VTI vs WAR
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs US Global Technology And Aerospace & Defense ETF
Which is better, VTI or WAR?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. WAR 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 | VTI | WAR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.60% |
| AUM | $666.9B | $36M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 10.22% |
| Holdings | 3,543 | 31 |
| YTD Return | +12.34% | +31.74%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.37% | +45.71%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.68% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8%Best | 31.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3%Best | -25.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $13,168 | $17,581Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | U.S. Global Investors, Inc. |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Dec 30, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 30, 2024 to Sep 9, 2026 (1.7 years).
VTI vs WAR 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
VTI vs WAR Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and US Global Technology And Aerospace & Defense ETF (WAR) is an ETF from U.S. Global Investors, Inc.. Over the past year VTI returned +18.37% while WAR returned +45.71%. Year to date, VTI is up 12.34% versus a gain of 31.74% for WAR.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WAR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.0% compared with 12.8% 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 -19.3% for VTI and -25.0% for WAR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while WAR charges 0.60%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $60 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 10.22% for WAR.
Holdings Overlap
At least 62.7% of WAR's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 92.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, VTI as of Jun 30, 2026 and WAR as of Aug 19, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
18 positions in common, counted across the 2,787 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 29 in WAR, against full books of 3,543 and 31.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTI | Weight in WAR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 0.06% | 10.71% | 10.65% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.32% | 4.23% | 2.09% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.79% | 7.40% | 5.61% |
| ALABAstera Labs Inc - Common | 0.10% | 6.03% | 5.93% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 0.35% | 5.09% | 4.74% |
| KRMNKarman Holdings | 0.00% | 4.59% | 4.59% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.10% | 4.13% | 4.03% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc. Class A | 0.25% | 3.75% | 3.50% |
| LSCCLattice Semiconductor Corp. | 0.03% | 3.33% | 3.30% |
| NETCloudflare Inc (180 Day Lockup) | 0.11% | 2.66% | 2.55% |
62.7% of WAR 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VTI or WAR?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WAR charges 0.60%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or WAR?
Over the past year VTI returned +18.37% vs +45.71% for WAR, so WAR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VTI annualized +17.57% vs +39.36% for WAR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or WAR?
WAR has been the more volatile fund at 31.0% annualized versus 12.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -19.3% vs WAR -25.0%.
Should I hold both VTI and WAR?
VTI and WAR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 VTI and WAR?
At least 62.7% of WAR's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 2,787 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 29 in WAR.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or WAR?
VTI yields 1.03% while WAR yields 10.22%, so WAR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WAR better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. WAR 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.