DESK vs VTI
VanEck Office and Commercial REIT ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DESK or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 71.7%.
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 | DESK | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.26% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 52 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +2.87% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.92% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.71% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.6% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.6% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.1 years | $12,789 | $18,420Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 71.7% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 19, 2023 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.1 years).
DESK 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 3.1 years both funds cover.
DESK vs VTI Performance
VanEck Office and Commercial REIT ETF (DESK) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DESK returned -3.92% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, DESK is up 2.87% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, DESK compounded at +9.71% per year against +21.97% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DESK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.6% compared with 12.7% 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 -28.6% for DESK 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DESK charges 0.51% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $51 vs $3 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DESK currently yields 5.26% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
99.5% of DESK's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.5% of VTI's money is in holdings DESK also owns.
Most of DESK is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
25 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in DESK and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 52 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,137 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for DESK (97.0% of the fund), and 0 for DESK that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 DESK | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUZCousins Properties Inc | 10.43% | 0.01% | 10.42% |
| VNOVornado Realty Trust | 10.10% | 0.01% | 10.09% |
| KRCKrc Kilroy Realty Corp. | 9.90% | 0.01% | 9.89% |
| BXPBoston Properties Inc | 9.77% | 0.01% | 9.76% |
| OFCCorporate Office Properties Trust | 9.37% | 0.01% | 9.36% |
| HIWHighwoods Properties Inc | 4.58% | 0.00% | 4.58% |
| DEAEasterly Government Properties Inc | 4.56% | 0.00% | 4.56% |
| PDMPiedmont Office Realty Trust Inc | 4.40% | 0.00% | 4.40% |
| SLGSl Green Realty Corp. | 4.35% | 0.01% | 4.34% |
| DEIDouglas Emmett Inc | 4.26% | 0.00% | 4.26% |
99.5% of DESK 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DESK or VTI?
DESK has an expense ratio of 0.51% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DESK or VTI?
Over the past year DESK returned -3.92% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DESK or VTI?
DESK has been the more volatile fund at 22.6% annualized versus 12.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DESK -28.6% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both DESK and VTI?
DESK and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 DESK and VTI?
99.5% of DESK's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.5% of VTI's is in holdings DESK also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in DESK and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, DESK or VTI?
DESK yields 5.26% while VTI yields 1.06%, so DESK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DESK?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 71.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.