VTI vs XDEF
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF
Which is better, VTI or XDEF?
VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.8%.
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 | XDEF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $690.1B | $4M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 1.41% |
| Holdings | 3,524 | 74 |
| YTD Return | +13.35%Best | -14.69% |
| 1Y Return | +15.92% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.41% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.83% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.3%Best | 63.8% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Xtrackers ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Feb 19, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
VTI vs XDEF 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 XDEF Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF (XDEF) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs. Year to date, VTI is up 13.35% versus a loss of 14.69% for XDEF.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while XDEF 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 1.41% for XDEF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3,463 holdings in VTI and 35 in XDEF, totalling 98.1% and 99.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, VTI as of Jul 31, 2026 and XDEF as of Sep 15, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 35 in XDEF, against full books of 3,524 and 74.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for XDEF that do not appear in our book for VTI (0.4% of the fund), and 1,150 for VTI that do not appear in XDEF (97.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTI and XDEF 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 XDEF?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XDEF charges 0.35%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or XDEF?
VTI yields 1.03% while XDEF yields 1.41%, so XDEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XDEF better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.