MFM vs VTI
MFS Municipal Income Trust vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MFM or VTI?
Municipal Bond 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 | MFM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.45% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $537M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.21% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 973 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -3.05% | +13.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.15% | +16.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.76% | +22.11%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.29% | +11.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -59.3% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,906 | $17,584Best |
| Fund Family | MFS Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 25, 1986 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Oct 15, 2026 (25.4 years).
MFM 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.
MFM vs VTI Performance
MFS Municipal Income Trust (MFM) is an ETF from MFS Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MFM returned -4.15% while VTI returned +16.55%. Year to date, MFM is down 3.05% versus a gain of 13.48% for VTI.
Over three years, MFM compounded at +7.76% per year against +22.11% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -2.29% and +11.95% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.05% annualized vs -0.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 14.4% for MFM. 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 -59.3% for MFM 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 0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MFM charges 1.45% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $145 vs $3 annually, a gap of $142 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MFM currently yields 6.21% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 299 holdings in MFM and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 38.7% 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 299 positions we hold weights for in MFM and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 973 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MFM 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, MFM or VTI?
MFM has an expense ratio of 1.45% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $142 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MFM or VTI?
Over the past year MFM returned -4.15% vs +16.55% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), MFM annualized -0.92% vs +8.05% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MFM or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.4% for MFM. Worst drawdown: MFM -59.3% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both MFM and VTI?
MFM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.29, 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, MFM or VTI?
MFM yields 6.21% while VTI yields 1.06%, so MFM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MFM?
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.