RFEU vs VTI
First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RFEU or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RFEU led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. RFEU is less concentrated, with 27.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.5%.
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 | RFEU | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.64% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 91 | 3,524 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.9% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 9.8 years | $20,500 | $34,531Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.5%Best | 33.5% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 14, 2016 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 265 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. RFEU has data through Jan 23, 2026 and VTI through Oct 15, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 9.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 14, 2016 to Jan 23, 2026 (9.8 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFEU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 15.6% 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 -42.9% for RFEU 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFEU charges 0.83% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $3 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFEU currently yields 4.64% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 86 holdings in RFEU and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 96.6% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 304 days apart, RFEU as of Oct 31, 2025 and VTI as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in RFEU and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 91 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,155 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for RFEU (97.7% of the fund), and 2 for RFEU that do not appear in VTI (5.8%).
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 RFEU 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, RFEU or VTI?
RFEU has an expense ratio of 0.83% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, RFEU or VTI?
RFEU has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 15.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RFEU -42.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both RFEU and VTI?
RFEU and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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, RFEU or VTI?
RFEU yields 4.64% while VTI yields 1.06%, so RFEU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RFEU?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RFEU led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. RFEU is less concentrated, with 27.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.