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ETF Comparison

SPMO vs VTI: Recent Winners, or Everything?

A head-to-head of Invesco's S&P 500 Momentum ETF and Vanguard's Total Stock Market ETF covering the sleeve versus the core.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Best for

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

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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.

SPMO has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.68% total return against 16.81%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SPMO has compounded at 20.35% a year, against 11.94% for VTI. VTI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.4% against 22.0% for SPMO. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Oct 2015Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SPMO25.23%24.68%37.15%20.35%19.09%22.0%1.241.80-20.1%
VTI12.30%16.81%20.88%11.94%14.30%15.4%0.941.37-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Oct 2015” measures every fund from October 12, 2015 — 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.
MetricSPMOVTI
Full nameInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETFVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
IssuerInvescoVanguard
Underlying indexS&P 500 Momentum IndexMorningstar US Total Market Index
Last Close$149.21 as of September 18, 2026$375.43 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate0.66%1.11%
Distribution Safety Score™ 72100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.48%1.11%
Expense ratio0.13%0.03%
AUM$22.1B$682B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveTrack the S&P 500 Momentum Index, providing factor exposure to the highest momentum names within the S&P 500.Seeks to track the Morningstar US Total Market Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date10/09/201505/24/2001
Beta1.351.0379
Last dividend$0.245$1.0437
Ex-dividend date06/22/202606/26/2026

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

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

VTI is the US total market. SPMO is a momentum sleeve of the S&P 500. A factor overlay versus the core is the decision.

SPMOVTI
What it ownsS&P 500 Momentum IndexMorningstar US Total Market Index
Expense ratio0.13%0.03%
Distribution rate0.66%1.11%

Income calculator

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

ETFs246
Total AUM$980B

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

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SPMO.

ETFs116
Total AUM$4663B

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.

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Quick verdict

SPMO (Invesco S&P 500 Momentum 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 1.11% vs 0.66% for SPMO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VTI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.13%.

They have different reference exposures: SPMO is linked to S&P 500 Momentum Index while VTI is linked to Morningstar US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($682B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SPMO would generate roughly $5.50/month, while VTI would produce $9.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SPMO yield0.66%
VTI yield1.11%
Monthly diff on $10K$3.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SPMO would cost approximately $130 in fees vs $30 for VTI (simplified, not compounded). The $100.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SPMO ER0.13%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

SPMO tracks S&P 500 Momentum Index with an index approach, while VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index. Beta is 1.35 for SPMO and 1.0379 for VTI, making VTI the less volatile of the two by this measure.

SPMO beta1.35
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

SPMO is managed by Invesco (launched 10/09/2015) with $22.1B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $682B in assets.

SPMO AUM$22.1B
VTI AUM$682B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SPMO and VTI?

SPMO (Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF) tracks S&P 500 Momentum Index. VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index — the whole US market, including those large caps. Cost is 0.13% versus 0.03%; distributions are 0.66% and 1.11% as of September 2026. SPMO is a factor sleeve. VTI is the core.

What is the current distribution rate for SPMO and VTI?

SPMO currently distributes 0.66% and VTI 1.11%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is SPMO 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 SPMO 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 SPMO 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, SPMO scores 72, so VTI's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. VTI has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.04 vs 1.35 for SPMO). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, SPMO or VTI?

SPMO has an expense ratio of 0.13% while VTI charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in SPMO would generate roughly $5.50 per month ($66.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.25 per month ($111.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SPMO or VTI?

SPMO has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.68% total return against 16.81%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: SPMO has compounded at 20.35% a year, against 11.94% for VTI. VTI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.4% against 22.0% for SPMO. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SPMO vs VTI — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

SPMO and VTI are both broad U.S. equity ETFs, but they target different segments of the market. SPMO provides tilted exposure to high-momentum large-cap stocks within the S&P 500, while VTI tracks the entire U.S. stock market across all market capitalizations. The defining distinction is strategy: SPMO seeks outperformance through momentum factor selection, whereas VTI targets market-weight total-market returns.

How they differ

The biggest difference is scope and tilt. SPMO concentrates on the S&P 500's top momentum names, resulting in a 1.35 beta—meaning it swings harder than the broad market. VTI holds the entire U.S. stock universe (large cap, mid-cap, small cap) at market weights, with a 1.0379 beta that tracks the market itself.

Who each is best for

  • SPMO: Fits investors seeking concentrated exposure to recent market outperformers and willing to accept higher volatility in pursuit of momentum-driven returns; designed for those with conviction that momentum factors will lead over medium time horizons.
  • VTI: Fits investors pursuing broad, low-cost market participation across the full U.S. equity landscape; designed for buy-and-hold investors prioritizing simplicity, diversification, and minimal tax drag from factor rotation.

Key risks to know

  • Momentum factor decay risk: Momentum is cyclical. Periods of rapid momentum mean-reversion can inflict sharp drawdowns on SPMO relative to broader market peers, particularly when growth underperforms or value rotations occur.
  • Market-cap concentration: SPMO's factor tilt means its holdings overlap substantially with mega-cap tech and growth names already driving S&P 500 returns; if large-cap growth stalls, SPMO likely underperforms more severely than VTI.
  • Higher volatility: SPMO's 1.35 indicates it will amplify both gains and losses relative to the market during sustained rallies or selloffs, creating larger portfolio swings than VTI's near-market-tracking behavior.
  • Small-cap exclusion: SPMO excludes the entire small- and mid-cap universe that VTI captures, removing a diversification layer and exposing SPMO investors entirely to large-cap performance cycles.
  • Tracking error from rebalancing: SPMO's momentum index rebalances to refresh highest-momentum constituents regularly, creating turnover and tax leakage that pure market-cap indexing avoids.

Bottom line

If you prioritize low costs, maximum diversification, and predictable market-tracking behavior, VTI's breadth and 0.03% expense ratio make it the simpler core holding. If you're comfortable with higher volatility and believe momentum factors will outpace the market, SPMO's concentrated tilt may appeal—but past performance doesn't guarantee future results, and momentum strategies can underperform for extended periods.

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

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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

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