Dividend comparison
ITOT vs VTSAX: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
ITOT vs VTSAX: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Income. Their trailing yields are almost the same: 1.01% for ITOT and 1.04% for VTSAX. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, ITOT returned 72.3% versus 70.6% for VTSAX, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,227 in ITOT and $17,064 in VTSAX.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -25.4% for ITOT and -25.4% for VTSAX from peak to trough.
- Diversification. ITOT holds 2,444 positions and VTSAX holds 100. The ten largest positions make up 34.5% of ITOT and 34.6% of VTSAX.
- Overlap. At least 65% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 94 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. ITOT grew its yearly payout 6.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.4% for VTSAX.
Bottom line: ITOT has the edge on these figures, with broader diversification. VTSAX does not lead on any of the measures compared here.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | ITOT iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | VTSAX Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.01% | 1.04% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.69 | $180.73 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.4527 on Sep 18, 2026 | $0.4605 on Sep 29, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 15, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.8% over 4 yrs | 6.4% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $167.41 | $183.51 |
| Payout ratio (TTM) | — | 23.1% |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | 5 years |
| Beta | 1.02 | 1.02 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -25.4% | -25.4% |
| Market cap | $95.98B | $2.32T |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | — |
| Assets under management | $96.36B | — |
| Number of holdings | 2444 | 100 |
| Top 10 concentration | 34.5% | 34.6% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
ITOT
$8.39/mo
$101 /yr at 1.01% yield
VTSAX
$8.68/mo
$104 /yr at 1.04% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. ITOT pays quarterly; VTSAX pays quarterly.
| Year | ITOT | VTSAX |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.6444 | $1.8136 |
| 2024 | $1.5777 | $1.7760 |
| 2023 | $1.5503 | $1.6510 |
| 2022 | $1.4081 | $1.5400 |
| 2021 | $1.2662 | $1.4150 |
Strategy: Broad index
Low-cost funds that hold an entire market or index at market-cap weights and make no attempt to select securities. Return is the index return less a small fee, and dividends are a by-product of what the underlying companies choose to pay rather than an objective of the strategy. Differences between funds tracking the same index usually come down to fee, wrapper structure, share price and trading liquidity, not to holdings.
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $17,227 in ITOT and $17,064 in VTSAX.
| Period | ITOT | VTSAX |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.64% | 0.35% |
| 3 months | 3.18% | 2.69% |
| Year to date | 13.44% | 12.44% |
| 1 year | 15.22% | 13.92% |
| 3 years | 87.45% | 85.72% |
| 5 years | 72.27% | 70.64% |
- ITOT
- VTSAX
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
- ITOT
- VTSAX
ITOT vs VTSAX holdings overlap
At least 65% overlap by weight, with 94 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | ITOT weight | VTSAX weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA | 7.08% | 7.13% |
| AAPLAPPLE | 6.74% | 6.63% |
| MSFTMICROSOFT | 5.34% | 5.19% |
| AMZNAMAZON.COM INC | 3.47% | 3.30% |
| GOOGLALPHABET CLASS A | 2.72% | 2.76% |
| GOOGALPHABET CLASS C | 2.18% | 2.18% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 2.14% | 2.28% |
| METAMETA PLATFORMS CLASS A | 2.10% | 2.18% |
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY | 1.38% | 1.64% |
| TSLATESLA INC | 1.40% | 1.36% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
ITOT2444 holdings total
Quick verdict
ITOT has the edge on these figures, with broader diversification. VTSAX does not lead on any of the measures compared here. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions
Is ITOT or VTSAX better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. ITOT currently yields 1.01% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VTSAX yields 1.04%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between ITOT and VTSAX?
iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which has performed better, ITOT or VTSAX?
Over the last 5 years, ITOT has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: ITOT returned 72.3% and VTSAX returned 70.6%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, ITOT or VTSAX?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, ITOT has been riskier: ITOT fell as much as 25.4% and VTSAX as much as 25.4%. Their betas are 1.02 and 1.02.
How much do ITOT and VTSAX overlap?
At least 65% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 94 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NVDA, AAPL, MSFT. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do ITOT and VTSAX pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.4527 for ITOT and $0.4605 for VTSAX.
How much income does $10,000 in ITOT vs VTSAX generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in ITOT would generate roughly $8.39 per month ($101 annually). The same amount in VTSAX would produce about $8.68 per month ($104 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both ITOT and VTSAX?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare ITOT vs VTSAX with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how ITOT and VTSAX fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.
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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.