ARMY vs VTI
Tema International Defense ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ARMY or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | ARMY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.68% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 68 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -8.17% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -10.54% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.1% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.6% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $8,874 | $11,845Best |
| Fund Family | Tema Global Limited | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 25, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
ARMY 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 covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.
ARMY vs VTI Performance
Tema International Defense ETF (ARMY) is an ETF from Tema Global Limited and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARMY returned -10.54% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, ARMY is down 8.17% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARMY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.1% compared with 12.6% 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 -21.6% for ARMY and -8.9% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARMY charges 0.68% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $3 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARMY currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.7% of VTI's money is in holdings ARMY also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ARMY, our book for it covers 85.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and ARMY share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARMY and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 68 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ARMY | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RKLBRocket Lab Corp | 3.56% | 0.05% | 3.51% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 2.70% | 0.55% | 2.15% |
| RTXRaytheon Co. | 1.70% | 0.38% | 1.32% |
| LMTLockheed Martin | 1.82% | 0.18% | 1.64% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 1.37% | 0.13% | 1.24% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 1.29% | 0.07% | 1.22% |
| BABoeing Co | 1.14% | 0.22% | 0.92% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 1.11% | 0.10% | 1.01% |
| DRSLeonardo DRS Inc | 1.15% | 0.00% | 1.15% |
| AVAVAerovironment Inc | 0.66% | 0.01% | 0.65% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARMY and VTI 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, ARMY or VTI?
ARMY has an expense ratio of 0.68% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARMY or VTI?
Over the past year ARMY returned -10.54% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ARMY annualized -10.29% vs +16.64% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARMY or VTI?
ARMY has been the more volatile fund at 30.1% annualized versus 12.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ARMY -21.6% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both ARMY and VTI?
ARMY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, 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 ARMY and VTI?
At least 1.7% of VTI's money is in holdings ARMY also owns. Our book for ARMY is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARMY and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARMY or VTI?
ARMY yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ARMY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.