JQC vs VTI
Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, JQC or VTI?
Bank Loan against Large Cap Blend.
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 | JQC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 5.48% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $780M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.72% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 471 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -1.32% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.30% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.09% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.49% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.7% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.3% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,871 | $17,616Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2003 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2003 to Oct 14, 2026 (23.3 years).
JQC 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.
JQC vs VTI Performance
Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund (JQC) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JQC returned -0.30% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, JQC is down 1.32% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, JQC compounded at +9.09% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +3.49% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.75% annualized vs -2.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JQC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 14.9% 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 -81.3% for JQC 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JQC charges 5.48% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $548 vs $3 annually, a gap of $545 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JQC currently yields 11.72% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of VTI's money is in holdings JQC also owns.
Stated as a floor: for JQC, our book for it covers 49.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
19 positions in common, counted across the 219 positions we hold weights for in JQC and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 471 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JQC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 0.51% | 0.09% | 0.42% |
| PRMBPrimo Brands Corp | 0.34% | 0.01% | 0.33% |
| LUMNLumen Technologies Inc | 0.29% | 0.01% | 0.28% |
| QQnity Electronics Inc | 0.22% | 0.03% | 0.19% |
| TDGTransdigm Group Inc. | 0.14% | 0.09% | 0.05% |
| CNKCinemark Usa Inc. | 0.17% | 0.01% | 0.16% |
| DYDycom Industries Inc_None_0 | 0.17% | 0.01% | 0.16% |
| LMRILumexa Imaging Holdings Inc | 0.18% | 0.00% | 0.18% |
| REZIResideo Technologies Inc | 0.16% | 0.00% | 0.16% |
| KARKar Auction Services | 0.13% | 0.01% | 0.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JQC 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, JQC or VTI?
JQC has an expense ratio of 5.48% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $545 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JQC or VTI?
Over the past year JQC returned -0.30% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), JQC annualized -2.46% vs +9.75% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JQC or VTI?
JQC has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 14.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: JQC -81.3% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both JQC and VTI?
JQC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, JQC or VTI?
JQC yields 11.72% while VTI yields 1.06%, so JQC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than JQC?
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.