USHY vs VTI
iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, USHY or VTI?
High Yield 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 | USHY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.08% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $28.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.91% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,901 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -2.83% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.88% | +17.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.51% | +20.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.77% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.6%Best | 16.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -31.0%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,464 | $17,514Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 25, 2017 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 26, 2017 to Sep 11, 2026 (8.9 years).
USHY 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
USHY vs VTI Performance
iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) 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 USHY returned -1.88% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, USHY is down 2.83% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, USHY compounded at +6.51% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.77% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.54% annualized vs +1.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 9.6% for USHY. 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 -31.0% for USHY 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
USHY charges 0.08% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $8 vs $3 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, USHY currently yields 6.91% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,472 holdings in USHY and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 76.9% 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, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,472 positions we hold weights for in USHY and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 1,901 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in USHY | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| THCTenet Healthcare Corporation 6.13 06/15/2030 | 0.13% | 0.02% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of USHY 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, USHY or VTI?
USHY has an expense ratio of 0.08% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, USHY or VTI?
Over the past year USHY returned -1.88% vs +17.22% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), USHY annualized +1.93% vs +13.54% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, USHY or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 9.6% for USHY. Worst drawdown: USHY -31.0% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both USHY and VTI?
USHY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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, USHY or VTI?
USHY yields 6.91% while VTI yields 1.03%, so USHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than USHY?
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.