VTI vs WEA
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs Western Asset Premier Bond Fund
Which is better, VTI or WEA?
Large Cap Blend against Long Term Low Quality.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | WEA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.22% |
| AUM | $666.9B | $131M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 7.57% |
| Holdings | 3,543 | 386 |
| YTD Return | +11.65%Best | -1.51% |
| 1Y Return | +17.34%Best | +0.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.35%Best | +6.24% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.72%Best | +0.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 15.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.6%Best | -64.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,404Best | $10,458 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Long Term Low Quality |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Mar 28, 2002 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 26, 2002 to Sep 10, 2026 (24.5 years).
VTI vs WEA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
VTI vs WEA Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Western Asset Premier Bond Fund (WEA) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US). Over the past year VTI returned +17.34% while WEA returned +0.73%. Year to date, VTI is up 11.65% versus a loss of 1.51% for WEA.
Over three years, VTI compounded at +20.35% per year against +6.24% for WEA; over five years the annualized figures are +11.72% and +0.90% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.66% annualized vs +0.16%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WEA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 15.3% 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 -56.6% for VTI and -64.9% for WEA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while WEA charges 1.22%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $122 annually, a gap of $119 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 7.57% for WEA.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2,787 holdings in VTI and 246 in WEA, totalling 90.6% and 110.5% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can 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 91 days apart, VTI as of Jun 30, 2026 and WEA as of Mar 31, 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 2,787 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 246 in WEA, against full books of 3,543 and 386.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTI | Weight in WEA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCitigroup Inc 6.875 11/73 6.88 2173-11-15 | 0.32% | 0.14% | 0.18% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTI and WEA 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 WEA?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WEA charges 1.22%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $119 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or WEA?
Over the past year VTI returned +17.34% vs +0.73% for WEA, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), VTI annualized +8.66% vs +0.16% for WEA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or WEA?
WEA has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -56.6% vs WEA -64.9%.
Should I hold both VTI and WEA?
VTI and WEA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 WEA?
VTI yields 1.03% while WEA yields 7.57%, so WEA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WEA better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.