BNDS vs VTI
Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BNDS or VTI?
Long Term Bond 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 | BNDS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.88% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $88M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.02% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 178 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +0.22% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.77% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.9%Best | 12.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.0%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $10,854 | $13,010Best |
| Fund Family | InfraCap | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 15, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 15, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.7 years).
BNDS 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
BNDS vs VTI Performance
Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF (BNDS) is an ETF from InfraCap and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BNDS returned +1.77% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, BNDS is up 0.22% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.7% compared with 5.9% for BNDS. 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 -7.0% for BNDS and -19.3% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BNDS charges 0.88% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $88 vs $3 annually, a gap of $85 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BNDS currently yields 9.02% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings BNDS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BNDS, our book for it covers 76.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
5 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in BNDS and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 178 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BNDS 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, BNDS or VTI?
BNDS has an expense ratio of 0.88% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $85 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BNDS or VTI?
Over the past year BNDS returned +1.77% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BNDS annualized +4.94% vs +16.74% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BNDS or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.7% annualized versus 5.9% for BNDS. Worst drawdown: BNDS -7.0% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both BNDS and VTI?
BNDS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BNDS or VTI?
BNDS yields 9.02% while VTI yields 1.06%, so BNDS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BNDS?
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.