SMAX vs VTI
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SMAX or VTI?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92.
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 | SMAX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $119M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.74% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 7 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +6.06% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.54% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.1%Best | 12.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.9%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $11,434 | $13,682Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2 years).
SMAX 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 2 years both funds cover.
SMAX vs VTI Performance
iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Sep ETF (SMAX) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMAX returned +6.54% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, SMAX is up 6.06% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 3.1% for SMAX. 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 -3.9% for SMAX and -19.3% 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMAX 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, SMAX currently yields 0.74% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 3 holdings in SMAX and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 96.1% 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 3 positions we hold weights for in SMAX and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 7 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMAX 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, SMAX or VTI?
SMAX 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, SMAX or VTI?
Over the past year SMAX returned +6.54% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SMAX annualized +6.93% vs +16.97% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMAX or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 3.1% for SMAX. Worst drawdown: SMAX -3.9% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both SMAX and VTI?
SMAX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMAX or VTI?
SMAX yields 0.74% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SMAX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.