VDC vs VTI

VDC vs VTI

Which is better, VDC or VTI?

Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.0%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTILess Concentrated: 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

MetricVDCVTI
Expense Ratio0.09%0.03%Best
AUM$9.3B$666.9B
Dividend Yield2.08%1.03%
Holdings1063,543
YTD Return+6.86%+14.00%Best
1Y Return+6.21%+16.88%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+8.53%+22.75%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+6.56%+12.68%Best
Volatility (annualized)11.8%Best15.1%
Max Drawdown-36.6%Best-56.6%
$10,000 over 5 years$13,740$18,165Best
Top 10 Weight62.0%33.3%Best
Fund FamilyVanguard (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap ValueLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJan 26, 2004May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 30, 2004 to Sep 21, 2026 (22.6 years).

VDC 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 22.6 years both funds cover.

VDC vs VTI Performance

Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VDC returned +6.21% while VTI returned +16.88%. Year to date, VDC is up 6.86% versus a gain of 14.00% for VTI.

Over three years, VDC compounded at +8.53% per year against +22.75% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.56% and +12.68% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.33% annualized vs +7.38%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 11.8% for VDC. 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 -36.6% for VDC 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

VDC charges 0.09% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $3 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VDC currently yields 2.08% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

VDC already in VTI99.8%
VTI already in VDC4.3%

99.8% of VDC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 4.3% of VTI's money is in holdings VDC also owns.

Most of VDC is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

103 positions in common, counted across the 104 positions we hold weights for in VDC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 106 and 3,543.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,097 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for VDC (93.1% of the fund), and 0 for VDC that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).

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

StockWeight in VDCWeight in VTIDifference
WMTWalmart, Inc.13.55%0.68%12.87%
COSTCostco Wholesale Corp.11.46%0.59%10.87%
PGProcter & Gamble Company8.51%0.47%8.04%
KOCoca Cola Co.8.53%0.42%8.11%
PMPhilip Morris International Inc.4.56%0.41%4.15%
PEPPepsico Inc.4.25%0.26%3.99%
MOAltria Group Inc3.72%0.16%3.56%
MDLZMondelez International Inc Com A Npv2.66%0.11%2.55%
MNSTMonster Beverage Corp.2.38%0.09%2.29%
CLColgate-Palmolive Co2.34%0.10%2.24%

99.8% of VDC is already inside VTI.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

VDCVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, VDC or VTI?

VDC has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, VDC or VTI?

Over the past year VDC returned +6.21% vs +16.88% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), VDC annualized +7.38% vs +9.33% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, VDC or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 11.8% for VDC. Worst drawdown: VDC -36.6% vs VTI -56.6%.

Should I hold both VDC and VTI?

VDC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 VDC and VTI?

99.8% of VDC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 4.3% of VTI's is in holdings VDC also owns. They hold 103 positions in common, counted across the 104 positions we hold weights for in VDC and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, VDC or VTI?

VDC yields 2.08% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VDC currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than VDC?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.