QLDY vs VTI
Defiance Nasdaq 100 LightningSpread Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, QLDY or VTI?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. QLDY led over 1Y 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 | QLDY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.04% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $58M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 44.82% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 14 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +14.69%Best | +13.02% |
| 1Y Return | +17.31%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.9% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,799Best | $11,732 |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 17, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 18, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
QLDY 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
QLDY vs VTI Performance
Defiance Nasdaq 100 LightningSpread Income ETF (QLDY) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QLDY returned +17.31% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, QLDY is up 14.69% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QLDY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.9% compared with 12.6% 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 -14.8% for QLDY and -8.9% 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLDY charges 1.04% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $104 vs $3 annually, a gap of $101 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLDY currently yields 44.82% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in QLDY and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 3.8% 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 2 positions we hold weights for in QLDY and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 14 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QLDY 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, QLDY or VTI?
QLDY has an expense ratio of 1.04% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $101 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLDY or VTI?
Over the past year QLDY returned +17.31% vs +16.63% for VTI, so QLDY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QLDY annualized +16.23% vs +15.63% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLDY or VTI?
QLDY has been the more volatile fund at 25.9% annualized versus 12.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: QLDY -14.8% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both QLDY and VTI?
QLDY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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, QLDY or VTI?
QLDY yields 44.82% while VTI yields 1.06%, so QLDY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than QLDY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. QLDY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.