BLCN vs VTI

BLCN vs VTI

Which is better, BLCN or VTI?

Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.9%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTILess Concentrated: VTI

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

MetricBLCNVTI
Expense Ratio0.68%0.03%Best
AUM$33M$689.2B
Dividend Yield2.71%1.06%
Holdings273,524
Volatility (annualized)28.1%17.0%Best
Max Drawdown-67.5%-35.0%Best
$10,000 over 8.5 years$10,984$27,984Best
Top 10 Weight61.9%33.5%Best
Fund FamilySRN AdvisorsVanguard (US)
CategoryAlternativeEquity
StyleMulti AlternativeLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJan 16, 2018May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).

The two price series end 92 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. BLCN has data through Jul 14, 2026 and VTI through Oct 14, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 8.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2018 to Jul 14, 2026 (8.5 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

BLCN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.1% compared with 17.0% 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 -67.5% for BLCN and -35.0% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

BLCN 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, BLCN currently yields 2.71% against 1.06% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

BLCN already in VTI23.2%
VTI already in BLCN8.1%

23.2% of BLCN's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 8.1% of VTI's money is in holdings BLCN also owns.

BLCN and VTI share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 123 days apart, BLCN as of Apr 30, 2026 and VTI as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

7 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in BLCN and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 27 and 3,524.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for BLCN (89.5% of the fund), and 3 for BLCN that do not appear in VTI (26.7%).

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 BLCNWeight in VTIDifference
MSFTMicrosoft Corp3.80%5.11%1.31%
JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co4.29%1.29%3.00%
BLKBlackrock Inc4.23%0.22%4.01%
GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/the2.89%0.38%2.51%
WULFTerawulf Inc3.18%0.01%3.17%
COINCoinbase Globa-A2.92%0.05%2.87%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc.1.91%1.04%0.87%

23.2% of BLCN 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.

BLCNVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, BLCN or VTI?

BLCN 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 is riskier, BLCN or VTI?

BLCN has been the more volatile fund at 28.1% annualized versus 17.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: BLCN -67.5% vs VTI -35.0%.

Should I hold both BLCN and VTI?

BLCN and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 BLCN and VTI?

23.2% of BLCN's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 8.1% of VTI's is in holdings BLCN also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 22 positions we hold weights for in BLCN and 3,441 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, BLCN or VTI?

BLCN yields 2.71% while VTI yields 1.06%, so BLCN currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than BLCN?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.