URTH vs VTI
iShares MSCI World ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, URTH or VTI?
Nearly the same fund. VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. URTH is less concentrated, with 27.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | URTH | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $8.2B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.36% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,310 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +11.10% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.55% | +15.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.41% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.63% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.0%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,334 | $17,869Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.0%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 10, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 12, 2012 to Oct 1, 2026 (14.7 years).
URTH 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 14.7 years both funds cover.
URTH vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year URTH returned +14.55% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, URTH is up 11.10% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, URTH compounded at +21.41% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +11.63% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.08% annualized vs +10.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 13.9% for URTH. 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 -34.0% for URTH 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
URTH charges 0.24% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $3 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, URTH currently yields 1.36% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
72.0% of URTH's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 89.3% of VTI's money is in holdings URTH also owns.
Most of VTI is already inside URTH. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
499 positions in common, counted across the 1,222 positions we hold weights for in URTH and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,310 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 663 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for URTH (8.6% of the fund), and 22 for URTH that do not appear in VTI (1.2%).
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 URTH | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.50% | 6.40% | 0.90% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.34% | 6.29% | 0.95% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.83% | 4.79% | 0.96% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.72% | 3.65% | 0.93% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.17% | 2.90% | 0.73% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.79% | 2.56% | 0.77% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.72% | 2.31% | 0.59% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.56% | 1.70% | 0.14% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.20% | 1.29% | 0.09% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.14% | 1.22% | 0.08% |
89.3% of VTI is already inside URTH.
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, URTH or VTI?
URTH has an expense ratio of 0.24% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, URTH or VTI?
Over the past year URTH returned +14.55% vs +15.23% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), URTH annualized +10.64% vs +13.08% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, URTH or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 13.9% for URTH. Worst drawdown: URTH -34.0% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both URTH and VTI?
URTH and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between URTH and VTI?
89.3% of VTI's money is in holdings URTH also owns. 89.3% of VTI's is in holdings URTH also owns. They hold 499 positions in common, counted across the 1,222 positions we hold weights for in URTH and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, URTH or VTI?
URTH yields 1.36% while VTI yields 1.03%, so URTH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than URTH?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. URTH is less concentrated, with 27.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.