RVT vs VTI
Royce Small-Cap Trust Inc vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RVT or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RVT is less concentrated, with 12.4% 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 | RVT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.34% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.64% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 427 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +7.20% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.47% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.50% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.20% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.1% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -79.1% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,509 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.4%Best | 33.5% |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 19, 1986 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Oct 14, 2026 (25.4 years).
RVT 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 25.4 years both funds cover.
RVT vs VTI Performance
Royce Small-Cap Trust Inc (RVT) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RVT returned +10.47% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, RVT is up 7.20% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, RVT compounded at +18.50% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.20% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.04% annualized vs +1.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RVT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.1% compared with 15.3% 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 -79.1% for RVT and -56.6% 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
RVT charges 1.34% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $134 vs $3 annually, a gap of $131 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RVT currently yields 7.64% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
80.6% of RVT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.7% of VTI's money is in holdings RVT also owns.
Most of RVT is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, RVT 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.
368 positions in common, counted across the 424 positions we hold weights for in RVT and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 427 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,016 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for RVT (95.8% of the fund), and 23 for RVT that do not appear in VTI (6.1%).
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 RVT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IESCIes Holdings, Inc. | 3.45% | 0.01% | 3.44% |
| APGApi Group Corp | 1.07% | 0.02% | 1.05% |
| KWRQuaker Chemical Corp. | 1.08% | 0.00% | 1.08% |
| AGOAssured Guaranty Ltd. Common Stock | 1.06% | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| FROGJfrog Ltd | 1.02% | 0.01% | 1.01% |
| ACAArcosa Inc | 0.99% | 0.01% | 0.98% |
| ESIElement Solutions Inc | 0.96% | 0.01% | 0.95% |
| DORMDorman Products Inc | 0.91% | 0.00% | 0.91% |
| SEICSei Investments Co. | 0.88% | 0.02% | 0.86% |
| ONTOOnto Innovation Inc | 0.87% | 0.02% | 0.85% |
80.6% of RVT 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, RVT or VTI?
RVT has an expense ratio of 1.34% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $131 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RVT or VTI?
Over the past year RVT returned +10.47% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), RVT annualized +1.95% vs +8.04% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RVT or VTI?
RVT has been the more volatile fund at 23.1% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RVT -79.1% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both RVT and VTI?
RVT 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.
What is the holdings overlap between RVT and VTI?
80.6% of RVT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.7% of VTI's is in holdings RVT also owns. They hold 368 positions in common, counted across the 424 positions we hold weights for in RVT and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RVT or VTI?
RVT yields 7.64% while VTI yields 1.06%, so RVT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RVT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. RVT is less concentrated, with 12.4% 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.