DEM vs VTI
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DEM or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEM is less concentrated, with 27.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.5%.
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 | DEM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.63% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.2B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.99% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 541 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +20.10%Best | +13.02% |
| 1Y Return | +26.81%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.59% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.78% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,945 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.5%Best | 33.5% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 13, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 13, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.3 years).
DEM 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 19.3 years both funds cover.
DEM vs VTI Performance
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund (DEM) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DEM returned +26.81% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, DEM is up 20.10% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, DEM compounded at +18.59% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.78% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.04% annualized vs +1.88%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 16.0% 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 -57.0% for DEM and -56.6% 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DEM charges 0.63% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $63 vs $3 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEM currently yields 3.99% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of DEM's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings DEM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 524 positions we hold weights for in DEM and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 541 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,155 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for DEM (97.5% of the fund), and 6 for DEM that do not appear in VTI (1.2%).
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 DEM | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DEM 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, DEM or VTI?
DEM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEM or VTI?
Over the past year DEM returned +26.81% vs +16.63% for VTI, so DEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), DEM annualized +1.88% vs +9.04% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEM or VTI?
DEM has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DEM -57.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both DEM and VTI?
DEM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, DEM or VTI?
DEM yields 3.99% while VTI yields 1.06%, so DEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DEM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEM is less concentrated, with 27.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.