RW vs VTI
Rainwater Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RW or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.4%.
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 | RW | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $16M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 72 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +0.32% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.08% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3% | 11.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -17.0% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $10,040 | $12,978Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.4% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Rainwater ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.3 years).
RW 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
RW vs VTI Performance
Rainwater Equity ETF (RW) is an ETF from Rainwater ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RW returned -1.08% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, RW is up 0.32% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 11.4% 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 -17.0% for RW 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RW charges 0.95% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RW currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
73.2% of RW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 25.8% of VTI's money is in holdings RW also owns.
Most of RW is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
27 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in RW and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 72 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,134 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for RW (71.8% of the fund), and 1 for RW that do not appear in VTI (11.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RW | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.81% | 6.30% | 1.49% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 1.07% | 6.88% | 5.81% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 6.42% | 1.23% | 5.19% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.61% | 5.11% | 3.50% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.26% | 2.70% | 0.56% |
| HEIHeico Corp. | 5.29% | 0.03% | 5.26% |
| LOARLoar Holdings Inc | 4.37% | 0.00% | 4.37% |
| AMEAmetek Inc | 3.69% | 0.07% | 3.62% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.09% | 0.63% | 2.46% |
| MTDMettler-Toledo International Inc. | 3.30% | 0.04% | 3.26% |
73.2% of RW 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, RW or VTI?
RW has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RW or VTI?
Over the past year RW returned -1.08% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RW annualized +0.31% vs +22.20% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RW or VTI?
RW has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 11.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RW -17.0% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both RW and VTI?
RW and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 RW and VTI?
73.2% of RW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 25.8% of VTI's is in holdings RW also owns. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in RW and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RW or VTI?
RW yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RW?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.