Dividend comparison
VOO vs VTI: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF, side by side. Updated October 24, 2026.
- Fees. Both charge about 0.03% a year, so cost is not what separates them.
- Income. Their trailing yields are almost the same: 1.06% for VOO and 1.06% for VTI. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VOO returned 79.4% versus 70.2% for VTI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,941 in VOO and $17,018 in VTI.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -24.5% for VOO and -25.4% for VTI from peak to trough.
- Diversification. VTI holds 3,598 positions and VOO holds 505. The ten largest positions make up 39.1% of VOO and 34.6% of VTI.
- Overlap. At least 68% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 98 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. VOO grew its yearly payout 6.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.4% for VTI.
Bottom line: VOO fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns. VTI fits better if you care most about broader diversification.
| Metric | VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.06% | 1.06% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $7.43 | $3.95 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $1.8226 on Sep 30, 2026 | $0.9555 on Sep 30, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 28, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.8% over 4 yrs | 6.4% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $698.58 | $373.01 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | 5 years |
| Beta | 1.01 | 1.02 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -24.5% | -25.4% |
| Market cap | $1.70T | $2.30T |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | $1.70T | $2.30T |
| Number of holdings | 505 | 3598 |
| Top 10 concentration | 39.1% | 34.6% |
VOO
$8.86/mo
$106 /yr at 1.06% yield
VTI
$8.82/mo
$106 /yr at 1.06% yield
| Year | VOO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7.0678 | $3.7566 |
| 2024 | $6.7035 | $3.6743 |
| 2023 | $6.3572 | $3.4128 |
| 2022 | $5.9467 | $3.1833 |
| 2021 | $5.4367 | $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 VOO vs VTI 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 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 | VOO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -1.02% | -1.13% |
| 3 months | 3.21% | 2.54% |
| Year to date | 12.36% | 12.21% |
| 1 year | 14.44% | 13.97% |
| 3 years | 87.36% | 85.96% |
| 5 years | 79.41% | 70.18% |
- VOO
- VTI
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-23 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VOO
- VTI
| Largest shared holdings | VOO weight | VTI weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA Corp | 8.39% | 7.13% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.38% | 6.63% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.78% | 5.19% |
| AMZNAmazon.com Inc | 3.71% | 3.30% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.07% | 2.76% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.54% | 2.28% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.43% | 2.18% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.45% | 2.18% |
| MUMicron Technology Inc | 1.83% | 1.64% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.52% | 1.36% |
VOO505 holdings total
Quick verdict
VOO fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns. VTI fits better if you care most about broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
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Which is cheaper, VOO or VTI?
Which has performed better, VOO or VTI?
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How much do VOO and VTI overlap?
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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.