A head-to-head comparison of Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
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.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Quick verdict
FZROX (Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund) is a mutual fund, while VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) is an ETF — they take fundamentally different approaches.
VTI offers the higher yield at 1.12% vs 0.92% for FZROX. 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 0.89%.
VTI is the larger fund by assets ($654B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, FZROX would generate roughly $7.67/month, while VTI would produce $9.33/month, at current distribution rates.
FZROX yield0.92%
VTI yield1.12%
Monthly diff on $10K$1.67
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, FZROX would cost approximately $890 in fees vs $30 for VTI (simplified, not compounded). The $860.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
FZROX ER0.89%
VTI ER0.03%
Strategy & risk
FZROX is a mutual fund, while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. Beta is 1.03 for FZROX and 1.0379 for VTI, indicating FZROX is less volatile relative to the market.
FZROX beta1.03
VTI beta1.0379
Fund details
FZROX is managed by Fidelity Investments (launched 08/02/2018) with $39.1B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $654B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is FZROX or VTI better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VTI 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 FZROX and VTI?
FZROX (Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund) is a mutual fund, while VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. They are issued by Fidelity Investments and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both FZROX 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, FZROX or VTI?
FZROX has an expense ratio of 0.89% 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 FZROX vs VTI generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in FZROX would generate roughly $7.67 per month ($92.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.33 per month ($112.00 annually).
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