GLDN vs VTI
Nicholas Gold Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GLDN or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 87.2%.
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 | GLDN | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.42% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 46 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -21.68% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Top 10 Weight | 87.2% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | XFunds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 18, 2026 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
GLDN 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
GLDN vs VTI Performance
Nicholas Gold Income ETF (GLDN) is an ETF from XFunds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, GLDN is down 21.68% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GLDN charges 1.07% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $3 annually, a gap of $104 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GLDN currently yields 9.42% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
9.0% of GLDN's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings GLDN also owns.
GLDN and VTI share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 14 positions we hold weights for in GLDN and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 46 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,154 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GLDN (97.4% of the fund), and 4 for GLDN that do not appear in VTI (54.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GLDN 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, GLDN or VTI?
GLDN has an expense ratio of 1.07% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $104 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between GLDN and VTI?
9.0% of GLDN's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's is in holdings GLDN also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 14 positions we hold weights for in GLDN and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GLDN or VTI?
GLDN yields 9.42% while VTI yields 1.06%, so GLDN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GLDN?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 87.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.