VTI vs WUGI
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs AXS Esoterica NextG Economy ETF
Which is better, VTI or WUGI?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and 5Y, WUGI over 3Y 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 | WUGI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.84% |
| AUM | $666.9B | $31M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 0.24% |
| Holdings | 3,543 | 34 |
| YTD Return | +11.65% | +15.69%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.34%Best | -4.15% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.35% | +22.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.72%Best | +7.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2%Best | 28.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -25.4%Best | -56.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,404Best | $14,517 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | AXS Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Mar 31, 2020 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 31, 2020 to Sep 10, 2026 (6.4 years).
VTI vs WUGI 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 6.4 years both funds cover.
VTI vs WUGI Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and AXS Esoterica NextG Economy ETF (WUGI) is an ETF from AXS Investments. Over the past year VTI returned +17.34% while WUGI returned -4.15%. Year to date, VTI is up 11.65% versus a gain of 15.69% for WUGI.
Over three years, VTI compounded at +20.35% per year against +22.98% for WUGI; over five years the annualized figures are +11.72% and +7.74% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, WUGI has the edge at +20.92% annualized vs +19.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WUGI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.6% compared with 16.2% 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 -25.4% for VTI and -56.4% for WUGI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while WUGI charges 0.84%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $84 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 0.24% for WUGI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 80.8% of WUGI's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of WUGI is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, VTI as of Jun 30, 2026 and WUGI as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
26 positions in common, counted across the 2,787 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 31 in WUGI, against full books of 3,543 and 34.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTI | Weight in WUGI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.32% | 6.12% | 0.20% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.17% | 5.67% | 2.50% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.79% | 6.92% | 5.13% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.27% | 4.70% | 2.43% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.46% | 4.37% | 1.91% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 0.79% | 5.94% | 5.15% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.30% | 5.10% | 3.80% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 0.37% | 4.76% | 4.39% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 0.77% | 3.70% | 2.93% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 0.46% | 3.59% | 3.13% |
80.8% of WUGI 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 WUGI?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WUGI charges 0.84%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or WUGI?
Over the past year VTI returned +17.34% vs -4.15% for WUGI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), VTI annualized +19.34% vs +20.92% for WUGI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or WUGI?
WUGI has been the more volatile fund at 28.6% annualized versus 16.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -25.4% vs WUGI -56.4%.
Should I hold both VTI and WUGI?
VTI and WUGI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 WUGI?
At least 80.8% of WUGI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 2,787 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 31 in WUGI.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or WUGI?
VTI yields 1.03% while WUGI yields 0.24%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WUGI better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and 5Y, WUGI over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.