Dividend comparison

VTI vs VTSAX: Which Is Better?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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VTI vs VTSAX: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Income. Their trailing yields are almost the same: 1.05% for VTI and 1.04% for VTSAX. Both pay quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, VTI returned 72.2% versus 70.6% for VTSAX, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $17,219 in VTI and $17,064 in VTSAX.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -25.4% for VTI and -25.4% for VTSAX from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. VTI holds 3,598 positions and VTSAX holds 100. The ten largest positions make up 34.6% of VTI and 34.6% of VTSAX.
  • Overlap. At least 68% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 100 shared holdings.
  • Dividend growth. VTI grew its yearly payout 6.4% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.4% for VTSAX.

Bottom line: VTI has the edge on these figures, with broader diversification. VTSAX does not lead on any of the measures compared here.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricVTI
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
VTSAX
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares
Dividend yield (TTM)1.05%1.04%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.95$180.73
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Last dividend$0.9555 on Sep 30, 2026$0.4605 on Sep 29, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 28, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)6.4% over 4 yrs6.4% over 4 yrs
Price$377.09$183.51
Payout ratio (TTM)—23.1%
Dividend growth streak5 years5 years
Beta1.021.02
Max drawdown (5Y)-25.4%-25.4%
Market cap$2.30T$2.32T
ExchangeAMEXNASDAQ
Expense ratio0.03%—
Assets under management$2.30T—
Number of holdings3598100
Top 10 concentration34.6%34.6%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

VTI

$8.72/mo

$105 /yr at 1.05% yield

VTSAX

$8.68/mo

$104 /yr at 1.04% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VTI pays quarterly; VTSAX pays quarterly.
YearVTIVTSAX
2025$3.7566$1.8136
2024$3.6743$1.7760
2023$3.4128$1.6510
2022$3.1833$1.5400
2021$2.9303$1.4150
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 VTI vs VTSAX 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 $17,219 in VTI and $17,064 in VTSAX.
PeriodVTIVTSAX
1 month0.69%0.35%
3 months3.22%2.69%
Year to date13.43%12.44%
1 year15.24%13.92%
3 years87.48%85.72%
5 years72.19%70.64%
  • VTI
  • VTSAX
72126181202120222023202420252026172171

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.
  • VTI
  • VTSAX
0%10%19%29%38%Technology38.2%Financial Services11.5%Healthcare9.9%Communication Services9.1%Industrials8.5%Consumer Cyclical8.5%Consumer Defensive4.2%Energy3.6%Real Estate2.2%Basic Materials2.1%Other2.1%
VTI vs VTSAX holdings overlap
At least 68% overlap by weight, with 100 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
Largest shared holdingsVTI weightVTSAX weight
NVDANVIDIA Corp7.13%7.13%
AAPLApple Inc6.63%6.63%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.19%5.19%
AMZNAmazon.com Inc3.30%3.30%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc2.76%2.76%
AVGOBroadcom Inc2.28%2.28%
METAMeta Platforms Inc2.18%2.18%
GOOGAlphabet Inc2.18%2.18%
MUMicron Technology Inc1.64%1.64%
TSLATesla Inc1.36%1.36%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

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%

VTSAX100 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

VTI has the edge on these figures, with broader diversification. VTSAX does not lead on any of the measures compared here. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is VTI or VTSAX better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VTI currently yields 1.05% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VTSAX yields 1.04%. 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 VTI and VTSAX?
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which has performed better, VTI or VTSAX?
Over the last 5 years, VTI has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VTI returned 72.2% and VTSAX returned 70.6%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VTI or VTSAX?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VTI has been riskier: VTI fell as much as 25.4% and VTSAX as much as 25.4%. Their betas are 1.02 and 1.02.
How much do VTI and VTSAX overlap?
At least 68% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 100 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NVDA, AAPL, MSFT. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do VTI and VTSAX pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.9555 for VTI and $0.4605 for VTSAX.
How much income does $10,000 in VTI vs VTSAX generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VTI would generate roughly $8.72 per month ($105 annually). The same amount in VTSAX would produce about $8.68 per month ($104 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VTI and VTSAX?
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 VTI vs VTSAX with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VTI and VTSAX 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.