TCAL vs VTI
T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Premium Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, TCAL or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. TCAL is less concentrated, with 17.0% 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 | TCAL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $311M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.81% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 488 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +2.64% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.67% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.9%Best | 11.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.2%Best | -12.6% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $10,443 | $13,603Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 17.0%Best | 33.5% |
| Fund Family | T.Rowe Price | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 27, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.5 years).
TCAL 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
TCAL vs VTI Performance
T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Premium Income ETF (TCAL) is an ETF from T.Rowe Price and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TCAL returned +1.67% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, TCAL is up 2.64% 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 11.6% compared with 7.9% for TCAL. 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 -7.2% for TCAL and -12.6% 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 0.38. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TCAL charges 0.34% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $3 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TCAL currently yields 11.81% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
96.9% of TCAL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 35.2% of VTI's money is in holdings TCAL also owns.
Most of TCAL is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
99 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in TCAL and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 488 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,060 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for TCAL (62.4% of the fund), and 1 for TCAL that do not appear in VTI (0.8%).
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 TCAL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 1.28% | 6.88% | 5.60% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.94% | 5.11% | 3.17% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.67% | 3.41% | 1.74% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.44% | 1.70% | 0.26% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 1.79% | 0.63% | 1.16% |
| XOMExxonmobil Corp. | 1.37% | 0.90% | 0.47% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.18% | 1.04% | 0.14% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.86% | 1.29% | 0.43% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 1.19% | 0.85% | 0.34% |
| DHRDanaher Corporation | 1.77% | 0.18% | 1.59% |
96.9% of TCAL 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, TCAL or VTI?
TCAL has an expense ratio of 0.34% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TCAL or VTI?
Over the past year TCAL returned +1.67% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), TCAL annualized +2.93% vs +22.77% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TCAL or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 11.6% annualized versus 7.9% for TCAL. Worst drawdown: TCAL -7.2% vs VTI -12.6%.
Should I hold both TCAL and VTI?
TCAL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.38, 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 TCAL and VTI?
96.9% of TCAL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 35.2% of VTI's is in holdings TCAL also owns. They hold 99 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in TCAL and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, TCAL or VTI?
TCAL yields 11.81% while VTI yields 1.06%, so TCAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than TCAL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. TCAL is less concentrated, with 17.0% 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.