DCAP vs VTI
T-Strive Digital Credit Preferred Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DCAP or VTI?
Preferred Stock 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 | DCAP | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 3 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -0.16% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.16% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.5% | 12.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -20.8% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $12,471 | $14,089Best |
| Fund Family | Strive Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2026 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 23, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.2 years).
DCAP 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 2.2 years both funds cover.
DCAP vs VTI Performance
T-Strive Digital Credit Preferred Income ETF (DCAP) is an ETF from Strive Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DCAP returned -0.16% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, DCAP is down 0.16% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DCAP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.5% compared with 12.3% 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 -20.8% for DCAP 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 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DCAP charges 0.95% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DCAP currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings DCAP also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DCAP, our book for it covers 63.5% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 3 positions we hold weights for in DCAP and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 3 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DCAP | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSTRStrategy Inc 9% | 50.42% | 0.06% | 50.36% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DCAP 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, DCAP or VTI?
DCAP has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DCAP or VTI?
Over the past year DCAP returned -0.16% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), DCAP annualized +10.56% vs +16.86% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DCAP or VTI?
DCAP has been the more volatile fund at 22.5% annualized versus 12.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DCAP -20.8% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both DCAP and VTI?
DCAP and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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, DCAP or VTI?
DCAP yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DCAP?
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.