VBK vs VTILX
Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF vs Vanguard Total International Bond II Index Fund Class Institutional
Which is better, VBK or VTILX?
VBK costs less.
VBK has a lower expense ratio.
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 | VBK | VTILX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.07% |
| AUM | $23.2B | $141.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.23% |
| Holdings | 553 | 7,415 |
| YTD Price Return | +10.21% | -2.61% |
| 1Y Price Return | +10.89% | -4.67% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +15.35% | -0.73% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | +3.46% | -3.10% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 6.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.5% | -15.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2004 | Feb 17, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: $10,000 over 5 years, Top 10 Weight.
A price return is not the return of a fund that pays its income out. The coupon or distribution never appears in the price, so the return rows carry no winner here. VBK currently yields 0.44% and VTILX 4.23%.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 25, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (4.9 years).
VBK vs VTILX Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Total International Bond II Index Fund Class Institutional (VTILX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VBK's price moved +10.89% and VTILX's -4.67%, before the income each one paid out.
Over three years, VBK compounded at +15.35% per year against -0.73% for VTILX; over five years the annualized figures are +3.46% and -3.10% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VBK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% compared with 6.0% for VTILX. 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 -38.5% for VBK and -15.3% for VTILX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VBK charges 0.05% per year while VTILX charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $7 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VBK currently yields 0.44% against 4.23% for VTILX.
Structure and taxes
VTILX is a mutual fund and VBK is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 542 holdings in VBK and 1,459 in VTILX, totalling 97.2% and 7.1% of the two funds. That is not enough of VTILX to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 242 days apart, VBK as of Jun 30, 2026 and VTILX as of Oct 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 542 positions we hold weights for in VBK and 1,459 in VTILX, against full books of 553 and 7,415.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VBK | Weight in VTILX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SYMSymbotic Inc Class A | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VBK and VTILX 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, VBK or VTILX?
VBK has an expense ratio of 0.05% while VTILX charges 0.07%. VBK is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, VBK or VTILX?
VBK has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 6.0% for VTILX. Worst drawdown: VBK -38.5% vs VTILX -15.3%.
Should I hold both VBK and VTILX?
VBK and VTILX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, VBK or VTILX?
VBK yields 0.44% while VTILX yields 4.23%, so VTILX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VTILX or VBK in a taxable account?
VBK is an ETF and VTILX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VTILX better than VBK?
VBK has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.