VPL vs VTI
Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, VPL or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VPL led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VPL is less concentrated, with 23.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | VPL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $8.2B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.61% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 2,342 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +26.35%Best | +12.43% |
| 1Y Return | +35.30%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.85%Best | +22.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.59% | +12.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.5%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,542 | $17,916Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.5%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 4, 2005 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 2005 to Sep 28, 2026 (21.6 years).
VPL 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 21.6 years both funds cover.
VPL vs VTI Performance
Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (VPL) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VPL returned +35.30% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, VPL is up 26.35% versus a gain of 12.43% for VTI.
Over three years, VPL compounded at +23.85% per year against +22.42% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +10.59% and +12.37% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.37% annualized vs +6.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VPL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 15.4% for VTI. 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 -55.5% for VPL 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VPL charges 0.07% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $3 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VPL currently yields 2.61% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of VPL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings VPL also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
7 positions in common, counted across the 2,313 positions we hold weights for in VPL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 2,342 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for VPL (97.4% of the fund), and 2 for VPL that do not appear in VTI (0.1%).
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
| Stock | Weight in VPL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLMarkel Group Inc | 0.16% | 0.07% | 0.09% |
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.09% | 0.01% | 0.08% |
| SGP:AUStockland Corp. Ltd. | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| CLWClearwater Paper Corp | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| SRGSeritage Growth Properties | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| SCLStepan Co | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| EAST:EGEastern Co Sae | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VPL 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, VPL or VTI?
VPL has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VPL or VTI?
Over the past year VPL returned +35.30% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VPL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), VPL annualized +6.83% vs +9.37% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VPL or VTI?
VPL has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 15.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VPL -55.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both VPL and VTI?
VPL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, VPL or VTI?
VPL yields 2.61% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VPL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than VPL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VPL led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VPL is less concentrated, with 23.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.