BESF vs VTI
Bastion Energy ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BESF or VTI?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. BESF led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.3%.
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 | BESF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.81% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $35M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.45% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 46 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +11.86% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +25.06%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.6% | 11.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.9% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $16,572Best | $13,172 |
| Top 10 Weight | 54.3% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | EA Series Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 3, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 4, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.4 years).
BESF 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
BESF vs VTI Performance
Bastion Energy ETF (BESF) is an ETF from EA Series Trust and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BESF returned +25.06% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, BESF is up 11.86% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BESF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 11.4% 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 -12.9% for BESF 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 -0.07. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BESF charges 0.81% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $81 vs $3 annually, a gap of $78 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BESF currently yields 6.45% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
73.8% of BESF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.6% of VTI's money is in holdings BESF also owns.
Most of BESF is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
16 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in BESF and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 46 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,145 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for BESF (97.0% of the fund), and 6 for BESF that do not appear in VTI (26.2%).
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
| Stock | Weight in BESF | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXTNextdecade Corp Common Stock | 7.42% | 0.00% | 7.42% |
| LNGCheniere Energy Inc. | 7.21% | 0.08% | 7.13% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 5.24% | 0.08% | 5.16% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 5.17% | 0.12% | 5.05% |
| VGVenture Global Inc | 4.92% | 0.01% | 4.91% |
| EQTEQT Corp. | 4.66% | 0.05% | 4.61% |
| KNTKAltus Midstream Company | 4.68% | 0.00% | 4.68% |
| EXEExpand Energy Corp | 4.44% | 0.03% | 4.41% |
| REPXRiley Exploration Permian Inc | 4.31% | 0.00% | 4.31% |
| ARAntero Resources Corp | 4.24% | 0.02% | 4.22% |
73.8% of BESF 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BESF or VTI?
BESF has an expense ratio of 0.81% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $78 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BESF or VTI?
Over the past year BESF returned +25.06% vs +16.63% for VTI, so BESF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BESF annualized +43.45% vs +21.75% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BESF or VTI?
BESF has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 11.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: BESF -12.9% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both BESF and VTI?
BESF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of -0.07, 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 BESF and VTI?
73.8% of BESF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.6% of VTI's is in holdings BESF also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in BESF and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, BESF or VTI?
BESF yields 6.45% while VTI yields 1.06%, so BESF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BESF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. BESF led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.