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.
VOO tops the group over the trailing twelve months with a 16.19% total return, against SPY at 16.15% and VTI at 15.72%. Across the 10-year window, VOO has the strongest compounding at 15.39% a year. 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 30, 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 Sep 2010” measures every fund from September 9, 2010 — 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.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SPY.
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 VOO and VTI.
SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust), VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF), VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) are dividend ETFs that take different approaches.
VOO offers the highest reported yield at 1.04%, followed by VTI at 1.02%, SPY at 0.99%.
VOO and VTI tie for the lowest expense ratio at 0.03%, compared to 0.0945% for SPY.
VOO is the largest fund by assets ($1041B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Still deciding? Track SPY, VOO & VTI for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment: SPY generates ~$24.75 cash per distribution, VOO generates ~$26.00 cash per distribution, VTI generates ~$25.50 cash per distribution at current distribution rates.
SPY yield0.99%
VOO yield1.04%
VTI yield1.02%
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000: SPY costs ~$95, VOO costs ~$30, VTI costs ~$30 in fees (simplified, not compounded).
SPY ER0.0945%
VOO ER0.03%
VTI ER0.03%
Strategy & risk
SPY tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach; VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach; VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index.
SPY beta1.0
VOO beta1.0
VTI beta1.0379
Fund details
SPY is managed by State Street (launched 01/22/1993) with $817B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1041B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $700B in assets.
Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between VTI, VOO, and SPY?
VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) holds the whole US market. VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) both track the S&P 500. Cost is 0.03%, 0.03%, and 0.0945% as of September 2026. Holding VTI with VOO or SPY doubles large-cap names already inside the total market. Breadth versus large-cap only — then which S&P 500 wrapper — is the decision.
Which of SPY, VOO, VTI is best for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VOO currently offers the highest reported distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility, and funds without an established distribution history have no comparable yield to evaluate. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between SPY, VOO, VTI?
SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, issued by State Street. VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, issued by Vanguard. VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index, issued by Vanguard.
Can I hold SPY, VOO, VTI together?
Yes — nothing prevents holding them together. 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.
Which of SPY, VOO and VTI is safest?
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: SPY scores 100, VOO 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 the lowest fees among SPY, VOO, VTI?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.0945%, VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03%, VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 generate in each?
$10,000 in SPY yields ~$24.75 cash per distribution ($99.00/year). $10,000 in VOO yields ~$26.00 cash per distribution ($104.00/year). $10,000 in VTI yields ~$25.50 cash per distribution ($102.00/year).
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio
See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.
