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ETF Comparison

IVV vs VTI: Large Caps, or Everything?

A head-to-head of iShares Core S&P 500 and Vanguard's total-market ETF covering breadth, cost, and what holding both already shares.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

  • IVVInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
  • 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

IVV has lagged VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.98% total return against 21.43%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.29% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.80%. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince May 2001Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IVV13.22%20.98%22.17%13.44%15.29%9.46%15.0%1.041.50-18.8%
VTI13.67%21.43%21.93%12.49%14.80%9.68%15.5%1.001.44-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 19, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since May 2001” measures every fund from May 31, 2001 — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricIVVVTI
Full nameiShares Core S&P 500 ETFVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
IssueriSharesVanguard
Last Close$770.98 as of August 19, 2026$379.04 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield1.04%1.10%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$906B$696B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P 500 IndexMorningstar US Total Market Index
ObjectiveSeeks to track the investment results of an index composed of large-capitalization U.S. equities, measuring the performance of the large-cap sector of the U.S. equity market as determined by S&P Dow Jones Indices.Seeks to track the Morningstar US Total Market Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date05/15/200005/24/2001
Beta1.01.0379
Last dividend$1.9956$1.0437
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose IVV if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund. Choose VTI if you want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.

IVV vs VTI: S&P 500 or the whole market?

IVV is large caps. VTI is the US total market. Holding both doubles S&P 500 names already inside VTI.

IVVVTI
What it ownsS&P 500 IndexMorningstar US Total Market Index
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
Distribution yield1.04%1.10%
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Income calculator

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

iShares
ETFs473
Total AUM$4710B

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 IVV.

See all iShares ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4703B

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

IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VTI offers the higher yield at 1.10% vs 1.04% for IVV. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They track different benchmarks: IVV is linked to S&P 500 Index while VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IVV is the larger fund by assets ($906B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IVV would generate roughly $8.67/month, while VTI would produce $9.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IVV yield1.04%
VTI yield1.10%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.50

Cost & efficiency

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

IVV ER0.03%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

IVV tracks S&P 500 Index, while VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index. Beta is 1.0 for IVV and 1.0379 for VTI — effectively similar market sensitivity.

IVV beta1.0
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

IVV is managed by iShares (launched 05/15/2000) with $906B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $696B in assets.

IVV AUM$906B
VTI AUM$696B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IVV and VTI?

IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index. VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) holds the whole US market. Most of VTI is already large-cap names inside IVV. Cost is 0.03% versus 0.03%; distributions are 1.04% and 1.10% as of August 2026. Large caps versus the total market is the decision.

What is the current distribution yield for IVV and VTI?

IVV currently distributes 1.04% and VTI 1.10%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IVV 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.

Can I hold both IVV 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 IVV 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 — they are effectively tied: IVV scores 100, VTI scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IVV or VTI?

IVV 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 IVV vs VTI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IVV would generate roughly $8.67 per month ($104.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.17 per month ($110.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IVV or VTI?

IVV has lagged VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.98% total return against 21.43%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IVV has compounded at 15.29% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.80%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IVV vs VTI — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

IVV and VTI are both broad-market U.S. equity ETFs charging identical 0.03% expense ratios, but they track different indexes with meaningfully different scope. IVV tracks the S&P 500—the 500 largest U.S. companies—while VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index, which includes the full U.S. equity market from large-cap down through micro-cap stocks. This difference in breadth is the primary driver of their risk and return profiles.

How they differ

The core distinction is index composition: IVV owns only the 500 largest U.S. companies, whereas VTI owns thousands of stocks across all market capitalizations, including mid-cap and small-cap exposure. VTI's broader mandate shows up in a beta of 1.0379 versus IVV's 1.0, reflecting the slightly higher volatility of smaller-company holdings. Both distribute quarterly at similar yields—IVV at 1.02% and VTI at 1.09%—but VTI's higher yield reflects its larger small-cap weighting, which tends to carry higher dividend payout ratios. Size matters here too: IVV has $901B in assets under management compared to VTI's $696B, making IVV the larger of the two.

Who each is best for

  • IVV: Investors seeking pure large-cap U.S. equity exposure who want the most recognizable index benchmark and maximum fund size for tightest spreads.
  • VTI: Investors building a core U.S. equity holding and willing to accept higher small- and mid-cap volatility in exchange for fuller market representation and a slightly higher income yield.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration in largest companies: IVV's S&P 500 mandate excludes everything below the 500th-largest firm by market cap, meaning its returns increasingly depend on mega-cap leadership; VTI's broader base reduces this concentration risk.
  • Small-cap drag or lift: VTI's exposure to mid and small-cap stocks introduces higher idiosyncratic volatility and turnover risk; periods of large-cap outperformance can materially underperform IVV, and vice versa.
  • Index-tracking basis risk: Both funds track their stated indexes tightly, but differing index methodologies (S&P 500 versus CRSP Total Market) mean performance will diverge when mid- and small-cap stocks move sharply relative to the 500 largest companies.

Bottom line

If you want maximum simplicity and the tightest alignment with the most widely discussed U.S. equity benchmark, IVV delivers that at identical cost. If you prefer owning the entire U.S. stock market and are comfortable with the volatility that comes with small-cap holdings, VTI's broader scope and slightly higher yield may align better with a total-market philosophy. Past performance doesn't predict future results; the spread between them depends on when large-cap and smaller-cap cycles diverge.

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.

What the distribution rate really tells you Why a high yield isn't high income How to read a fund's stats

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