VTI vs YCS

VTI vs YCS

Which is better, VTI or YCS?

Each has led over a different period.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 3Y and the full window, YCS over 1Y and 5Y.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: split

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

MetricVTIYCS
Expense Ratio0.03%Best0.95%
AUM$666.9B$28M
Dividend Yield1.03%0.00%
Holdings3,5434
YTD Return+12.30%Best+4.26%
1Y Return+16.08%+20.01%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+21.01%Best+13.34%
5Y Return (annualized)+12.36%+23.13%Best
Volatility (annualized)15.3%Best19.3%
Max Drawdown-35.0%Best-49.6%
$10,000 over 5 years$17,908$28,302Best
Fund FamilyVanguard (US)ProShares
CategoryEquityAlternative
StyleLarge Cap Blend-
InceptionMay 24, 2001Nov 24, 2008

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 25, 2008 to Sep 18, 2026 (17.8 years).

VTI vs YCS 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 17.8 years both funds cover.

VTI vs YCS Performance

Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and ProShares UltraShort Yen ETF (YCS) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year VTI returned +16.08% while YCS returned +20.01%. Year to date, VTI is up 12.30% versus a gain of 4.26% for YCS.

Over three years, VTI compounded at +21.01% per year against +13.34% for YCS; over five years the annualized figures are +12.36% and +23.13% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.54% annualized vs +6.24%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

YCS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 15.3% 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 -49.6% for YCS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.03. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

VTI charges 0.03% per year while YCS charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $95 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 0.00% for YCS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 3,463 holdings in VTI and 1 in YCS, totalling 98.1% and 25.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 3,463 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 1 in YCS, against full books of 3,543 and 4.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of VTI and YCS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

VTIYCS

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, VTI or YCS?

VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while YCS charges 0.95%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, VTI or YCS?

Over the past year VTI returned +16.08% vs +20.01% for YCS, so YCS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), VTI annualized +13.54% vs +6.24% for YCS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, VTI or YCS?

YCS has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -35.0% vs YCS -49.6%.

Should I hold both VTI and YCS?

VTI and YCS have a monthly-return correlation of -0.03, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or YCS?

VTI yields 1.03% while YCS yields 0.00%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is YCS better than VTI?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 3Y and the full window, YCS over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.