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ETF Comparison

VIG vs VTI: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 21, 2026

Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4488B

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

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VIG and VTI.

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Side-by-side snapshot

VIGVTI
Full nameVanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF SharesVanguard Total Stock Market ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Last Close$235.95 as of July 21, 2026$366.25 as of July 21, 2026
Distribution yield1.69%1.14%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Expense ratio0.06%0.03%
AUM$111B$660B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexa basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdingsCRSP US Total Market Index
ObjectiveSeeks to track the performance of the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which consists of common stocks of companies that have a record of at least 10 years of increasing regular cash dividend payments.Track the CRSP US Total Market Index, representing the broad U.S. equity market.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date04/21/200605/24/2001
Beta0.751.0379
Last dividend$0.9990$1.0437
Ex-dividend date06/26/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose VIG if you want higher current income (1.69% vs 1.14% for VTI). Choose VTI if you 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

VIG has lagged VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.31% total return against 19.74%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VTI has compounded at 14.55% a year, against 12.81% for VIG. VIG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 12.2% against 15.4% for VTI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Apr 2006Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VIG7.83%16.31%14.62%10.79%12.81%10.13%12.2%0.751.09-15.0%
VTI9.56%19.74%19.09%12.37%14.55%10.87%15.4%0.851.22-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 20, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Apr 2006” measures every fund from April 27, 2006 — 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.

Quick verdict

VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VIG offers the higher yield at 1.69% vs 1.14% for VTI. 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 0.06%.

They track different benchmarks: VIG is linked to a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($660B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose VIG

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares

  • Want higher current income — VIG yields 1.69% vs 1.14% for VTI.
  • Want simple, diversified core exposure as a portfolio building block.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.8 vs 1.0 for VTI.

Choose VTI

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

  • Want the broadest single-fund diversification across the entire market.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.06% for VIG.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VIG would generate roughly $14.08/month, while VTI would produce $9.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VIG yield1.69%
VTI yield1.14%
Monthly diff on $10K$4.58

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VIG would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $30 for VTI (simplified, not compounded). The $30.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VIG ER0.06%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

VIG holds a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings with an index approach, while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. Beta is 0.75 for VIG and 1.0379 for VTI, indicating VIG is less volatile relative to the market.

VIG beta0.75
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

VIG is managed by Vanguard (launched 04/21/2006) with $111B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $660B in assets.

VIG AUM$111B
VTI AUM$660B
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Frequently asked questions

Is VIG or VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VIG 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.

What is the difference between VIG and VTI?

VIG (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares) holds a basket of Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings with an index approach, while VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both VIG 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.

Which has lower fees, VIG or VTI?

VIG has an expense ratio of 0.06% 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 VIG vs VTI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in VIG would generate roughly $14.08 per month ($169.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.50 per month ($114.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VIG or VTI?

VIG has lagged VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.31% total return against 19.74%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VTI has compounded at 14.55% a year, against 12.81% for VIG. VIG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 12.2% against 15.4% for VTI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VIG vs VTI — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

VIG and VTI are both Vanguard equity ETFs tracking broad U.S. market indexes, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. VTI holds the entire U.S. stock market (large, mid, and small cap) and aims to match overall market returns. VIG screens for companies with at least 10 years of consecutive dividend increases, concentrating on a subset of dividend-growers within the large-cap space. The key distinction: VTI is market-cap weighted exposure to all U.S. equities, while VIG is a quality screen focused on dividend-growth history.

How they differ

VTI's strategy is comprehensive market coverage; VIG's is a dividend-growth filter applied to large caps. VTI holds thousands of stocks across all market caps with a beta of 1.0379, meaning it moves almost exactly with the broader market. VIG holds roughly 300 dividend growers with a beta of 0.75, suggesting lower volatility but also less upside capture during strong market rallies.

On income, VIG yields 1.67% versus VTI's 1.12%—a 55-basis-point premium reflecting the dividend-growth screen, though both distribute quarterly. The expense ratios are nearly identical (VIG 0.06%, VTI 0.03%), making cost a negligible differentiator; what matters is the underlying exposure. VTI is far larger at $654B in AUM versus VIG's $108B, though both are massive funds with excellent liquidity.

Who each is best for

VIG: Fits investors seeking large-cap exposure with a tilt toward companies demonstrating long-term dividend discipline and rising payouts, and who prefer lower portfolio volatility.

VTI: Fits investors wanting unfiltered U.S. equity exposure spanning all market capitalizations, including growth companies that may not yet pay dividends, aligned with total market returns.

Key risks to know

  • Dividend-screen concentration: VIG excludes non-dividend payers and younger dividend initiators. This tilts the portfolio away from high-growth tech and other secular winners, creating the potential for meaningful underperformance during periods when growth stocks significantly outpace dividend stocks.
  • Lower beta sensitivity: VIG's 0.75 beta means it will lag during strong bull markets. An investor relying on VIG for capital appreciation during extended rallies may underperform broad market benchmarks.
  • Sector bias: The dividend-growth screen naturally overweights mature, stable sectors (financials, utilities, consumer staples) while underweighting technology and healthcare. This creates implicit factor exposure that rises and falls with sector rotation.
  • Size bias: VTI includes small and mid-cap stocks, which have different risk profiles and liquidity characteristics than the large-cap focus of VIG, introducing exposure to smaller companies that may experience higher volatility.

Bottom line

If you want true total-market participation with the lowest possible friction, VTI delivers unfiltered U.S. equity exposure. If you prefer to tilt toward dividend-growth companies and accept lower volatility as a tradeoff for potentially missing some growth rallies, VIG's 55-basis-point yield premium and lower beta may align with your objectives. Both are low-cost, highly liquid funds; the choice hinges on whether you want market-cap-weighted breadth or a dividend-growth filter applied to large caps. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

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