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Dividend Vision

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.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

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

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.

IVV has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.43% total return against 16.09%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IVV has compounded at 15.45% a year, against 14.86% for VTI. 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 May 2001Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IVV13.60%16.43%23.23%13.70%15.45%9.42%14.9%1.101.60-18.8%
VTI13.35%16.09%22.79%12.47%14.86%9.62%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 May 2001” measures every fund from May 31, 2001 — 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.
MetricIVVVTI
Full nameiShares Core S&P 500 ETFVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
IssueriSharesVanguard
Underlying indexS&P 500 IndexMorningstar US Total Market Index
Last Close$773.10 as of October 2, 2026$377.99 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate1.14%1.01%
Trailing 12-month yield1.09%1.04%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.14%1.01%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$888B$700B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
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$2.20261$0.9555
Ex-dividend date09/15/202609/28/2026

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 rate1.14%1.01%
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Income calculator

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 IVV.

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

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.

IVV offers the higher yield at 1.14% 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: IVV is linked to S&P 500 Index while VTI is linked to Morningstar US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IVV is the larger fund by assets ($888B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IVV would generate roughly $28.50 cash per distribution, while VTI would produce $25.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IVV yield1.14%
VTI yield1.01%
Cash diff on $10K$3.25

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 $888B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $700B in assets.

IVV AUM$888B
VTI AUM$700B
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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 1.14% and 1.01% as of October 2026. Large caps versus the total market is the decision.

What is the current distribution rate for IVV and VTI?

IVV currently distributes 1.14% 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 IVV or VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IVV 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 $28.50 cash per distribution ($114.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $25.25 cash per distribution ($101.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IVV or VTI?

IVV has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.43% total return against 16.09%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IVV has compounded at 15.45% a year, against 14.86% for VTI. 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 October 3, 2026.

Overview

IVV and VTI are both broad U.S. equity index ETFs charging the same 0.03%, but they track different market segments. IVV holds the 500 largest U.S. stock market—large, mid, small, and micro-cap—through the Morningstar US Total Market Index. The choice between them hinges on whether you want pure large-cap exposure or total-market diversification.

How they differ

IVV's $888B asset base makes it the larger fund; VTI holds $700B. Both charge 0.03%, so cost is a wash. The real distinction is scope: IVV excludes mid-cap and smaller stocks entirely, while VTI includes them. VTI also carries a published beta of 1.0379, slightly above market, while IVV's 1.0 reflects the S&P 500 itself.

Who each is best for

IVV: Fits investors who want pure exposure to America's largest corporations and prefer a narrowly focused benchmark without mid-cap or small-cap volatility.

VTI: Fits investors seeking maximum U.S. equity diversification in a single holding, including exposure to companies below the Fortune 500.

Key risks to know

  • Sector concentration in large-cap tilt. IVV's S&P 500 composition means it holds less exposure to mid-cap and small-cap stocks, which have historically outpaced large-cap returns in certain cycles. This creates period-specific underperformance risk that VTI's broader weight distribution may partially buffer.
  • Small-cap and mid-cap drag in VTI during large-cap rallies. When the market's leadership concentrates in mega-cap stocks, VTI's proportional weight in smaller companies can pull overall returns down relative to IVV. This is not a permanent loss—it is cyclical—but it can persist for extended periods. Both are ultracheap, but AUM scale is unequal.

Bottom line

If you want the simplest possible U.S. equity holding tied directly to the S&P 500, IVV delivers that with IVV's larger asset base. If you prefer exposure to the full breadth of the U.S. market, including mid-cap and smaller names, VTI's broader index is the alternative—at the same cost. Both are low-friction core holdings; the decision is whether large-cap-only or total-market matches your portfolio thesis. Past performance does not 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.

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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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.