% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 746 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -7.73% | +11.06%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.56% | +15.41%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.56% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.82% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.2% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,944 | $17,249Best |
| Fund Family | TCW Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Diversified Sectoral Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 5, 1987 | 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 16, 2026 (25.3 years).
TSI 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.
TSI vs VTI Performance
TCW Strategic Income Fund Inc. (TSI) is an ETF from TCW Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TSI returned -5.56% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, TSI is down 7.73% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, TSI compounded at +5.56% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +1.82% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +7.99% annualized vs -1.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TSI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% 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 -81.2% for TSI 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 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TSI charges 1.03% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $103 vs $3 annually, a gap of $100 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TSI currently yields 7.68% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VTI's money is in holdings TSI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for TSI, our book for it covers 24.5% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, TSI as of Mar 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.
7 positions in common, counted across the 247 positions we hold weights for in TSI and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 746 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in TSI | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGNCAgnc Investment Corp. | 0.47% | 0.02% | 0.45% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.25% | 0.24% | 0.01% |
| NLYAnnaly Capital Management Inc. | 0.28% | 0.02% | 0.26% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corporation | 0.15% | 0.11% | 0.04% |
| RITMRithm Capital | 0.17% | 0.01% | 0.16% |
| CNPCenterPoint Energy Inc 5.95 04/01/2056 | 0.07% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| RWTRedwood Trust Inc Reit Usd.01 | 0.11% | 0.00% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TSI 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, TSI or VTI?
TSI has an expense ratio of 1.03% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $100 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TSI or VTI?
Over the past year TSI returned -5.56% vs +15.41% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), TSI annualized -1.80% vs +7.99% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TSI or VTI?
TSI has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: TSI -81.2% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both TSI and VTI?
TSI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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, TSI or VTI?
TSI yields 7.68% while VTI yields 1.03%, so TSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than TSI?
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.