VTI vs XCEM
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF vs Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF
Which is better, VTI or XCEM?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 5Y and the full window, XCEM over 1Y and 3Y. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | XCEM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.16% |
| AUM | $689.2B | $2.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 2.43% |
| Holdings | 3,524 | 469 |
| YTD Return | +13.02% | +26.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.63% | +39.69%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.97% | +24.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.99%Best | +11.27% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 19.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.0%Best | -41.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,616Best | $17,057 |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.5%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Columbia Threadneedle Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 24, 2001 | Sep 1, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 2, 2015 to Oct 14, 2026 (11.1 years).
VTI vs XCEM 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 11.1 years both funds cover.
VTI vs XCEM Performance
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (XCEM) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Over the past year VTI returned +16.63% while XCEM returned +39.69%. Year to date, VTI is up 13.02% versus a gain of 26.30% for XCEM.
Over three years, VTI compounded at +21.97% per year against +24.88% for XCEM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.99% and +11.27% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.37% annualized vs +11.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XCEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% compared with 15.5% 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 -35.0% for VTI and -41.2% for XCEM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTI charges 0.03% per year while XCEM charges 0.16%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $16 annually, a gap of $13 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.06% against 2.43% for XCEM.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of XCEM's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 3,441 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 448 in XCEM, against full books of 3,524 and 469.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for XCEM that do not appear in our book for VTI (2.3% of the fund), and 1,156 for VTI that do not appear in XCEM (97.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTI and XCEM 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 XCEM?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XCEM charges 0.16%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTI or XCEM?
Over the past year VTI returned +16.63% vs +39.69% for XCEM, so XCEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), VTI annualized +13.37% vs +11.51% for XCEM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTI or XCEM?
XCEM has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 15.5% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -35.0% vs XCEM -41.2%.
Should I hold both VTI and XCEM?
VTI and XCEM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, VTI or XCEM?
VTI yields 1.06% while XCEM yields 2.43%, so XCEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XCEM better than VTI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 5Y and the full window, XCEM over 1Y and 3Y. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.