VTI vs XBI
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF
Which is better, VTI or XBI?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 5Y, XBI over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. XBI is less concentrated, with 16.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | XBI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $690.1B | $10.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 0.35% |
| Holdings | 3,524 | 313 |
| YTD Return | +14.72% | +24.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.82% | +46.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.93% | +28.52%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.78%Best | +4.43% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6%Best | 26.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.6%Best | -63.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,246Best | $12,420 |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.3% | 16.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Jan 31, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 6, 2006 to Oct 6, 2026 (20.7 years).
VTI vs XBI 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 20.7 years both funds cover.
VTI vs XBI Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VTI returned +16.82% while XBI returned +46.23%. Year to date, VTI is up 14.72% versus a gain of 24.30% for XBI.
Over three years, VTI compounded at +22.93% per year against +28.52% for XBI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.78% and +4.43% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, XBI has the edge at +11.37% annualized vs +9.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XBI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.9% compared with 15.6% 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 -63.9% for XBI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while XBI charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $35 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 0.35% for XBI.
Holdings Overlap
2.1% of VTI's money is in holdings XBI also owns. 96.0% of XBI's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Most of XBI is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
140 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 149 in XBI, against full books of 3,524 and 313.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for XBI that do not appear in our book for VTI (1.5% of the fund), and 1,104 for VTI that do not appear in XBI (95.4%).
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 XBI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRNAModerna therapeutics | 0.03% | 3.04% | 3.01% |
| TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp. | 0.01% | 1.82% | 1.81% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.61% | 1.11% | 0.50% |
| NTRANatera Inc | 0.05% | 1.48% | 1.43% |
| HALOHalozyme Therapeutics Inc | 0.01% | 1.48% | 1.47% |
| KYMRKymera Therapeutics Inc | 0.01% | 1.43% | 1.42% |
| RVMDRevolution Medicines Inc | 0.05% | 1.37% | 1.32% |
| ROIV:BMRoivant Sciences Ltd. Common Shares | 0.02% | 1.39% | 1.37% |
| ORKAOruka Therapeutics Inc Orka | 0.01% | 1.40% | 1.39% |
| INSMInsmed Inc | 0.03% | 1.37% | 1.34% |
96.0% of XBI 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 XBI?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XBI charges 0.35%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or XBI?
Over the past year VTI returned +16.82% vs +46.23% for XBI, so XBI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), VTI annualized +9.53% vs +11.37% for XBI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or XBI?
XBI has been the more volatile fund at 26.9% annualized versus 15.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -56.6% vs XBI -63.9%.
Should I hold both VTI and XBI?
VTI and XBI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 XBI?
96.0% of XBI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 96.0% of XBI's is in holdings VTI also owns. They hold 140 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 149 in XBI.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or XBI?
VTI yields 1.03% while XBI yields 0.35%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XBI better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 5Y, XBI over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. XBI is less concentrated, with 16.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.