VTI vs YMAX
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETF
Which is better, VTI or YMAX?
Large Cap Blend against Option Writing.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.9%.
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 | YMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.33% |
| AUM | $690.1B | $370M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 70.90% |
| Holdings | 3,524 | 60 |
| YTD Return | +13.35%Best | +8.57% |
| 1Y Return | +15.92%Best | -0.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.41% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.83% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 19.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3%Best | -26.1% |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $16,645Best | $14,639 |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.3%Best | 47.9% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | YieldMax ETF |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Option Writing |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Jan 16, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026 (2.7 years).
VTI vs YMAX 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
VTI vs YMAX Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETF (YMAX) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF. Over the past year VTI returned +15.92% while YMAX returned -0.78%. Year to date, VTI is up 13.35% versus a gain of 8.57% for YMAX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YMAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 12.1% 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 -19.3% for VTI and -26.1% for YMAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while YMAX charges 1.33%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $133 annually, a gap of $130 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 70.90% for YMAX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3,463 holdings in VTI and 29 in YMAX, 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 YMAX 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 29 in YMAX, against full books of 3,524 and 60.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 29 positions for YMAX that do not appear in our book for VTI (99.8% of the fund), and 1,150 for VTI that do not appear in YMAX (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 YMAX 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 YMAX?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while YMAX charges 1.33%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $130 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or YMAX?
Over the past year VTI returned +15.92% vs -0.78% for YMAX, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or YMAX?
YMAX has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 12.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -19.3% vs YMAX -26.1%.
Should I hold both VTI and YMAX?
VTI and YMAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 YMAX?
VTI yields 1.03% while YMAX yields 70.90%, so YMAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YMAX better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.