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VTI vs. QUAL
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VTI vs. QUAL

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) and QUAL (iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds - VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index while QUAL tracks the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VTI returned 14.84%/yr vs 14.19%/yr for QUAL. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. VTI charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for QUAL.

Performance

VTI vs. QUAL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VTI achieves a 9.05% return, which is significantly higher than QUAL's 7.89% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VTI having a 14.84% annualized return and QUAL not far behind at 14.19%.

VTI

1D
0.30%
1M
0.44%
YTD
9.05%
6M
8.94%
1Y
24.96%
3Y*
21.05%
5Y*
12.25%
10Y*
14.84%

QUAL

1D
0.32%
1M
1.62%
YTD
7.89%
6M
8.26%
1Y
19.70%
3Y*
19.43%
5Y*
11.82%
10Y*
14.19%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VTI vs. QUAL - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF		9.05%17.10%23.81%26.05%-19.52%25.68%21.08%30.67%-5.23%21.21%
QUAL
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF		7.89%12.65%22.29%30.88%-20.50%26.94%17.04%33.89%-5.70%22.26%

Correlation

The correlation between VTI and QUAL is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.94

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.95

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.96

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.96

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 18, 2013

0.96

The correlation between VTI and QUAL has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.

VTI vs. QUAL - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VTI
QUAL

Technology

33.5%
36.5%

Financial Services

12.0%
11.5%

Communication Services

10.3%
11.1%

Consumer Cyclical

10.0%
9.3%

Industrials

9.8%
8.2%

Healthcare

9.2%
9.0%

Consumer Defensive

4.7%
4.9%

Energy

3.7%
4.0%

Real Estate

2.4%
1.8%

Utilities

2.3%
1.9%

Basic Materials

2.0%
1.7%

Technology

VTI
33.5%
QUAL
36.5%

Financial Services

VTI
12.0%
QUAL
11.5%

Communication Services

VTI
10.3%
QUAL
11.1%

Consumer Cyclical

VTI
10.0%
QUAL
9.3%

Industrials

VTI
9.8%
QUAL
8.2%

Healthcare

VTI
9.2%
QUAL
9.0%

Consumer Defensive

VTI
4.7%
QUAL
4.9%

Energy

VTI
3.7%
QUAL
4.0%

Real Estate

VTI
2.4%
QUAL
1.8%

Utilities

VTI
2.3%
QUAL
1.9%

Basic Materials

VTI
2.0%
QUAL
1.7%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

Often compared with VTI:
VTI vs. VOOVTI vs. VXUSVTI vs. SPYVTI vs. VTVTI vs. SCHDVTI vs. FZROXVTI vs. QQQ
Often compared with QUAL:
QUAL vs. SPHQQUAL vs. SPYQUAL vs. MTUMQUAL vs. USMVQUAL vs. VOOQUAL vs. IVVQUAL vs. SCHD

Return for Risk

VTI vs. QUAL — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VTI
VTI Risk / Return Rank: 6868
Overall Rank
VTI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6868
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VTI Sortino Ratio Rank: 6666
Sortino Ratio Rank
VTI Omega Ratio Rank: 6868
Omega Ratio Rank
VTI Calmar Ratio Rank: 6262
Calmar Ratio Rank
VTI Martin Ratio Rank: 7575
Martin Ratio Rank
QUAL
QUAL Risk / Return Rank: 5454
Overall Rank
QUAL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5353
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QUAL Sortino Ratio Rank: 5353
Sortino Ratio Rank
QUAL Omega Ratio Rank: 5252
Omega Ratio Rank
QUAL Calmar Ratio Rank: 4949
Calmar Ratio Rank
QUAL Martin Ratio Rank: 6161
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VTI vs. QUAL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

VTIQUALDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.02
1.65

+0.37

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.73
2.34

+0.39

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.36

1.29

+0.07

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.81

2.19

+0.62

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

12.85

9.96

+2.88

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VTI vs. QUAL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VTI Sharpe Ratio is 2.02, which is comparable to the QUAL Sharpe Ratio of 1.65. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VTI and QUAL, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

VTIQUALDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.02

1.65

+0.37

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.71

0.68

+0.02

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.81

0.79

+0.03

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.50

0.80

-0.29

Drawdowns

VTI vs. QUAL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VTI drawdown since its inception was -55.45%, which is greater than QUAL's maximum drawdown of -34.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTI and QUAL.

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Drawdown Indicators

VTIQUALDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-55.45%

-34.06%

-21.39%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.92%

-9.03%

+0.11%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-19.30%

-18.00%

-1.30%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.36%

-28.23%

+2.87%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-35.00%

-34.06%

-0.94%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.64%

-1.61%

-1.03%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-8.02%

-4.10%

-3.92%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.95%

1.98%

-0.03%

Volatility

VTI vs. QUAL - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) has a higher volatility of 3.88% compared to iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) at 3.12%. This indicates that VTI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than QUAL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VTIQUALDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.88%

3.12%

+0.76%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

9.55%

9.28%

+0.27%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.44%

12.01%

+0.43%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.44%

17.35%

+0.09%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.33%

18.11%

+0.22%

VTI vs. QUAL - Expense Ratio Comparison

VTI has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than QUAL's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VTI vs. QUAL - Dividend Comparison

VTI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.03%, more than QUAL's 0.88% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
QUAL
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF		0.88%0.94%1.02%1.23%1.59%1.20%1.39%1.60%2.00%1.76%1.96%1.63%
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF		1.03%1.12%1.27%1.44%1.66%1.21%1.42%1.78%2.04%1.71%1.92%1.98%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.94, VTI and QUAL move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

VTI has higher volatility (3.88%) compared to QUAL (3.12%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTI dropped -55.45% vs QUAL's -34.06%.

On 10-year performance, VTI leads with 14.84% vs 14.19% for QUAL. On fees, VTI is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, QUAL has been the lower-risk option at 3.12%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, VTI has performed better with a 14.84% return vs 14.19%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

VTI is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for QUAL.

VTI has the higher dividend yield at 1.03%, compared with 0.88% for QUAL.

VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index, while QUAL tracks MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for VTI and 0.15% for QUAL.

VTI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.02 vs 1.65), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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