Dividend comparison
SPLG vs VTI: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. SPLG is cheaper at 0.02% a year versus 0.03% for VTI. On $10,000 that is $1 a year less in fees.
- Income. VTI pays more income, yielding 1.05% over the last twelve months versus 0.76% for SPLG. That is about $28 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SPLG returned 92.6% versus 72.2% for VTI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $19,261 in SPLG and $17,219 in VTI.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -24.5% for SPLG and -25.4% for VTI from peak to trough.
- Diversification. VTI holds 3,598 positions and SPLG holds 504. The ten largest positions make up 40.0% of SPLG and 34.6% of VTI.
- Overlap. At least 61% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 87 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. SPLG grew its yearly payout 6.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.4% for VTI.
- Size. VTI is the larger fund with $2.3 trillion in assets, against $95.7 billion for SPLG.
Bottom line: SPLG fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns. VTI fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification.
| Metric | SPLG State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.76% | 1.05% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $0.67 | $3.95 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.2392 on Jun 16, 2026 | $0.9555 on Sep 30, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Jun 12, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.8% over 4 yrs | 6.4% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $87.89 | $377.09 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | 5 years |
| Beta | 1.00 | 1.02 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.5% | -25.4% |
| Market cap | $106.73B | $2.30T |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | $95.72B | $2.30T |
| Number of holdings | 504 | 3598 |
| Top 10 concentration | 40.0% | 34.6% |
SPLG
$6.37/mo
$76 /yr at 0.76% yield
VTI
$8.72/mo
$105 /yr at 1.05% yield
| Year | SPLG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.9074 | $3.7566 |
| 2024 | $0.8796 | $3.6743 |
| 2023 | $0.8046 | $3.4128 |
| 2022 | $0.7610 | $3.1833 |
| 2021 | $0.6970 | $2.9303 |
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
What SPLG vs VTI actually do
It is an open-end fund tracking the S&P 500, so unlike its older sibling it can reinvest income internally and lend securities. Its headline expense ratio is the lowest among the large S&P 500 trackers, and its lower share price makes it easier to fill an odd-lot allocation precisely. The trade-off is a smaller options market and slightly wider spreads than SPY, which only matters if you trade actively.
Suits a buy-and-hold investor who wants S&P 500 exposure at the smallest possible fee, and small accounts where a lower share price reduces leftover cash. Not the right tool for anyone running options strategies against the position.
Core holding
It tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index at market-cap weights, so the largest 500 names still dominate the return and it behaves much like an S&P 500 fund in practice. The difference is the long tail of mid, small and micro-cap companies that an S&P 500 fund leaves out entirely. Over a full cycle that tail changes the risk profile more than it changes the headline return, and dividend yield sits slightly below a large-cap-only fund because smaller companies pay out less.
Suits an investor who wants one holding to cover US equity without deciding where the size cutoff should sit. Not an income vehicle, and it adds no geographic diversification.
Core holding
| Period | SPLG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.37% | 0.69% |
| 3 months | 13.17% | 3.22% |
| Year to date | 9.82% | 13.43% |
| 1 year | 26.50% | 15.24% |
| 3 years | 76.27% | 87.48% |
| 5 years | 92.61% | 72.19% |
- SPLG
- VTI
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-06-18 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- SPLG
- VTI
| Largest shared holdings | SPLG weight | VTI weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA CORP | 8.33% | 7.13% |
| AAPLAPPLE INC | 6.78% | 6.63% |
| MSFTMICROSOFT CORP | 6.85% | 5.19% |
| AMZNAMAZON.COM INC | 3.78% | 3.30% |
| GOOGLALPHABET INC CL A | 2.64% | 2.76% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 2.98% | 2.28% |
| METAMETA PLATFORMS INC CLASS A | 2.77% | 2.18% |
| GOOGALPHABET INC CL C | 2.13% | 2.18% |
| TSLATESLA INC | 2.20% | 1.36% |
| BRK-BBERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC CL B | 1.50% | 1.21% |
SPLG504 holdings total
Quick verdict
SPLG fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns. VTI fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
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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.