VTI vs XSW
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF
Which is better, VTI or XSW?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Growth.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, XSW over the full window. XSW is less concentrated, with 9.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%.
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 | XSW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $689.2B | $497M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 3,542 | 265 |
| YTD Return | +12.23% | +13.41%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.74%Best | +8.39% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.44%Best | +17.93% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.83%Best | +2.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5%Best | 21.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.0%Best | -45.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,722Best | $11,447 |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.6% | 9.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Sep 28, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2011 to Nov 11, 2026 (15.1 years).
VTI vs XSW 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 15.1 years both funds cover.
VTI vs XSW Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF (XSW) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VTI returned +12.74% while XSW returned +8.39%. Year to date, VTI is up 12.23% versus a gain of 13.41% for XSW.
Over three years, VTI compounded at +21.44% per year against +17.93% for XSW; over five years the annualized figures are +10.83% and +2.74% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, XSW has the edge at +15.84% annualized vs +13.57%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XSW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 14.5% 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 -35.0% for VTI and -45.4% for XSW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while XSW 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 1.06% against 0.00% for XSW.
Holdings Overlap
9.4% of VTI's money is in holdings XSW also owns. 97.9% of XSW's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Most of XSW is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
128 positions in common, counted across the 3,464 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 131 in XSW, against full books of 3,542 and 265.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for XSW that do not appear in our book for VTI (0.6% of the fund), and 1,058 for VTI that do not appear in XSW (87.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTI | Weight in XSW | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.19% | 0.81% | 4.38% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc. | 0.56% | 0.89% | 0.33% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks Inc. | 0.44% | 0.84% | 0.40% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 0.35% | 0.90% | 0.55% |
| PTCPtc Inc | 0.02% | 1.13% | 1.11% |
| NTSKNetskope Inc-Cl A | 0.00% | 1.04% | 1.04% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc. Class A | 0.13% | 0.90% | 0.77% |
| ZSZscaler Inc | 0.03% | 1.00% | 0.97% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 0.15% | 0.88% | 0.73% |
| SNPSSynopsys | 0.11% | 0.91% | 0.80% |
97.9% of XSW 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 XSW?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XSW charges 0.35%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or XSW?
Over the past year VTI returned +12.74% vs +8.39% for XSW, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), VTI annualized +13.57% vs +15.84% for XSW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or XSW?
XSW has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 14.5% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -35.0% vs XSW -45.4%.
Should I hold both VTI and XSW?
VTI and XSW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 XSW?
97.9% of XSW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 97.9% of XSW's is in holdings VTI also owns. They hold 128 positions in common, counted across the 3,464 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 131 in XSW.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or XSW?
VTI yields 1.06% while XSW yields 0.00%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XSW better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, XSW over the full window. XSW is less concentrated, with 9.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.