RLY vs VTI
State Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RLY or VTI?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RLY led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.9%.
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 | RLY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.98% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 26 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +18.08%Best | +13.02% |
| 1Y Return | +23.31%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.02% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.10% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,178 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 99.9% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 25, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2012 to Oct 14, 2026 (14.5 years).
RLY 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 14.5 years both funds cover.
RLY vs VTI Performance
State Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF (RLY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RLY returned +23.31% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, RLY is up 18.08% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, RLY compounded at +15.02% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +10.10% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.74% annualized vs +3.45%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 12.5% for RLY. 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 -46.2% for RLY 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RLY charges 0.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RLY currently yields 2.98% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12 holdings in RLY and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 100.0% 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 12 positions we hold weights for in RLY and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 26 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 RLY (97.6% of the fund), and 12 for RLY that do not appear in VTI (100.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RLY 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, RLY or VTI?
RLY has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RLY or VTI?
Over the past year RLY returned +23.31% vs +16.63% for VTI, so RLY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), RLY annualized +3.45% vs +12.74% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RLY or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 12.5% for RLY. Worst drawdown: RLY -46.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both RLY and VTI?
RLY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, RLY or VTI?
RLY yields 2.98% while VTI yields 1.06%, so RLY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RLY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RLY led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.