Dividend comparison
VIG vs VTI: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. VTI is cheaper at 0.03% a year versus 0.04% for VIG. On $10,000 that is $1 a year less in fees.
- Income. VIG pays more income, yielding 1.50% over the last twelve months versus 1.05% for VTI. That is about $45 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VTI returned 72.2% versus 61.4% for VIG, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,219 in VTI and $16,136 in VIG.
- Risk. VTI has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -25.4%, against -20.4% for VIG.
- Diversification. VTI holds 3,598 positions and VIG holds 338. The ten largest positions make up 34.9% of VIG and 34.6% of VTI.
- Overlap. At least 30% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 45 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. VIG grew its yearly payout 7.5% 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 $127.7 billion for VIG.
Bottom line: VIG fits better if you care most about more income today, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. VTI fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and broader diversification.
| Metric | VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.50% | 1.05% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $3.65 | $3.95 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.9295 on Sep 30, 2026 | $0.9555 on Sep 30, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 28, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 7.5% over 4 yrs | 6.4% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $243.07 | $377.09 |
| Dividend growth streak | 12 years | 5 years |
| Beta | 0.82 | 1.02 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -20.4% | -25.4% |
| Market cap | $127.69B | $2.30T |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | $127.70B | $2.30T |
| Number of holdings | 338 | 3598 |
| Top 10 concentration | 34.9% | 34.6% |
VIG
$12.50/mo
$150 /yr at 1.50% yield
VTI
$8.72/mo
$105 /yr at 1.05% yield
| Year | VIG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.5580 | $3.7566 |
| 2024 | $3.3791 | $3.6743 |
| 2023 | $3.2081 | $3.4128 |
| 2022 | $2.9725 | $3.1833 |
| 2021 | $2.6601 | $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 VIG vs VTI actually do
It tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which requires a decade of unbroken annual increases and then removes the top 25% of eligible names by yield. Screening out the highest payers is intentional: an unusually high yield often signals a stretched payout or a falling share price, and the index is built for durability rather than for current income. The result is a lower starting yield than most dividend funds and a portfolio that leans toward large, stable, profitable companies.
Suits a long-horizon investor who cares more about the dividend rising every year than about the size of the first payment. Not appropriate if you need meaningful cash flow from the position today.
Dividend growth, quality tilt
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 | VIG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 2.56% | 0.69% |
| 3 months | 2.30% | 3.22% |
| Year to date | 10.60% | 13.43% |
| 1 year | 11.88% | 15.24% |
| 3 years | 64.31% | 87.48% |
| 5 years | 61.36% | 72.19% |
- VIG
- VTI
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VIG
- VTI
| Largest shared holdings | VIG weight | VTI weight |
|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.90% | 5.19% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 4.89% | 6.63% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.30% | 2.28% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co | 4.10% | 1.34% |
| JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co | 3.89% | 1.20% |
| XOMExxonMobil Holdings Corp | 2.96% | 0.92% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 2.83% | 0.87% |
| VVisa Inc | 2.53% | 0.83% |
| ABBVAbbVie Inc | 2.05% | 0.63% |
| WMTWalmart Inc | 2.05% | 0.62% |
VIG338 holdings total
Quick verdict
VIG fits better if you care most about more income today, smaller drawdowns and faster dividend growth. VTI fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns 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.