RMI vs VTI
RiverNorth Opportunistic Municipal Income Fund, Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RMI or VTI?
Municipal 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 49.0%.
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 | RMI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.34% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $93M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.48% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 100 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -1.60% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.26% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.99% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.47% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8%Best | 17.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.7%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,825 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.0% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | RiverNorth | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 25, 2018 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 26, 2018 to Oct 14, 2026 (8 years).
RMI 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 8 years both funds cover.
RMI vs VTI Performance
RiverNorth Opportunistic Municipal Income Fund, Inc. (RMI) is an ETF from RiverNorth and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RMI returned -2.26% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, RMI is down 1.60% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, RMI compounded at +5.99% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -2.47% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +14.80% annualized vs +0.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 15.8% for RMI. 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 -32.7% for RMI 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RMI charges 3.34% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $334 vs $3 annually, a gap of $331 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RMI currently yields 7.48% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
6.4% of RMI's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
RMI and VTI share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, RMI as of Jun 30, 2026 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in RMI and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 100 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 RMI (97.6% of the fund), and 45 for RMI that do not appear in VTI (92.0%).
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 RMI | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MHDBlackrock Muniholdings Fund | 6.38% | 0.00% | 6.38% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RMI 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, RMI or VTI?
RMI has an expense ratio of 3.34% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $331 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RMI or VTI?
Over the past year RMI returned -2.26% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), RMI annualized +0.54% vs +14.80% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RMI or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.8% for RMI. Worst drawdown: RMI -32.7% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both RMI and VTI?
RMI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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 RMI and VTI?
6.4% of RMI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.0% of VTI's is in holdings RMI also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in RMI and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RMI or VTI?
RMI yields 7.48% while VTI yields 1.06%, so RMI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RMI?
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 49.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.