VTI vs ZSEP
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr September
Which is better, VTI or ZSEP?
Large Cap Blend against Option Writing.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93.
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 | ZSEP |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.79% |
| AUM | $666.9B | $123M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.03% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 3,543 | 10 |
| YTD Return | +13.60%Best | +4.05% |
| 1Y Return | +18.17%Best | +5.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.04% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.14% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9% | 2.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3% | -4.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $14,389Best | $11,389 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Innovator ETFs Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Option Writing |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Aug 31, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 3, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026 (2.1 years).
VTI vs ZSEP 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
VTI vs ZSEP Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr September (ZSEP) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust. Over the past year VTI returned +18.17% while ZSEP returned +5.60%. Year to date, VTI is up 13.60% versus a gain of 4.05% for ZSEP.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 2.7% for ZSEP. 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 -4.0% for ZSEP. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while ZSEP charges 0.79%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $79 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.03% against 0.00% for ZSEP.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3,463 holdings in VTI and 1 in ZSEP, totalling 98.1% and 99.3% 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 ZSEP, against full books of 3,543 and 10.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTI and ZSEP 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 ZSEP?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while ZSEP charges 0.79%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or ZSEP?
Over the past year VTI returned +18.17% vs +5.60% for ZSEP, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VTI annualized +18.92% vs +6.39% for ZSEP. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or ZSEP?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 2.7% for ZSEP. Worst drawdown: VTI -19.3% vs ZSEP -4.0%.
Should I hold both VTI and ZSEP?
VTI and ZSEP have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or ZSEP?
VTI yields 1.03% while ZSEP yields 0.00%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZSEP better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.