LENS vs VTI
Sarmaya Thematic ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, LENS or VTI?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. LENS led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | LENS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $68M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.44% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 45 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +11.23% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.35%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.3% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.6% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $17,154Best | $12,883 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.5% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Sarmaya Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 28, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 29, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.7 years).
LENS 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
LENS vs VTI Performance
Sarmaya Thematic ETF (LENS) is an ETF from Sarmaya Partners and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year LENS returned +22.35% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, LENS is up 11.23% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LENS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.3% compared with 12.7% 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 -24.6% for LENS and -19.3% 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 0.12. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LENS charges 0.79% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $3 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LENS currently yields 1.44% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
38.5% of LENS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.6% of VTI's money is in holdings LENS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
19 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in LENS and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 45 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,139 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for LENS (95.0% of the fund), and 10 for LENS that do not appear in VTI (29.3%).
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 LENS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 4.77% | 0.90% | 3.87% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 4.79% | 0.53% | 4.26% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 2.66% | 0.13% | 2.53% |
| CDECoeur Mining Inc | 2.35% | 0.03% | 2.32% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 2.18% | 0.12% | 2.06% |
| HLHecla Mining Co | 2.26% | 0.02% | 2.24% |
| RRCRange Resources Corp | 2.25% | 0.01% | 2.24% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corp. | 2.17% | 0.08% | 2.09% |
| LNGCheniere Energy Inc. | 2.09% | 0.08% | 2.01% |
| ARAntero Resources Corp | 1.88% | 0.02% | 1.86% |
38.5% of LENS 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, LENS or VTI?
LENS has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LENS or VTI?
Over the past year LENS returned +22.35% vs +16.63% for VTI, so LENS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), LENS annualized +37.36% vs +16.07% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LENS or VTI?
LENS has been the more volatile fund at 27.3% annualized versus 12.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: LENS -24.6% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both LENS and VTI?
LENS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.12, 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 LENS and VTI?
38.5% of LENS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.6% of VTI's is in holdings LENS also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in LENS and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, LENS or VTI?
LENS yields 1.44% while VTI yields 1.06%, so LENS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than LENS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. LENS led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.