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 4, 2026

Vanguard

ETFs115

Total AUM$4484B

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

	VIG	VTI
Full name	Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
Issuer	Vanguard	Vanguard
Last Close	$238.62 as of July 4, 2026	$368.76 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield	1.67%	1.13%
Distribution Safety Score	100	100
Expense ratio	0.06%	0.03%
AUM	$108B	$654B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	Basket (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings)	CRSP US Total Market Index
Objective	Seeks 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 class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	04/21/2006	05/24/2001
Beta	0.77	1.0379
Last dividend	$0.9990	$1.0437
Ex-dividend date	06/26/2026	06/26/2026

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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 17.19% total return against 22.40%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VTI has compounded at 14.94% a year, against 13.17% 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.

Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Apr 2006	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
VIG	8.59%	17.19%	15.57%	10.85%	13.17%	10.20%	12.2%	0.82	1.19	-15.0%
VTI	9.99%	22.40%	20.09%	11.97%	14.94%	10.92%	15.4%	0.90	1.30	-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 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 1.67% vs 1.13% 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 Basket (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 ($654B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VIG would generate roughly $13.92/month, while VTI would produce $9.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VIG yield1.67%

VTI yield1.13%

Monthly diff on $10K$4.50

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 tracks Basket (Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF holdings) with an index approach, while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index with a basket approach. Beta is 0.77 for VIG and 1.0379 for VTI, indicating VIG is less volatile relative to the market.

VIG beta0.77

VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

VIG is managed by Vanguard (launched 04/21/2006) with $108B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $654B in assets.

VIG AUM$108B

VTI AUM$654B

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

Can I hold both VIG and VTI?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

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 $13.92 per month ($167.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.42 per month ($113.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VIG or VTI?

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VIG vs VTI — at a glance

Generated June 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

VIG and VTI are both Vanguard equity index ETFs, but they pursue different market segments. VIG tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index—holding only companies with at least 10 years of rising dividend payments—while VTI tracks the entire U.S. stock market via the CRSP index. The core distinction is selectivity: VIG filters for dividend-growth history; VTI owns the broad market, including non-payers and cyclical stocks.

How they differ

VIG's filtering for dividend history fundamentally changes its composition. It excludes growth stocks, unprofitable companies, and dividend cutters, tilting the portfolio toward large-cap, mature, cash-generative businesses. VTI holds everything—large caps, mid-caps, small-caps, and dividend non-payers—making it a pure market-cap-weighted exposure. That selectivity shows in yield: VIG distributes 1.42% annually versus VTI's 1.10%, reflecting the overweight to income-paying stocks. VIG's beta of 0.77 is noticeably below 1.0, meaning it historically moves less than the broad market. The cost difference is tiny (6 basis points for VIG, 3 for VTI), but VTI's $654B in AUM dwarfs VIG's $108B, translating to tighter trading spreads.

Who each is best for

VIG: Investors seeking a narrower, dividend-focused U.S. equity allocation who want to avoid the cyclical and growth-heavy portions of the market. The dividend-grower screen and lower beta appeal to those who value stability over broad diversification.

VTI: Investors building a core holding who want comprehensive U.S. market exposure with minimal fees and no sector or growth-style tilts. Fits portfolios where market-weight ownership matters more than a dividend or quality screen.

Key risks to know

Style and sector concentration in VIG. The dividend-grower filter excludes or underweights technology, discretionary, and other high-growth sectors. A prolonged growth-led rally would likely see VTI outperform as VIG remains underexposed to market momentum.

Lower participation in bull markets. VIG's 0.77 beta suggests it will lag the market during broad rallies. Investors seeking maximum market capture should expect VIG to underperform VTI in strong bull runs.

Dividend sustainability and cut risk in VIG. While the 10-year track record screens for stability, it does not guarantee future dividend policy. Economic downturns can force dividend cuts even among long-term payers, reducing both yield and capital appreciation.

Interest-rate sensitivity across both. Rising rates pressure valuations for all equity ETFs, but the mature, income-focused stocks in VIG may see dividend multiples compress if bond yields spike.

Bottom line

If you want broad U.S. market exposure with minimal fees and no style bias, VTI's simplicity and $654B scale stand out. If you prefer a filtered portfolio tilted toward established dividend growers and historical lower volatility, VIG's 1.42% yield and 0.77 beta offer a more selective approach—at the trade-off of missing sectors and underperforming during growth-led rallies. 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.