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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • ITOTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • VTIInvestors who want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

ITOT has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.15% total return against 16.09%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.86% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.82%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince Jan 2004Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ITOT13.45%16.15%22.82%12.52%14.82%10.70%15.3%1.051.53-19.4%
VTI13.35%16.09%22.79%12.47%14.86%10.81%15.4%1.051.52-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Jan 2004” measures every fund from January 23, 2004 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricITOTVTI
Full nameiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETFVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
IssueriSharesVanguard
Underlying indexS&P Total Market IndexMorningstar US Total Market Index
Last Close$167.95 as of October 2, 2026$377.99 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate1.08%1.01%
Trailing 12-month yield1.00%1.04%
Distribution Safety Score™ 96100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.04%1.01%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$96.9B$700B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveProvide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.Seeks to track the Morningstar US Total Market Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/20/200405/24/2001
Beta1.031.0379
Last dividend$0.453$0.9555
Ex-dividend date09/15/202609/28/2026

Bottom lineChoose ITOT if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VTI if you want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.

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

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4683B

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 ITOT.

See all iShares ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4676B

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

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VTI.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

ITOT offers the higher yield at 1.08% vs 1.01% for VTI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: ITOT is linked to S&P Total Market Index while VTI is linked to Morningstar US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($700B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $27.00 cash per distribution, while VTI would produce $25.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

ITOT yield1.08%
VTI yield1.01%
Cash diff on $10K$1.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, ITOT would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $30 for VTI (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

ITOT ER0.03%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

ITOT tracks S&P Total Market Index with an index approach, while VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index. Beta is 1.03 for ITOT and 1.0379 for VTI — effectively similar market sensitivity.

ITOT beta1.03
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

ITOT is managed by iShares (launched 01/20/2004) with $96.9B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $700B in assets.

ITOT AUM$96.9B
VTI AUM$700B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for ITOT and VTI?

ITOT currently distributes 1.08% and VTI 1.01%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is ITOT or VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. ITOT 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 ITOT and VTI?

ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) tracks S&P Total Market Index with an index approach, while VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both ITOT 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.

Is ITOT or VTI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VTI scores 100, ITOT scores 96, so VTI's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, ITOT or VTI?

ITOT and VTI both charge the same expense ratio of 0.03%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in ITOT would generate roughly $27.00 cash per distribution ($108.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $25.25 cash per distribution ($101.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ITOT or VTI?

ITOT has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.15% total return against 16.09%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.86% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.82%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

ITOT vs VTI — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

ITOT and VTI are both total-market equity ETFs tracking broad U.S. stock exposure with nearly identical fee structures and distribution patterns. Though both aim to capture the entire investable U.S. market, their constituent selection and weighting schemes differ slightly, leading to meaningful variations in portfolio construction and long-term performance tracking. Both charge 0.03% in annual expenses and distribute dividends quarterly, making them virtually identical on cost grounds. The index difference—S&P Total Market versus Morningstar's methodology—affects which companies appear in the fund and how heavily they're weighted, particularly at mid-cap and small-cap levels; while both indexes are designed to be comprehensive, index reconstitution rules and company classification standards differ, meaning sector allocations and individual holdings may diverge. VTI's beta of 1.0379 suggests marginally lower volatility relative to market benchmarks than ITOT's 1.03, though the difference is negligible.

Who each is best for

  • ITOT: Fits investors seeking straightforward S&P index exposure with a long track record (since 01/20/2004) and minimal overhead. The slightly lower AUM is immaterial for most retail traders but may appeal to those favoring iShares' ecosystem or preferring the S&P index's simplicity. The Morningstar index approach and longer inception date (05/24/2001) suit buy-and-hold allocators prioritizing stability and scale.

Key risks to know

  • Index methodology divergence. Holdings and weightings differ between the S&P Total Market and Morningstar indexes, so sector tilts and factor exposures will not track identically. Which index performs better in a given market cycle depends on how its rules classify and weight mid-cap and small-cap names—a source of tracking error that favors neither fund but requires awareness if you're comparing results.
  • Market concentration risk. Both funds hold the entire U.S. stock market, meaning large-cap mega-cap tech stocks (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia) dominate the portfolio. A sector drawdown or multiple compression in large caps will impact both substantially and similarly.
  • Total-market cap risk. These funds rise and fall with U.S. equity valuations overall. Unlike diversified multi-asset portfolios, they offer no ballast against stock market downturns and carry full equity-market volatility.

Bottom line

Both funds deliver low-cost, broad U.S. market exposure with identical expense ratios and quarterly distributions. The choice between them hinges on minor index methodology preferences and platform convenience rather than material performance or fee gaps. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.