GWX vs VTI
State Street SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GWX or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GWX is less concentrated, with 2.8% 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 | GWX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $909M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.61% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 2,076 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +9.71% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.01% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.12% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.51% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.8% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,076 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 2.8%Best | 33.5% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 20, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.5 years).
GWX 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 19.5 years both funds cover.
GWX vs VTI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF (GWX) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GWX returned +15.01% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, GWX is up 9.71% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, GWX compounded at +19.12% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +5.51% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.14% annualized vs +1.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GWX 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 -64.8% for GWX 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GWX charges 0.40% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $3 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GWX currently yields 2.61% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of GWX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.6% of VTI's money is in holdings GWX also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
11 positions in common, counted across the 2,062 positions we hold weights for in GWX and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 2,076 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,152 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GWX (97.0% of the fund), and 51 for GWX that do not appear in VTI (2.4%).
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 GWX | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.03% | 0.50% | 0.47% |
| ZYME:CAZymeworks Inc. Common Stock | 0.12% | 0.00% | 0.12% |
| HLHecla Mining Co | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| SRG:AUSrg Global Ltd | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| IAU:CAI 80 Gold Corp | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| APAApa Corp | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| KEELKeel Infrastructure Corp. | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| CASHMeta Financial Group Inc | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| THGThg Holdings Plc | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| ENCUFEncore Energy Corp. | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GWX 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, GWX or VTI?
GWX has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GWX or VTI?
Over the past year GWX returned +15.01% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GWX annualized +1.85% vs +9.14% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GWX or VTI?
GWX has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: GWX -64.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both GWX and VTI?
GWX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, GWX or VTI?
GWX yields 2.61% while VTI yields 1.06%, so GWX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GWX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GWX is less concentrated, with 2.8% 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.