TWN vs VTI
Taiwan Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, TWN or VTI?
TWN has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. TWN 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 73.2%.
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 | TWN | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $690M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.93% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 30 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +82.18%Best | +13.02% |
| 1Y Return | +102.97%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +63.69%Best | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +33.18%Best | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.2% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.5% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $41,898Best | $17,616 |
| Top 10 Weight | 73.2% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | The Taiwan Fund | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 23, 1986 | 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).
TWN 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.
TWN vs VTI Performance
Taiwan Fund Inc. (TWN) is an ETF from The Taiwan Fund and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TWN returned +102.97% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, TWN is up 82.18% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, TWN compounded at +63.69% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +33.18% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, TWN has the edge at +13.82% annualized vs +8.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TWN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.2% 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 -64.5% for TWN 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TWN charges 0.96% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $3 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TWN currently yields 4.93% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in TWN and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 98.5% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 92 days apart, TWN as of May 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in TWN and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 30 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,156 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for TWN (97.6% of the fund), and 0 for TWN that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TWN 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, TWN or VTI?
TWN has an expense ratio of 0.96% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TWN or VTI?
Over the past year TWN returned +102.97% vs +16.63% for VTI, so TWN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), TWN annualized +13.82% vs +8.04% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TWN or VTI?
TWN has been the more volatile fund at 28.2% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: TWN -64.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both TWN and VTI?
TWN and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, TWN or VTI?
TWN yields 4.93% while VTI yields 1.06%, so TWN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than TWN?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. TWN 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 73.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.