VTI vs WSML
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs iShares MSCI World Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, VTI or WSML?
WSML has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. WSML 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 | WSML |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.30% |
| AUM | $666.9B | $665M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 2.82% |
| Holdings | 3,543 | 3,540 |
| YTD Return | +14.05% | +14.58%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.93% | +18.24%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.65% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.46% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 13.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -10.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $14,771 | $15,105Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 3, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.5 years).
VTI vs WSML 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
VTI vs WSML Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and iShares MSCI World Small-Cap ETF (WSML) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year VTI returned +16.93% while WSML returned +18.24%. Year to date, VTI is up 14.05% versus a gain of 14.58% for WSML.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WSML has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.0% 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 -10.7% for WSML. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while WSML charges 0.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $30 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 2.82% for WSML.
Holdings Overlap
At least 6.1% of VTI's money is in holdings WSML also owns.
Stated as a floor: for WSML, our book for it covers 68.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and WSML share little of their money.
589 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 1,643 in WSML, against full books of 3,543 and 3,540.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTI | Weight in WSML | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRNAModerna therapeutics | 0.03% | 0.43% | 0.40% |
| THCTenet Healthcare Corp Common Stock Usd 0.05 | 0.03% | 0.21% | 0.18% |
| USFDUS Foods Holding Corp | 0.03% | 0.21% | 0.18% |
| ROKURoku, Inc | 0.03% | 0.19% | 0.16% |
| RGLDRoyal Gold Inc | 0.02% | 0.20% | 0.18% |
| GHGuardant Health, Inc | 0.03% | 0.18% | 0.15% |
| WWDWoodward Inc | 0.03% | 0.18% | 0.15% |
| VTRSViatris Inc. | 0.03% | 0.17% | 0.14% |
| SNXSynnex Technology International Co | 0.03% | 0.16% | 0.13% |
| MKSIMks Instruments Inc | 0.03% | 0.16% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTI and WSML 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 WSML?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WSML charges 0.30%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or WSML?
Over the past year VTI returned +16.93% vs +18.24% for WSML, so WSML leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VTI annualized +29.70% vs +31.65% for WSML. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or WSML?
WSML has been the more volatile fund at 13.0% annualized versus 11.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -8.9% vs WSML -10.7%.
Should I hold both VTI and WSML?
VTI and WSML have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 WSML?
At least 6.1% of VTI's money is in holdings WSML also owns. Our book for WSML is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 589 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 1,643 in WSML.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or WSML?
VTI yields 1.03% while WSML yields 2.82%, so WSML currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WSML better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. WSML 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.