VPLS vs VTI
Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, VPLS or VTI?
Intermediate Term 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 | VPLS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.81% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 3,053 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -0.76% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.23% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.2%Best | 12.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.0%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $11,716 | $17,144Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 6, 2023 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 7, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.8 years).
VPLS 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
VPLS vs VTI Performance
Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VPLS returned +0.23% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, VPLS is down 0.76% versus a gain of 12.30% 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 12.1% compared with 4.2% for VPLS. 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 -3.0% for VPLS and -19.3% 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 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VPLS charges 0.20% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VPLS currently yields 4.81% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of VTI's money is in holdings VPLS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VPLS, our book for it covers 23.0% 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.
6 positions in common, counted across the 634 positions we hold weights for in VPLS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 3,053 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VPLS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CURVVanguard Market Liquidity Fund | 1.84% | 0.00% | 1.84% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.03% | 0.16% | 0.13% |
| BSXBoston Scientific Corp. | 0.02% | 0.10% | 0.08% |
| THCTenet Healthcare Corporation 6.13 06/15/2030 | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| WSWorthington Steel Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| PBHPrestige Consumer Healthcare Inc | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VPLS 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, VPLS or VTI?
VPLS has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VPLS or VTI?
Over the past year VPLS returned +0.23% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VPLS or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.1% annualized versus 4.2% for VPLS. Worst drawdown: VPLS -3.0% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both VPLS and VTI?
VPLS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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, VPLS or VTI?
VPLS yields 4.81% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VPLS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than VPLS?
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.