CWB vs VTI
State Street SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CWB or VTI?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | CWB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.4B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 718 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +7.49% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.25% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.86% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.04% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.2%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,190 | $17,616Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 14, 2009 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 16, 2009 to Oct 14, 2026 (17.5 years).
CWB 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 17.5 years both funds cover.
CWB vs VTI Performance
State Street SPDR Bloomberg Convertible Securities ETF (CWB) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CWB returned +5.25% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, CWB is up 7.49% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, CWB compounded at +14.86% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.04% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.68% annualized vs +7.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 12.8% for CWB. 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 -32.2% for CWB 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CWB charges 0.40% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $3 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CWB currently yields 1.56% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings CWB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CWB, our book for it covers 46.7% 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 160 positions we hold weights for in CWB and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 718 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CWB 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, CWB or VTI?
CWB has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CWB or VTI?
Over the past year CWB returned +5.25% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), CWB annualized +7.47% vs +13.68% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CWB or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 12.8% for CWB. Worst drawdown: CWB -32.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both CWB and VTI?
CWB and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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, CWB or VTI?
CWB yields 1.56% while VTI yields 1.06%, so CWB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CWB?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.