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. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.1%.
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 | +11.95% | +33.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.05% | +35.49%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.32% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.50% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8%Best | 30.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3%Best | -25.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $13,004 | $17,542Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.3%Best | 58.1% |
| 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 |
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 30, 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 +15.05% while WAR returned +35.49%. Year to date, VTI is up 11.95% versus a gain of 33.97% 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 30.9% 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 0.73. 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
9.3% of VTI's money is in holdings WAR also owns. 73.0% of WAR's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Most of WAR is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
23 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 28 in WAR, against full books of 3,543 and 31.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for WAR that do not appear in our book for VTI (0.0% of the fund), and 1,132 for VTI that do not appear in WAR (88.3%).
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 VTI | Weight in WAR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 6.40% | 4.14% | 2.26% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.29% | 7.41% | 6.12% |
| AVAVAerovironment Inc | 0.01% | 7.99% | 7.98% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 0.06% | 6.37% | 6.31% |
| AXTIAxt Inc Com | 0.01% | 6.08% | 6.07% |
| LOARLoar Holdings Inc | 0.00% | 3.94% | 3.94% |
| NETCloudflare Inc (180 Day Lockup) | 0.12% | 3.81% | 3.69% |
| ALABAstera Labs Inc - Common | 0.07% | 3.84% | 3.77% |
| NPKNational Presto Industries | 0.00% | 3.90% | 3.90% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.08% | 3.76% | 3.68% |
73.0% 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 +15.05% vs +35.49% for WAR, so WAR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VTI annualized +16.71% vs +39.18% 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 30.9% 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 0.73, 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?
73.0% of WAR's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 73.0% of WAR's is in holdings VTI also owns. They hold 23 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 28 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. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.