MSSS vs VTI
Monarch Select Subsector Index ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, MSSS 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 99.8%.
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 | MSSS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.42% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $148M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.21% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 20 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +15.73%Best | +13.02% |
| 1Y Return | +14.21% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.1%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $13,995 | $15,226Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 99.8% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Monarch Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 12, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 7, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.6 years).
MSSS 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
MSSS vs VTI Performance
Monarch Select Subsector Index ETF (MSSS) is an ETF from Monarch Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MSSS returned +14.21% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, MSSS is up 15.73% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MSSS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 12.2% 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 -19.1% for MSSS 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MSSS charges 1.42% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $142 vs $3 annually, a gap of $139 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MSSS currently yields 0.21% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 10 holdings in MSSS and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 99.8% 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 10 positions we hold weights for in MSSS and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 20 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 MSSS (97.6% of the fund), and 10 for MSSS that do not appear in VTI (99.8%).
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 MSSS 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, MSSS or VTI?
MSSS has an expense ratio of 1.42% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $139 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MSSS or VTI?
Over the past year MSSS returned +14.21% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MSSS or VTI?
MSSS has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 12.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: MSSS -19.1% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both MSSS and VTI?
MSSS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, MSSS or VTI?
MSSS yields 0.21% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than MSSS?
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 99.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.