VTI vs WCMI
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs First Trust WCM International Equity ETF
Which is better, VTI or WCMI?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.9%.
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 | VTI | WCMI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $689.2B | $2.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.55% |
| Holdings | 3,524 | 97 |
| YTD Return | +13.02%Best | +7.01% |
| 1Y Return | +16.63%Best | +11.56% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.97% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.99% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3% | -12.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $13,738Best | $13,444 |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.5%Best | 43.9% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Mar 31, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2 years).
VTI vs WCMI 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.
VTI vs WCMI Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and First Trust WCM International Equity ETF (WCMI) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year VTI returned +16.63% while WCMI returned +11.56%. Year to date, VTI is up 13.02% versus a gain of 7.01% for WCMI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WCMI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 12.9% 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 -19.3% for VTI and -12.8% for WCMI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while WCMI charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $85 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.06% against 0.55% for WCMI.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of VTI's money is in holdings WCMI also owns. 4.8% of WCMI's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
WCMI and VTI share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 3,441 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 42 in WCMI, against full books of 3,524 and 97.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 6 positions for WCMI that do not appear in our book for VTI (10.5% of the fund), and 1,153 for VTI that do not appear in WCMI (97.3%).
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 VTI and WCMI 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, VTI or WCMI?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while WCMI charges 0.85%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or WCMI?
Over the past year VTI returned +16.63% vs +11.56% for WCMI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), VTI annualized +17.21% vs +15.95% for WCMI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or WCMI?
WCMI has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 12.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -19.3% vs WCMI -12.8%.
Should I hold both VTI and WCMI?
VTI and WCMI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 VTI and WCMI?
4.8% of WCMI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 4.8% of WCMI's is in holdings VTI also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 3,441 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 42 in WCMI.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or WCMI?
VTI yields 1.06% while WCMI yields 0.55%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WCMI better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.