USIG vs VTI

USIG vs VTI

Which is better, USIG or VTI?

Long Term Mid Quality against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

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

MetricUSIGVTI
Expense Ratio0.04%0.03%Best
AUM$17.7B$666.9B
Dividend Yield4.84%1.03%
Holdings11,4623,543
YTD Return-0.77%+14.05%Best
1Y Return-0.02%+16.93%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+5.75%+22.65%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-0.13%+12.46%Best
Volatility (annualized)7.3%Best17.3%
Max Drawdown-21.6%Best-35.0%
$10,000 over 5 years$9,935$17,988Best
Fund FamilyiShares by BlackRock (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleLong Term Mid QualityLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJan 5, 2007May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 1, 2018 to Sep 22, 2026 (8.1 years).

USIG 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 8.1 years both funds cover.

USIG vs VTI Performance

iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (USIG) 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 USIG returned -0.02% while VTI returned +16.93%. Year to date, USIG is down 0.77% versus a gain of 14.05% for VTI.

Over three years, USIG compounded at +5.75% per year against +22.65% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -0.13% and +12.46% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.68% annualized vs +1.75%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 7.3% for USIG. 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 -21.6% for USIG 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

USIG charges 0.04% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $3 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, USIG currently yields 4.84% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

VTI already in USIG0.6%

At least 0.6% of VTI's money is in holdings USIG also owns.

Stated as a floor: for USIG, our book for it covers 17.5% 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.

2 positions in common, counted across the 1,012 positions we hold weights for in USIG and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 11,462 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in USIGWeight in VTIDifference
LRCXLam Research Corp 3.125 06/15/20600.00%0.51%0.51%
TMUST-Mobile Usa, Inc. 3.875% 15-Apr-20300.07%0.10%0.03%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of USIG and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

USIGVTI

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, USIG or VTI?

USIG has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, USIG or VTI?

Over the past year USIG returned -0.02% vs +16.93% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), USIG annualized +1.75% vs +13.68% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, USIG or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 7.3% for USIG. Worst drawdown: USIG -21.6% vs VTI -35.0%.

Should I hold both USIG and VTI?

USIG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, USIG or VTI?

USIG yields 4.84% while VTI yields 1.03%, so USIG currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than USIG?

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.