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VOO vs VTI

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

The short answer: VOO holds 500 large-cap U.S. stocks; VTI holds nearly the entire U.S. market including mid- and small-caps. Same expense ratio, slightly different exposure.

Metric
VOO
VTI
Issuer
Vanguard
Vanguard
Benchmark
S&P 500 Index
CRSP US Total Market Index
Inception
Sep 7, 2010
May 24, 2001
Expense Ratio(lower is better)
300 bps
300 bps
AUM(higher = more liquid)
$1.60T
$2.20T
Dividend Yield (TTM)
1.08%
1.06%
Dividend Frequency
Quarterly
Quarterly
Beta (vs S&P 500)(1 = market)
1.00
1.03
1-Year Return
26.66%
26.66%
3-Year Return (annualized)
22.51%
22.17%
5-Year Return (annualized)
13.53%
12.29%
10-Year Return (annualized)
15.33%
14.81%
Data as of May 9, 2026. Returns annualized; past performance is not indicative of future results.

Total Return

YTDVOO: 6.91% · VTI: 6.88%
1YVOO: 26.66% · VTI: 26.66%
3Y ann.VOO: 22.51% · VTI: 22.17%
5Y ann.VOO: 13.53% · VTI: 12.29%
10Y ann.VOO: 15.33% · VTI: 14.81%

Which should you pick?

Choose VOO

Pick VOO if you specifically want large-cap exposure and prefer the simplicity and brand recognition of the S&P 500. Historically, large-caps have led during megacap-driven bull markets.

Choose VTI

Pick VTI if you want true 'whole market' diversification. About 18% of VTI is mid- and small-cap stocks that are absent from VOO, giving you exposure to companies before they become S&P 500 members.

Either is fine if…

Returns historically track within 1% of each other. If you already own VOO in one account and VTI in another, there's no urgent reason to consolidate.

Holdings & sectors

VOO – Top Holdings

  • AAPLApple Inc7.1%
  • MSFTMicrosoft Corp6.6%
  • NVDANVIDIA Corp6.2%
  • AMZNAmazon.com Inc3.8%
  • GOOGLAlphabet Inc Class A2.2%

VTI – Top Holdings

  • AAPLApple Inc6.2%
  • MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.8%
  • NVDANVIDIA Corp5.4%
  • AMZNAmazon.com Inc3.4%
  • GOOGLAlphabet Inc Class A2.0%

Sector Breakdown

Technology
VOO
30.0%
VTI
29.0%
Financials
VOO
13.0%
VTI
13.0%
Healthcare
VOO
11.0%
VTI
12.0%
Consumer Discretionary
VOO
10.0%
VTI
10.0%
Industrials
VOO
9.0%
VTI
10.0%
Communication
VOO
9.0%
VTI
8.0%
Consumer Staples
VOO
6.0%
VTI
5.0%
Energy
VOO
4.0%
VTI
4.0%
Real Estate
VOO
2.3%
VTI
3.0%
Utilities
VOO
2.5%
VTI
2.5%
Materials
VOO
2.2%
VTI
2.5%

At a glance

Expense ratio
VOO300 bps
VTI300 bps
AUM
VOO$1.60T
VTI$2.20T
Dividend yield
VOO1.08%
VTI1.06%
5Y return (ann.)
VOO13.53%
VTI12.29%

VOO vs VTI – FAQ

Is VTI more diversified than VOO?
Yes, by holding count — VTI owns ~3,800 stocks vs VOO's 500. But because VTI is market-cap weighted, the top 500 holdings still drive about 82% of its performance, so the practical difference is smaller than it looks.
Which has better returns, VOO or VTI?
Over rolling 10-year periods their returns are typically within 0.5–1.0% of each other. VOO usually wins when megacaps lead the market; VTI wins when small- and mid-caps rally.
Do VOO and VTI pay the same dividend?
Their TTM yields are very close (around 1.25–1.35%). VTI's slightly higher yield comes from its small/mid-cap holdings, which on average pay a bit more relative to price.
Can I hold both VOO and VTI?
You can, but it's mostly redundant. Most of VTI's holdings overlap with VOO. If you want real diversification beyond U.S. large-caps, consider pairing VOO or VTI with VXUS (international).
Which is better for a Roth IRA?
Either works. Many investors choose VTI for the broader exposure since they'll hold it for decades, but VOO's simplicity is a perfectly defensible choice.

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