RW vs VTI
Rainwater Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RW or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | RW | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.10% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 33 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -0.95% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.49% | +17.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -17.0% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $9,916 | $12,895Best |
| Fund Family | Rainwater ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.2 years).
RW 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
RW vs VTI Performance
Rainwater Equity ETF (RW) is an ETF from Rainwater ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RW returned -3.49% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, RW is down 0.95% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 11.8% 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 -17.0% for RW 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RW charges 0.95% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RW currently yields 0.10% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 76.4% of RW's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of RW is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, RW as of Aug 18, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
27 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in RW and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 33 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RW | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.29% | 5.84% | 1.55% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.74% | 6.32% | 3.58% |
| LOARLoar Holdings Inc | 7.52% | 0.00% | 7.52% |
| HEIHeico Corp. | 6.89% | 0.03% | 6.86% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway B | 5.27% | 1.24% | 4.03% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.15% | 2.88% | 0.27% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.43% | 3.81% | 2.38% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 4.60% | 0.54% | 4.06% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.40% | 2.46% | 1.06% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.06% | 0.56% | 2.50% |
76.4% of RW 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, RW or VTI?
RW has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RW or VTI?
Over the past year RW returned -3.49% vs +17.22% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RW annualized -0.70% vs +23.60% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RW or VTI?
RW has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 11.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RW -17.0% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both RW and VTI?
RW and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 RW and VTI?
At least 76.4% of RW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in RW and 2,787 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RW or VTI?
RW yields 0.10% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RW?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.