NUSA vs VTI
Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year US Aggregate Bond ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NUSA or VTI?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%.
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 | NUSA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.14% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $36M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.95% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 692 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -0.22% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.39% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.15% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.40% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.5%Best | 16.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.9%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,720 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.4% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2017 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 3, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9.5 years).
NUSA 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.
NUSA vs VTI Performance
Nuveen ESG 1-5 Year US Aggregate Bond ETF (NUSA) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NUSA returned +0.39% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, NUSA is down 0.22% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, NUSA compounded at +4.15% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +1.40% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.60% annualized vs +0.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 2.5% for NUSA. 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 -9.9% for NUSA and -35.0% 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUSA charges 0.14% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $14 vs $3 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUSA currently yields 3.95% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
99.4% of NUSA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 35.6% of VTI's money is in holdings NUSA also owns.
Most of NUSA is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
32 positions in common, counted across the 32 positions we hold weights for in NUSA and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 692 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,125 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for NUSA (62.1% of the fund), and 0 for NUSA 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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NUSA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 9.75% | 6.88% | 2.87% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 8.84% | 5.11% | 3.73% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.20% | 6.30% | 2.10% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 6.11% | 3.41% | 2.70% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 6.23% | 2.70% | 3.53% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.24% | 2.38% | 1.86% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.97% | 1.70% | 2.27% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.76% | 1.46% | 2.30% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 4.39% | 0.51% | 3.88% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 3.34% | 1.29% | 2.05% |
99.4% of NUSA 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, NUSA or VTI?
NUSA has an expense ratio of 0.14% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUSA or VTI?
Over the past year NUSA returned +0.39% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), NUSA annualized +0.87% vs +13.60% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUSA or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 2.5% for NUSA. Worst drawdown: NUSA -9.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both NUSA and VTI?
NUSA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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 NUSA and VTI?
99.4% of NUSA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 35.6% of VTI's is in holdings NUSA also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 32 positions we hold weights for in NUSA and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUSA or VTI?
NUSA yields 3.95% while VTI yields 1.06%, so NUSA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NUSA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.