ETF Comparison

DGRO vs VTI: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 15, 2026

iShares

ETFs481

Total AUM$4450B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGRO.

See all iShares ETFs

Vanguard

ETFs115

Total AUM$4484B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VTI.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	DGRO	VTI
Full name	iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
Issuer	iShares	Vanguard
Last Close	$76.52 as of July 15, 2026	$371.16 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield	1.73%	1.12%
Distribution Safety Score	97	100
Expense ratio	0.08%	0.03%
AUM	$40.6B	$654B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock)	CRSP US Total Market Index
Objective	Seeks to track the investment results of the Morningstar U.S. Dividend Growth Index, which measures the performance of U.S. equities with a history of consistently growing dividends. Companies must have a payout ratio less than 75% and are excluded if in the top decile based on dividend yield.	Track the CRSP US Total Market Index, representing the broad U.S. equity market.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	06/10/2014	05/24/2001
Beta	0.68	1.0379
Last dividend	$0.3310	$1.0437
Ex-dividend date	06/15/2026	06/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose DGRO if you want higher current income (1.73% vs 1.12% for VTI). Choose VTI if you want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — no signup required.

Build a sample portfolio Forecast income

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Quick verdict

DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

DGRO offers the higher yield at 1.73% vs 1.12% for VTI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VTI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.08%.

They track different benchmarks: DGRO is linked to Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock) while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($654B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose DGRO

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF

Want higher current income — DGRO yields 1.73% vs 1.12% for VTI.
Want broad equity exposure.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.7 vs 1.0 for VTI.

Choose VTI

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

Want the broadest single-fund diversification across the entire market.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.08% for DGRO.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DGRO would generate roughly $14.42/month, while VTI would produce $9.33/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

DGRO yield1.73%

VTI yield1.12%

Monthly diff on $10K$5.08

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DGRO would cost approximately $80 in fees vs $30 for VTI (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DGRO ER0.08%

VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

DGRO tracks Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock), while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. Beta is 0.68 for DGRO and 1.0379 for VTI, indicating DGRO is less volatile relative to the market.

DGRO beta0.68

VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

DGRO is managed by iShares (launched 06/10/2014) with $40.6B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $654B in assets.

DGRO AUM$40.6B

VTI AUM$654B

Ready to act?

Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Frequently asked questions

Is DGRO or VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. DGRO currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between DGRO and VTI?

DGRO (iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF) tracks Basket (Growth-focused dividend equity holdings by BlackRock), while VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both DGRO and VTI?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, DGRO or VTI?

DGRO has an expense ratio of 0.08% while VTI charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in DGRO vs VTI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in DGRO would generate roughly $14.42 per month ($173.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.33 per month ($112.00 annually).

More comparisons to explore

People also compare DGRO with

People also compare VTI with

Popular comparisons

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener