GUT vs VTI
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GUT or VTI?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GUT is less concentrated, with 30.3% 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 | GUT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $305M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 21.93% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 215 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +3.04% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.63% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.39% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.03% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.6% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,610 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.3%Best | 33.5% |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 9, 1999 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Oct 14, 2026 (25.4 years).
GUT 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.
GUT vs VTI Performance
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) (GUT) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GUT returned +5.63% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, GUT is up 3.04% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, GUT compounded at +10.39% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +3.03% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.04% annualized vs +0.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GUT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 15.3% 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 -57.6% for GUT 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUT charges 2.06% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $206 vs $3 annually, a gap of $203 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUT currently yields 21.93% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
68.9% of GUT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 5.8% of VTI's money is in holdings GUT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, GUT as of Jun 30, 2026 and VTI as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
109 positions in common, counted across the 195 positions we hold weights for in GUT and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 215 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,073 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GUT (91.8% of the fund), and 14 for GUT that do not appear in VTI (8.1%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GUT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 4.39% | 0.23% | 4.16% |
| WECWec Energy Group Inc. | 3.70% | 0.05% | 3.65% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 3.56% | 0.08% | 3.48% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 3.18% | 0.06% | 3.12% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 3.05% | 0.02% | 3.03% |
| SWXSouthwest Gas Holdings Inc Common Stock Usd 1 | 3.03% | 0.01% | 3.02% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 2.55% | 0.13% | 2.42% |
| OGEOge Energy Corp. | 2.61% | 0.01% | 2.60% |
| NFGNational Fuel Gas Co | 2.21% | 0.01% | 2.20% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 1.92% | 0.09% | 1.83% |
68.9% of GUT 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, GUT or VTI?
GUT has an expense ratio of 2.06% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $203 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUT or VTI?
Over the past year GUT returned +5.63% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), GUT annualized +0.29% vs +8.04% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GUT or VTI?
GUT has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: GUT -57.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both GUT and VTI?
GUT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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 GUT and VTI?
68.9% of GUT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 5.8% of VTI's is in holdings GUT also owns. They hold 109 positions in common, counted across the 195 positions we hold weights for in GUT and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GUT or VTI?
GUT yields 21.93% while VTI yields 1.06%, so GUT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GUT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GUT is less concentrated, with 30.3% 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.