USD vs VTI
ProShares Ultra Semiconductors vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, USD or VTI?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. USD 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 | USD | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.6B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.36% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 51 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +46.19%Best | +11.06% |
| 1Y Return | +72.15%Best | +15.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +100.85%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +52.90%Best | +11.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 54.4% | 15.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -89.3% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $83,568Best | $17,249 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 30, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 16, 2026 (19.6 years).
USD 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.
USD vs VTI Performance
ProShares Ultra Semiconductors (USD) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year USD returned +72.15% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, USD is up 46.19% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, USD compounded at +100.85% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +52.90% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, USD has the edge at +27.03% annualized vs +9.16%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 54.4% compared with 15.9% 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 -89.3% for USD 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
USD charges 0.95% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, USD currently yields 0.36% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 14.9% of VTI's money is in holdings USD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for USD, our book for it covers 65.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and USD share little of their money.
35 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in USD and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 51 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in USD | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 19.95% | 6.40% | 13.55% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.54% | 2.56% | 3.98% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.03% | 1.29% | 2.74% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.86% | 1.08% | 1.78% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 1.65% | 0.50% | 1.15% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 1.36% | 0.56% | 0.80% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.41% | 0.51% | 0.90% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.89% | 0.35% | 0.54% |
| KLACKla Corp | 0.86% | 0.33% | 0.53% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. | 0.69% | 0.23% | 0.46% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of USD 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, USD or VTI?
USD has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, USD or VTI?
Over the past year USD returned +72.15% vs +15.41% for VTI, so USD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), USD annualized +27.03% vs +9.16% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, USD or VTI?
USD has been the more volatile fund at 54.4% annualized versus 15.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: USD -89.3% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both USD and VTI?
USD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 USD and VTI?
At least 14.9% of VTI's money is in holdings USD also owns. Our book for USD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 35 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in USD and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, USD or VTI?
USD yields 0.36% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than USD?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. USD 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.