SYZ vs VTI
Lazard US Systematic Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SYZ or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SYZ led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. SYZ is less concentrated, with 7.3% 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 | SYZ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 386 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +14.09%Best | +13.02% |
| 1Y Return | +18.01%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.0%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,616 | $11,766Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.3%Best | 33.5% |
| Fund Family | Lazard Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 29, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 15, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
SYZ 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
SYZ vs VTI Performance
Lazard US Systematic Small Cap Equity ETF (SYZ) is an ETF from Lazard Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SYZ returned +18.01% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, SYZ is up 14.09% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SYZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 12.6% 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 -8.0% for SYZ 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SYZ charges 0.61% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $61 vs $3 annually, a gap of $58 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SYZ currently yields 0.45% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
84.2% of SYZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.7% of VTI's money is in holdings SYZ also owns.
Most of SYZ is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
366 positions in common, counted across the 430 positions we hold weights for in SYZ and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 386 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 950 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SYZ (94.9% of the fund), and 22 for SYZ that do not appear in VTI (5.6%).
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 SYZ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLIMueller Industries Inc | 0.92% | 0.02% | 0.90% |
| TILEInterface Inc | 0.83% | 0.00% | 0.83% |
| ADEAAdeia Inc. | 0.75% | 0.00% | 0.75% |
| CLOVClover Health Investments Corp Cl. A | 0.72% | 0.00% | 0.72% |
| DIODDiodes Inc 0.00000000 | 0.70% | 0.01% | 0.69% |
| TKRTimken Co | 0.68% | 0.01% | 0.67% |
| FROGJfrog Ltd | 0.67% | 0.01% | 0.66% |
| ESEEsco Technologies Inc | 0.67% | 0.01% | 0.66% |
| KARKar Auction Services | 0.67% | 0.01% | 0.66% |
| DGIIDigi International Inc | 0.67% | 0.00% | 0.67% |
84.2% of SYZ 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, SYZ or VTI?
SYZ has an expense ratio of 0.61% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $58 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SYZ or VTI?
Over the past year SYZ returned +18.01% vs +16.63% for VTI, so SYZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SYZ annualized +14.59% vs +15.93% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SYZ or VTI?
SYZ has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 12.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SYZ -8.0% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both SYZ and VTI?
SYZ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 SYZ and VTI?
84.2% of SYZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.7% of VTI's is in holdings SYZ also owns. They hold 366 positions in common, counted across the 430 positions we hold weights for in SYZ and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SYZ or VTI?
SYZ yields 0.45% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SYZ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SYZ led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. SYZ is less concentrated, with 7.3% 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.