VGHY vs VTI
Vanguard High-Yield Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, VGHY or VTI?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y 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 | VGHY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.22% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $317M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.01% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 587 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -4.64% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.31% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.6%Best | 12.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.4%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,716 | $11,715Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 27, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 17, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1 years).
VGHY 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 1 years both funds cover.
VGHY vs VTI Performance
Vanguard High-Yield Active ETF (VGHY) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VGHY returned -3.31% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, VGHY is down 4.64% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.5% compared with 3.6% for VGHY. 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 -5.4% for VGHY and -8.9% 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VGHY charges 0.22% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $22 vs $3 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VGHY currently yields 5.01% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 380 holdings in VGHY and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 64.0% and 98.1% of the two funds. That is not enough of VGHY to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 4 positions appear in both.
4 positions in common, counted across the 380 positions we hold weights for in VGHY and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 587 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VGHY 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, VGHY or VTI?
VGHY has an expense ratio of 0.22% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VGHY or VTI?
Over the past year VGHY returned -3.31% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), VGHY annualized -2.84% vs +17.15% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VGHY or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.5% annualized versus 3.6% for VGHY. Worst drawdown: VGHY -5.4% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both VGHY and VTI?
VGHY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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, VGHY or VTI?
VGHY yields 5.01% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VGHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than VGHY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.