JAPN vs VTI
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, JAPN or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.0%.
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 | JAPN | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.24% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 70 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +1.80% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.12% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 11.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.9% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $10,485 | $13,201Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.0% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Horizon Kinetics LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 12, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 13, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.4 years).
JAPN 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
JAPN vs VTI Performance
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF (JAPN) is an ETF from Horizon Kinetics LLC and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JAPN returned -5.12% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, JAPN is up 1.80% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JAPN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 11.5% 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 -23.9% for JAPN and -8.9% 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 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JAPN charges 0.85% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $3 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JAPN currently yields 0.24% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 33 holdings in JAPN and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 96.4% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in JAPN and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 70 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,156 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for JAPN (97.6% of the fund), and 0 for JAPN that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 JAPN 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, JAPN or VTI?
JAPN has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JAPN or VTI?
Over the past year JAPN returned -5.12% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), JAPN annualized +3.44% vs +21.94% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JAPN or VTI?
JAPN has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 11.5% for VTI. Worst drawdown: JAPN -23.9% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both JAPN and VTI?
JAPN and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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, JAPN or VTI?
JAPN yields 0.24% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than JAPN?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.