Dividend comparison
VT vs VTI: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Total World Stock ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF, side by side. Updated October 24, 2026.
- Fees. VTI 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 1.55% over the last twelve months versus 1.06% for VTI. That is about $49 more a year on $10,000. VT pays annual, VTI pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VTI returned 70.2% versus 58.7% for VT, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,018 in VTI and $15,874 in VT.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -26.4% for VT and -25.4% for VTI from peak to trough.
- Diversification. VT holds 9,773 positions and VTI holds 3,598. The ten largest positions make up 22.3% of VT and 34.6% of VTI.
- Overlap. At least 39% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 71 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. VT grew its yearly payout 7.1% 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 $101.2 billion for VT.
Bottom line: VT fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification. VTI fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 5-year returns.
| Metric | VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.55% | 1.06% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $2.41 | $3.95 |
| Payout frequency | Annual | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.4084 on Sep 22, 2026 | $0.9555 on Sep 30, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 7.1% over 4 yrs | 6.4% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $155.90 | $373.01 |
| Dividend growth streak | — | 5 years |
| Beta | 0.93 | 1.02 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -26.4% | -25.4% |
| Market cap | $101.30B | $2.30T |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | $101.20B | $2.30T |
| Number of holdings | 9773 | 3598 |
| Top 10 concentration | 22.3% | 34.6% |
VT
$12.90/mo
$155 /yr at 1.55% yield
VTI
$8.82/mo
$106 /yr at 1.06% yield
| Year | VT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.5732 | $3.7566 |
| 2024 | $2.2939 | $3.6743 |
| 2023 | $2.1419 | $3.4128 |
| 2022 | $1.8957 | $3.1833 |
| 2021 | $1.9550 | $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 VT vs VTI actually do
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
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 | VT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -2.15% | -1.13% |
| 3 months | 1.03% | 2.54% |
| Year to date | 10.52% | 12.21% |
| 1 year | 11.84% | 13.97% |
| 3 years | 78.95% | 85.96% |
| 5 years | 58.74% | 70.18% |
- VT
- VTI
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-23 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VT
- VTI
| Largest shared holdings | VT weight | VTI weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA Corp | 4.52% | 7.13% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 4.08% | 6.63% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.23% | 5.19% |
| AMZNAmazon.com Inc | 2.05% | 3.30% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 1.72% | 2.76% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.39% | 2.28% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.35% | 2.18% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.35% | 2.18% |
| MUMicron Technology Inc | 1.02% | 1.64% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 0.88% | 1.36% |
VT9773 holdings total
Quick verdict
VT fits better if you care most about more income today and broader diversification. VTI fits better if you care most about lower fees and stronger 5-year returns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is VT or VTI better for dividend income?
What is the difference between VT and VTI?
Which is cheaper, VT or VTI?
Which has performed better, VT or VTI?
Which is riskier, VT or VTI?
How much do VT and VTI overlap?
How often do VT and VTI pay dividends?
How much income does $10,000 in VT vs VTI 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.