AAUS vs VTI
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AAUS or VTI?
Nearly the same fund. VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.3%.
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 | AAUS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $526M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 578 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | +9.58% | +11.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.40% | +13.77%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.19% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.7% | 11.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.1% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $12,002 | $12,033Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.3% | 34.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 22, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 23, 2025 to Nov 13, 2026 (1.3 years).
AAUS 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
AAUS vs VTI Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AAUS returned +11.40% while VTI returned +13.77%. Year to date, AAUS is up 9.58% versus a gain of 11.29% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AAUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.7% compared with 11.6% 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 -9.1% for AAUS 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAUS charges 0.09% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $3 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAUS currently yields 0.33% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
90.3% of AAUS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 82.5% of VTI's money is in holdings AAUS also owns.
Most of AAUS is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
372 positions in common, counted across the 380 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 3,469 in VTI, against full books of 578 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 764 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AAUS (13.4% of the fund), and 7 for AAUS that do not appear in VTI (9.6%).
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 AAUS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.41% | 6.63% | 0.78% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.71% | 7.13% | 0.42% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.71% | 5.19% | 0.52% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.83% | 3.30% | 0.53% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc., Class A | 2.52% | 2.76% | 0.24% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.08% | 2.28% | 0.20% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.06% | 2.18% | 0.12% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc., Class C | 1.82% | 2.18% | 0.36% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.67% | 1.34% | 0.33% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 1.52% | 1.36% | 0.16% |
90.3% of AAUS 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, AAUS or VTI?
AAUS has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAUS or VTI?
Over the past year AAUS returned +11.40% vs +13.77% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AAUS annualized +15.07% vs +15.30% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAUS or VTI?
AAUS has been the more volatile fund at 11.7% annualized versus 11.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AAUS -9.1% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both AAUS and VTI?
AAUS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AAUS and VTI?
90.3% of AAUS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 82.5% of VTI's is in holdings AAUS also owns. They hold 372 positions in common, counted across the 380 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 3,469 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAUS or VTI?
AAUS yields 0.33% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AAUS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.