GTO vs VTI
Invesco Total Return Bond ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GTO or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
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 | GTO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.90% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,857 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -2.16% | +14.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.58% | +17.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.11% | +22.47%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.58% | +12.62%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.7%Best | 15.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.1%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,713 | $18,117Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 10, 2016 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 10, 2016 to Oct 13, 2026 (10.7 years).
GTO 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.
GTO vs VTI Performance
Invesco Total Return Bond ETF (GTO) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GTO returned -1.58% while VTI returned +17.97%. Year to date, GTO is down 2.16% versus a gain of 14.35% for VTI.
Over three years, GTO compounded at +5.11% per year against +22.47% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -0.58% and +12.62% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +14.90% annualized vs +1.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 5.7% for GTO. 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 -21.1% for GTO 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GTO charges 0.35% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GTO currently yields 4.90% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 6.3% of VTI's money is in holdings GTO also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GTO, our book for it covers 43.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and GTO share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, GTO as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
30 positions in common, counted across the 1,015 positions we hold weights for in GTO and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,857 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GTO | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.06% | 2.90% | 2.84% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.03% | 0.52% | 0.49% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 0.00% | 0.46% | 0.46% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), Series V | 0.01% | 0.40% | 0.39% |
| CCitigroup Inc Variable Rate | 0.02% | 0.30% | 0.28% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 0.05% | 0.24% | 0.19% |
| BABoeing Co | 0.02% | 0.24% | 0.22% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.19% | 0.01% | 0.18% |
| NOWServicenow, Inc | 0.03% | 0.16% | 0.13% |
| LOWLowes Cos., Inc. | 0.00% | 0.16% | 0.16% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GTO 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, GTO or VTI?
GTO has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GTO or VTI?
Over the past year GTO returned -1.58% vs +17.97% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GTO annualized +1.01% vs +14.90% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GTO or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 5.7% for GTO. Worst drawdown: GTO -21.1% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both GTO and VTI?
GTO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 GTO and VTI?
At least 6.3% of VTI's money is in holdings GTO also owns. Our book for GTO is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 1,015 positions we hold weights for in GTO and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GTO or VTI?
GTO yields 4.90% while VTI yields 1.03%, so GTO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GTO?
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.