SWZ vs VTI
Total Return Securities Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SWZ or VTI?
Large Cap Growth 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 61.1%.
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 | SWZ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.62% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 27 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -8.19% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.05% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.11% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.78% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.7% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,469 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.1% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Total Return Securities Fund | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 27, 1987 | 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).
SWZ 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.
SWZ vs VTI Performance
Total Return Securities Fund (SWZ) is an ETF from Total Return Securities Fund and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SWZ returned -3.05% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, SWZ is down 8.19% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, SWZ compounded at +7.11% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.78% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.04% annualized vs +7.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SWZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% 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 -57.7% for SWZ 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SWZ charges 1.62% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $162 vs $3 annually, a gap of $159 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SWZ currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
43.5% of SWZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.4% of VTI's money is in holdings SWZ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, SWZ as of Mar 31, 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.
9 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in SWZ and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 27 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,152 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SWZ (97.2% of the fund), and 10 for SWZ that do not appear in VTI (40.5%).
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 SWZ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VICRVillage Super Market Inc | 7.76% | 0.01% | 7.75% |
| ALXAlexander's Inc | 7.15% | 0.00% | 7.15% |
| NWFLNorwood Financial Corp | 5.40% | 0.00% | 5.40% |
| TRCTejon Ranch | 5.29% | 0.00% | 5.29% |
| CBChubb Ltd. | 4.93% | 0.16% | 4.77% |
| ELMEElme Communities | 4.34% | 0.00% | 4.34% |
| TPLTexas Pacific Land Trust | 4.10% | 0.03% | 4.07% |
| PGRProgressive Corporation | 2.36% | 0.17% | 2.19% |
| AIVApartment Investment & Management Co. Class A | 2.20% | 0.00% | 2.20% |
43.5% of SWZ 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, SWZ or VTI?
SWZ has an expense ratio of 1.62% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $159 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SWZ or VTI?
Over the past year SWZ returned -3.05% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), SWZ annualized +7.83% vs +8.04% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SWZ or VTI?
SWZ has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SWZ -57.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SWZ and VTI?
SWZ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 SWZ and VTI?
43.5% of SWZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.4% of VTI's is in holdings SWZ also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in SWZ and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SWZ or VTI?
SWZ yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SWZ?
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 61.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.