UPRO vs VTI
ProShares UltraPro S&P 500 vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, UPRO or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. UPRO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | UPRO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.4B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.72% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 520 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +27.24%Best | +12.57% |
| 1Y Return | +37.98%Best | +17.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +46.88%Best | +20.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +18.37%Best | +11.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 44.5% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -76.8% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $23,239Best | $17,514 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 23, 2009 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2009 to Sep 11, 2026 (17.2 years).
UPRO 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.
UPRO vs VTI Performance
ProShares UltraPro S&P 500 (UPRO) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year UPRO returned +37.98% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, UPRO is up 27.24% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, UPRO compounded at +46.88% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +18.37% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, UPRO has the edge at +32.37% annualized vs +13.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UPRO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 44.5% compared with 14.8% 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 -76.8% for UPRO 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
UPRO charges 0.89% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $3 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, UPRO currently yields 0.72% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 500 holdings in UPRO and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 68.1% and 90.6% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 449 positions appear in both.
449 positions in common, counted across the 500 positions we hold weights for in UPRO and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 520 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in UPRO | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 3.83% | 6.32% | 2.49% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.29% | 5.84% | 2.55% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.61% | 3.81% | 1.20% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.92% | 3.17% | 1.25% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 1.53% | 2.88% | 1.35% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.43% | 2.46% | 1.03% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.23% | 2.27% | 1.04% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.73% | 1.79% | 1.06% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 0.65% | 1.63% | 0.98% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.67% | 1.40% | 0.73% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of UPRO 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, UPRO or VTI?
UPRO has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, UPRO or VTI?
Over the past year UPRO returned +37.98% vs +17.22% for VTI, so UPRO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), UPRO annualized +32.37% vs +13.46% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, UPRO or VTI?
UPRO has been the more volatile fund at 44.5% annualized versus 14.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: UPRO -76.8% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both UPRO and VTI?
UPRO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, UPRO or VTI?
UPRO yields 0.72% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than UPRO?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. UPRO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.