IYF vs VTI
iShares US Financials ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IYF or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.0%.
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 | IYF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.55% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 146 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -1.09% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.41% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.78% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.79% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.2% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,952 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.0% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 22, 2000 | 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).
IYF 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 25.4 years both funds cover.
IYF vs VTI Performance
iShares US Financials ETF (IYF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IYF returned +3.41% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, IYF is down 1.09% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, IYF compounded at +20.78% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.79% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.04% annualized vs +4.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% 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 -80.2% for IYF 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYF charges 0.37% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $37 vs $3 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYF currently yields 1.55% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
82.8% of IYF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 8.0% of VTI's money is in holdings IYF also owns.
Most of IYF is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
130 positions in common, counted across the 143 positions we hold weights for in IYF and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 146 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,033 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IYF (89.6% of the fund), and 11 for IYF that do not appear in VTI (16.4%).
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 IYF | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co | 11.34% | 1.29% | 10.05% |
| BACBank Amer Secs Inc | 4.13% | 0.54% | 3.59% |
| GSGoldman Sachs & Co Llc | 3.73% | 0.38% | 3.35% |
| WFCWells Fargo And Co Preferred Stock Var | 3.72% | 0.36% | 3.36% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 3.47% | 0.30% | 3.17% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 3.43% | 0.34% | 3.09% |
| BLKBlackrock Inc | 2.65% | 0.22% | 2.43% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 2.62% | 0.25% | 2.37% |
| PGRProgressive Corp. | 2.01% | 0.17% | 1.84% |
| CBChubb Ltd. | 1.90% | 0.16% | 1.74% |
82.8% of IYF 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, IYF or VTI?
IYF has an expense ratio of 0.37% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYF or VTI?
Over the past year IYF returned +3.41% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IYF annualized +4.77% vs +8.04% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYF or VTI?
IYF has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IYF -80.2% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both IYF and VTI?
IYF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 IYF and VTI?
82.8% of IYF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 8.0% of VTI's is in holdings IYF also owns. They hold 130 positions in common, counted across the 143 positions we hold weights for in IYF and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYF or VTI?
IYF yields 1.55% while VTI yields 1.06%, so IYF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IYF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.