VTI vs WDEF
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund ETF
Which is better, VTI or WDEF?
VTI has been ahead.
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 | VTI | WDEF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $690.1B | $81M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 0.07% |
| Holdings | 3,524 | 98 |
| YTD Return | +12.51%Best | -7.45% |
| 1Y Return | +15.23%Best | -17.04% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.50% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.31% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 31.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -23.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,289Best | $9,194 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Jul 17, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 1, 2026 (1.2 years).
VTI vs WDEF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
VTI vs WDEF Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and WisdomTree Europe Defense Fund ETF (WDEF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year VTI returned +15.23% while WDEF returned -17.04%. Year to date, VTI is up 12.51% versus a loss of 7.45% for WDEF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.0% compared with 11.8% 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 -8.9% for VTI and -23.9% for WDEF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.21. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while WDEF charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $45 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 0.07% for WDEF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3,463 holdings in VTI and 41 in WDEF, totalling 98.1% and 89.9% of the two funds. That is not enough of WDEF to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, VTI as of Jul 31, 2026 and WDEF as of Sep 15, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 41 in WDEF, against full books of 3,524 and 98.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTI | Weight in WDEF | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 0.01% | 3.89% | 3.88% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTI and WDEF 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, VTI or WDEF?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WDEF charges 0.45%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or WDEF?
Over the past year VTI returned +15.23% vs -17.04% for WDEF, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), VTI annualized +18.74% vs -6.76% for WDEF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or WDEF?
WDEF has been the more volatile fund at 31.0% annualized versus 11.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -8.9% vs WDEF -23.9%.
Should I hold both VTI and WDEF?
VTI and WDEF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.21, 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, VTI or WDEF?
VTI yields 1.03% while WDEF yields 0.07%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WDEF better than VTI?
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.