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 Total Stock Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 4, 2026

iShares

ETFs481

Total AUM$4451B

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

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

	ITOT	VTI
Full name	iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
Issuer	iShares	Vanguard
Last Close	$163.76 as of July 4, 2026	$368.76 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield	1.02%	1.13%
Distribution Safety Score	37	100
Expense ratio	0.03%	0.03%
AUM	$91.4B	$654B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	S&P Total Market Index	CRSP US Total Market Index
Objective	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.	Track the CRSP US Total Market Index, representing the broad U.S. equity market.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	01/20/2004	05/24/2001
Beta	1.04	1.0379
Last dividend	$0.4190	$1.0437
Ex-dividend date	09/15/2026	06/26/2026

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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

ITOT has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.64% total return against 22.40%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.94% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.93%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Jan 2004	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
ITOT	10.32%	22.64%	20.21%	12.03%	14.93%	10.68%	15.3%	0.91	1.31	-19.4%
VTI	9.99%	22.40%	20.09%	11.97%	14.94%	10.79%	15.4%	0.90	1.30	-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jan 2004” measures every fund from January 23, 2004 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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.

Quick verdict

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

VTI offers the higher yield at 1.13% vs 1.02% for ITOT. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They track different benchmarks: ITOT is linked to S&P Total Market Index 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.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $8.50/month, while VTI would produce $9.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

ITOT yield1.02%

VTI yield1.13%

Monthly diff on $10K$0.92

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 CRSP US Total Market Index with a basket approach. Beta is 1.04 for ITOT and 1.0379 for VTI, indicating VTI is less volatile relative to the market.

ITOT beta1.04

VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

ITOT is managed by iShares (launched 01/20/2004) with $91.4B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $654B in assets.

ITOT AUM$91.4B

VTI AUM$654B

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Frequently asked questions

Is ITOT 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 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 Total Stock Market ETF) tracks CRSP US Total Market Index with a basket approach. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both ITOT and VTI?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

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 $8.50 per month ($102.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.42 per month ($113.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ITOT or VTI?

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ITOT vs VTI — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

ITOT and VTI are nearly identical broad-market U.S. equity ETFs that track different total-market indexes—ITOT follows the S&P Total Market Index, while VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index. Both charge 0.03% in expenses and distribute dividends quarterly, making them functionally interchangeable for most investors seeking low-cost total-market exposure. The critical distinction is scale: VTI operates at $654B in assets versus ITOT's $91.4B, and VTI has a three-year head start in inception date.

How they differ

The funds track slightly different indexes, which creates subtle differences in holdings and weighting, though both capture the broad U.S. equity market from mega-cap to micro-cap. VTI's CRSP index includes the full float-adjusted market cap of every publicly traded U.S. stock; the S&P Total Market Index used by ITOT is similar but constructed by S&P and may weight some mid- and small-cap holdings differently. ITOT yields 1.02% versus VTI's 1.13%—a small gap, but one that may reflect the underlying indexes' dividend composition or the funds' rebalancing cadence rather than true performance divergence. VTI's asset base of $654B dwarfs ITOT's $91.4B, which translates to tighter bid-ask spreads and lower trading costs for VTI in most market conditions. Both funds charge an identical 0.03% expense ratio and report nearly identical betas (ITOT at 1.04, VTI at 1.0379), confirming they move in lockstep with the broader market.

Who each is best for

ITOT: Fits investors who want S&P-indexed total market exposure and are indifferent to issuer; the fund works equally well for buy-and-hold allocators seeking a core holding.

VTI: Fits investors who prioritize maximum liquidity and the institutional comfort of Vanguard's scale; also suits those who prefer CRSP methodology or value VTI's longer track record.

Key risks to know

Index construction divergence. The S&P Total Market Index and CRSP US Total Market Index are not identical; holdings and weights differ slightly, particularly in the small-cap and micro-cap tiers. Over long periods, these methodological differences can lead to performance gaps, though historical variation has been minimal.

Liquidity asymmetry. VTI's $654B in AUM creates significantly tighter spreads and lower market-impact costs; ITOT's $91.4B is still substantial but may widen spreads in periods of heavy redemption or market stress.

Dividend yield compression. Both funds distribute qualified dividends tied to corporate payouts; a prolonged environment of stock buybacks over dividends could compress yields further, affecting total return.

Bottom line

If you prioritize maximal liquidity and the longest available track record, VTI's $654B asset base and three-year head start offer practical advantages. If you're comfortable with ITOT's slightly smaller scale and S&P indexing, the 0.03% expense ratio and similar beta make it a financially equivalent core holding. Neither fund's past performance predicts future results; the choice between them hinges on operational preferences rather than fundamentals.

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