Dividend comparison
VOO vs VT: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. VOO is cheaper at 0.03% a year versus 0.06% for VT. On $10,000 that is $3 a year less in fees.
- Income. VT pays more income, yielding 1.53% over the last twelve months versus 1.05% for VOO. That is about $48 more a year on $10,000. VOO pays quarterly, VT pays annual.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VOO returned 81.8% versus 60.7% for VT, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $18,178 in VOO and $16,069 in VT.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -24.5% for VOO and -26.4% for VT from peak to trough.
- Diversification. VT holds 9,773 positions and VOO holds 505. The ten largest positions make up 39.1% of VOO and 22.3% of VT.
- Overlap. At least 39% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 72 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. VT grew its yearly payout 7.1% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.8% for VOO.
- Size. VOO is the larger fund with $1.7 trillion in assets, against $101.2 billion for VT.
Bottom line: VOO fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 5-year returns. VT fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification.
| Metric | VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.05% | 1.53% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $7.43 | $2.41 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Annual |
| Last dividend | $1.8226 on Sep 30, 2026 | $0.4084 on Sep 22, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 28, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.8% over 4 yrs | 7.1% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $706.80 | $157.80 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | — |
| Beta | 1.01 | 0.93 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.5% | -26.4% |
| Market cap | $1.70T | $101.30B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Assets under management | $1.70T | $101.20B |
| Number of holdings | 505 | 9773 |
| Top 10 concentration | 39.1% | 22.3% |
VOO
$8.76/mo
$105 /yr at 1.05% yield
VT
$12.75/mo
$153 /yr at 1.53% yield
| Year | VOO | VT |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.0678 | $2.5732 |
| 2024 | $6.7035 | $2.2939 |
| 2023 | $6.3572 | $2.1419 |
| 2022 | $5.9467 | $1.8957 |
| 2021 | $5.4367 | $1.9550 |
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
What VOO vs VT actually do
It replicates the index in full and makes no attempt to pick winners, so its return is the index return less a very small fee. As an open-end fund it can lend securities and put incoming dividends back to work inside the portfolio between the quarterly payment dates. Dividends are whatever the underlying companies happen to pay, which means yield is an output of the strategy and never a target of it.
Suits almost any long-horizon US equity allocation, including as the growth engine sitting behind higher-yielding income positions. Not a fit for someone whose portfolio needs to produce meaningful current cash flow.
Core holding
It tracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index at market-cap weights, so US companies make up the majority of the fund simply because they are the majority of world market value, with the remainder spread across developed international and emerging markets. Weights shift as those markets grow or shrink relative to each other, so the allocation decision is made by the market rather than by you. Holding non-US companies brings currency exposure and foreign withholding tax, and the headline yield is usually a little higher than a US-only fund because many international companies pay out more of their earnings.
Suits an investor who wants a single, permanently self-rebalancing global equity holding and no home-country judgment call. Not for someone who wants to control their US weighting deliberately, and not an income fund.
Core holding, global
| Period | VOO | VT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.97% | -0.47% |
| 3 months | 3.87% | 1.95% |
| Year to date | 13.68% | 11.87% |
| 1 year | 15.84% | 13.16% |
| 3 years | 89.23% | 80.78% |
| 5 years | 81.78% | 60.69% |
- VOO
- VT
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VOO
- VT
| Largest shared holdings | VOO weight | VT weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA Corp | 8.39% | 4.52% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.38% | 4.08% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.78% | 3.23% |
| AMZNAmazon.com Inc | 3.71% | 2.05% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.07% | 1.72% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.54% | 1.39% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.43% | 1.35% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.45% | 1.35% |
| MUMicron Technology Inc | 1.83% | 1.02% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.52% | 0.88% |
VOO505 holdings total
Quick verdict
VOO fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 5-year returns. VT 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
Is VOO or VT better for dividend income?
What is the difference between VOO and VT?
Which is cheaper, VOO or VT?
Which has performed better, VOO or VT?
Which is riskier, VOO or VT?
How much do VOO and VT overlap?
How often do VOO and VT pay dividends?
How much income does $10,000 in VOO vs VT generate?
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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.