ACSG vs VTI

ACSG vs VTI

Which is better, ACSG or VTI?

Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y. ACSG is less concentrated, with 8.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.5%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns (1Y): VTILess Concentrated: ACSG

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

MetricACSGVTI
Expense Ratio0.49%0.03%Best
AUM$52M$689.2B
Dividend Yield0.00%1.06%
Holdings3113,524
YTD Return+8.14%+13.02%Best
1Y Return+10.51%+16.63%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.97%
5Y Return (annualized)-+11.99%
Volatility (annualized)19.1%13.1%Best
Top 10 Weight8.5%Best33.5%
Fund FamilyAmerican Century ETFsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleSmall Cap GrowthLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 14, 2025May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.

ACSG vs VTI 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.

ACSG vs VTI Performance

American Century Small Cap Growth Insights ETF (ACSG) is an ETF from American Century ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ACSG returned +10.51% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, ACSG is up 8.14% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

ACSG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 13.1% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

ACSG charges 0.49% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACSG currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

ACSG already in VTI92.3%
VTI already in ACSG1.5%

92.3% of ACSG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.5% of VTI's money is in holdings ACSG also owns.

Most of ACSG is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

278 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in ACSG and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 311 and 3,524.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,014 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for ACSG (96.1% of the fund), and 11 for ACSG that do not appear in VTI (3.1%).

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

StockWeight in ACSGWeight in VTIDifference
TXG10x Genomics Inc Com Usd 1 Cl A1.03%0.01%1.02%
CECOCeco Environmental Corp Common Stock Usd 0.011.01%0.01%1.00%
KRYSKrystal Biotech Inc0.91%0.01%0.90%
PLXSPlexus Corp0.84%0.01%0.83%
HXLHexcel Corp0.82%0.01%0.81%
TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp.0.82%0.01%0.81%
SXTSensient Technologies Corp0.79%0.01%0.78%
ONTOOnto Innovation Inc0.77%0.02%0.75%
XPROExpro Group Holdings Nv0.77%0.00%0.77%
NOVTNovanta Inc. Common Stock0.76%0.01%0.75%

92.3% of ACSG 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.

ACSGVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, ACSG or VTI?

ACSG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, ACSG or VTI?

Over the past year ACSG returned +10.51% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ACSG or VTI?

ACSG has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 13.1% for VTI.

Should I hold both ACSG and VTI?

ACSG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 ACSG and VTI?

92.3% of ACSG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.5% of VTI's is in holdings ACSG also owns. They hold 278 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in ACSG and 3,441 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, ACSG or VTI?

ACSG yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than ACSG?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y. ACSG is less concentrated, with 8.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.