Dividend comparison

VEA vs VTI: Which Is Better?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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VEA vs VTI: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. Both charge about 0.03% a year, so cost is not what separates them.
  • Income. VEA pays more income, yielding 2.44% over the last twelve months versus 1.05% for VTI. That is about $139 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, VTI returned 72.2% versus 51.8% for VEA, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,219 in VTI and $15,183 in VEA.
  • Risk. VEA has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -29.3%, against -25.4% for VTI.
  • Diversification. VEA holds 3,873 positions and VTI holds 3,598. The ten largest positions make up 13.2% of VEA and 34.6% of VTI.
  • Dividend growth. VTI grew its yearly payout 6.4% a year over the last 4 years, versus 5.6% for VEA.
  • Size. VTI is the larger fund with $2.3 trillion in assets, against $313.5 billion for VEA.

Bottom line: VEA fits better if you care most about more income today. VTI fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and smaller drawdowns.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricVEA
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF
VTI
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)2.44%1.05%
Dividend / share (TTM)$1.70$3.95
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.1775 on Sep 22, 2026$0.9555 on Sep 30, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 18, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)5.6% over 4 yrs6.4% over 4 yrs
Price$69.78$377.09
Dividend growth streak1 year5 years
Beta0.971.02
Max drawdown (5Y)-29.3%-25.4%
Market cap$313.86B$2.30T
ExchangeAMEXAMEX
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
Assets under management$313.50B$2.30T
Number of holdings38733598
Top 10 concentration13.2%34.6%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

VEA

$20.35/mo

$244 /yr at 2.44% yield

VTI

$8.72/mo

$105 /yr at 1.05% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VEA pays quarterly; VTI pays quarterly.
YearVEAVTI
2025$2.0094$3.7566
2024$1.6042$3.6743
2023$1.5112$3.4128
2022$1.2219$3.1833
2021$1.6140$2.9303
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.

What VEA vs VTI actually do

VTI
A single fund holding effectively the entire investable US stock market, roughly 3,500 companies from mega-cap down to micro-cap.

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

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $15,183 in VEA and $17,219 in VTI.
PeriodVEAVTI
1 month-2.24%0.69%
3 months0.11%3.22%
Year to date11.70%13.43%
1 year13.95%15.24%
3 years76.30%87.48%
5 years51.83%72.19%
  • VEA
  • VTI
65123182202120222023202420252026152172

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.
  • VEA
  • VTI
0%10%19%29%38%Technology15.5%38.2%Financial Services24.4%11.5%Industrials17.9%8.5%Healthcare7.9%9.9%Consumer Cyclical7.4%8.5%Communication Services3.5%9.1%Basic Materials7.6%2.1%Consumer Defensive5.3%4.2%Energy5.0%3.6%Utilities3.0%1.9%Other2.4%2.4%
VEA vs VTI holdings overlap
At least 0% overlap by weight, with 0 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

VEA3873 holdings total

NameWeight
005930.KSSamsung Electronics Co Ltd2.79%
000660.KSSK hynix Inc2.28%
ASML.ASASML Holding NV2.12%
HSBA.LHSBC Holdings PLC1.04%
ROP.SWRoche Holding AG0.90%
SHEL.LShell PLC0.85%
RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada0.85%
NOVN.SWNovartis AG0.82%
8306.TMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc0.78%
AZN.LAstraZeneca PLC0.74%

VTI3598 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA Corp7.13%
AAPLApple Inc6.63%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.19%
AMZNAmazon.com Inc3.30%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc2.76%
AVGOBroadcom Inc2.28%
METAMeta Platforms Inc2.18%
GOOGAlphabet Inc2.18%
MUMicron Technology Inc1.64%
TSLATesla Inc1.36%

Quick verdict

VEA fits better if you care most about more income today. VTI fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and smaller drawdowns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions

Is VEA or VTI better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VEA currently yields 2.44% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VTI yields 1.05%. 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 VEA and VTI?
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, VEA or VTI?
They cost about the same: VEA charges 0.03% a year and VTI charges 0.03%.
Which has performed better, VEA or VTI?
Over the last 5 years, VTI has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VEA returned 51.8% and VTI returned 72.2%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VEA or VTI?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VEA has been riskier: VEA fell as much as 29.3% and VTI as much as 25.4%. Their betas are 0.97 and 1.02.
How often do VEA and VTI pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.1775 for VEA and $0.9555 for VTI.
How much income does $10,000 in VEA vs VTI generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VEA would generate roughly $20.35 per month ($244 annually). The same amount in VTI would produce about $8.72 per month ($105 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VEA and VTI?
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 VEA vs VTI with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VEA and VTI 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.