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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 14, 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 17.54% total return against 16.63%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IVV has compounded at 15.58% a year, against 14.99% 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
IVV13.80%17.54%22.82%13.28%15.58%9.41%14.9%1.081.58-18.8%
VTI13.37%16.63%22.37%11.99%14.99%9.60%15.4%1.031.50-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 14, 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$773.09 as of October 14, 2026$376.88 as of October 14, 2026
Distribution rate1.14%1.01%
Trailing 12-month yield1.09%1.05%
Distribution Safety Score™ 9797
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.11%0.98%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$896B$705B
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
ETFs467
Total AUM$4.70T

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

iShares, operated by BlackRock, is one of the largest and most established ETF providers globally, known for offering broad, liquid index-tracking funds across nearly all asset classes and investment styles. The lineup encompasses a comprehensive range of strategies including core equity and bond exposure, dividend and income-focused funds, covered call strategies, ESG and thematic investments, factor-based approaches, alternatives, commodities, and municipal bonds, serving both individual and institutional investors. With numerous popular ticker symbols and extensive diversification across geographies, sectors, and investment objectives, iShares provides one of the market's widest selections of ETFs for building diversified portfolios.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IVV.

See all ETFs from iShares
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4.71T

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 ETFs from Vanguard

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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 ($896B), 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 $896B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $705B in assets.

IVV AUM$896B
VTI AUM$705B
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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 97, VTI scores 97. 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 17.54% total return against 16.63%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IVV has compounded at 15.58% a year, against 14.99% 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 10, 2026.

Overview

IVV and VTI are both low-cost, quarterly-paying ETFs tracking broad U.S. equity indexes. IVV focuses exclusively on the S&P 500's large-cap stocks, while VTI casts a wider net, including large-, mid-, and small-cap companies across the total stock market. The key difference: IVV's narrower scope means larger companies dominate its holdings, whereas VTI's broader index provides exposure to the full market cap spectrum.

How they differ

IVV tracks the S&P 500—about 500 of the largest U.S. companies—while VTI tracks the Morningstar US Total Market Index, which includes thousands of stocks spanning all market capitalizations. This is the biggest structural difference. IVV's beta is 1.0, meaning it moves roughly with the market; VTI's 1.0379 reflects slightly amplified volatility from its small- and mid-cap holdings.

Who each is best for

  • IVV: Fits investors seeking straightforward large-cap-only exposure who want to avoid the volatility drag that smaller stocks can add during market downturns.
  • VTI: Fits investors who believe a complete market-weight portfolio captures better long-term diversification and are comfortable holding the cyclical and higher-volatility segments that smaller companies represent.

Key risks to know

  • Market concentration in mega-cap stocks: Both IVV and VTI hold significant weight in the largest technology and financial companies; IVV's S&P 500 focus intensifies this concentration relative to the total market.
  • Small-cap underperformance drag for VTI: VTI's small-cap and mid-cap holdings can significantly lag large-cap performance during growth-led bull markets, potentially holding back total returns.
  • Large-cap-only miss for IVV: By excluding mid and small caps, IVV may underperform during market rotations when value rallies or smaller stocks outpace mega-cap leaders.
  • Interest rate sensitivity: Both ETFs carry equity market beta; rising rates typically pressure valuations more severely in growth-heavy large-cap sectors than in the broader market.

Bottom line

If you want maximum simplicity and large-cap focus, IVV delivers cleaner S&P 500 exposure. If you prefer full market-cap representation and believe diversification across company sizes adds value, VTI's broader mandate may align better with your philosophy. Both charge identical fees and pay quarterly; the choice hinges on whether you see smaller stocks as a drag or a long-term diversifier. 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.

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.