ETF Comparison

VOO vs VT: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard Total World Stock 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 VOO and VT.

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Side-by-side snapshot

	VOO	VT
Full name	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	Vanguard Total World Stock ETF
Issuer	Vanguard	Vanguard
Last Close	$684.84 as of July 4, 2026	$156.17 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield	1.15%	1.44%
Distribution Safety Score	100	93
Expense ratio	0.03%	0.07%
AUM	$1033B	$74.1B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	S&P 500 Index	FTSE Global All Cap Index
Objective	Track the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.	Track the FTSE Global All Cap Index, covering developed and emerging markets.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	09/07/2010	06/24/2008
Beta	1.0	0.98
Last dividend	$1.9622	$0.5630
Ex-dividend date	06/26/2026	06/18/2026

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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

VOO has lagged VT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.69% total return against 23.19%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VOO has compounded at 15.38% a year, ahead of VT at 12.66%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Sep 2010	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
VOO	9.34%	21.69%	20.30%	13.11%	15.38%	14.91%	14.9%	0.95	1.36	-18.7%
VT	10.16%	23.19%	19.23%	10.60%	12.66%	10.99%	14.5%	0.91	1.31	-16.5%

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 Sep 2010” measures every fund from September 9, 2010 — 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

VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VT offers the higher yield at 1.44% vs 1.15% for VOO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.07%.

They track different benchmarks: VOO is linked to S&P 500 Index while VT tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1033B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VOO would generate roughly $9.58/month, while VT would produce $12.00/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VOO yield1.15%

VT yield1.44%

Monthly diff on $10K$2.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VOO would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $70 for VT (simplified, not compounded). The $40.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VOO ER0.03%

VT ER0.07%

Strategy & risk

VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VT tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index with an international approach. Beta is 1.0 for VOO and 0.98 for VT, indicating VT is less volatile relative to the market.

VOO beta1.0

VT beta0.98

Fund details

VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1033B in assets. VT is managed by Vanguard (launched 06/24/2008) with $74.1B in assets.

VOO AUM$1033B

VT AUM$74.1B

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Frequently asked questions

Is VOO or VT better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VT 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 VOO and VT?

VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index with an international approach. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both VOO and VT?

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, VOO or VT?

VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VT charges 0.07%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in VOO vs VT generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in VOO would generate roughly $9.58 per month ($115.00 annually). The same in VT would produce about $12.00 per month ($144.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VOO or VT?

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VOO vs VT — at a glance

Generated June 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

VOO and VT are both Vanguard equity index ETFs, but they serve fundamentally different geographic mandates. VOO tracks the S&P 500, giving you exposure to 500 large-cap U.S. companies. VT tracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index, which spans developed and emerging markets worldwide. The choice between them hinges on whether you want U.S.-only exposure or global diversification.

How they differ

The core difference is geographic scope. VOO is purely U.S.-focused, while VT blends U.S., developed international, and emerging-market equities into a single fund. That structural choice drives three downstream consequences. First, VT's distribution rate is 1.45% versus VOO's 1.11%—a gap likely reflecting the dividend yield of international and emerging markets. Second, VT's expense ratio of 0.07% is four basis points higher than VOO's 0.03%, a minor but measurable drag on a global mandate. Third, VOO's asset base dwarfs VT's; VOO holds $1033B versus VT's $74.1B, meaning VOO benefits from tighter spreads and deeper liquidity.

Who each is best for

VOO: Fits investors who believe U.S. equities represent sufficient diversification and want maximum simplicity, lowest cost, and tightest spreads. Appeals to those building a core portfolio around domestic large-cap exposure.

VT: Fits investors seeking a single fund that covers global equity markets in one holding, including developed Europe, Asia, and emerging regions. Suits those who want exposure to non-U.S. equity returns without managing multiple geographic sleeves.

Key risks to know

Currency risk (VT only). VT's international and emerging-market holdings carry unhedged currency exposure, meaning fluctuations in the dollar versus foreign currencies will affect returns independent of underlying stock performance.

Emerging-market volatility (VT only). The emerging-market sleeve introduces higher political, regulatory, and liquidity risk than VOO's stable large-cap U.S. framework, particularly during periods of capital outflows or currency stress.

Concentration in mega-cap tech (VOO). The S&P 500's weighting toward a handful of mega-cap technology stocks means VOO carries meaningful concentration risk if those names underperform or face regulatory headwinds.

International valuation backdrop (VT). Developed and emerging markets have historically traded at lower multiples than U.S. equities, meaning VT's return profile depends partly on whether that discount compresses or widens.

Liquidity disparity. VOO's vastly larger asset base translates to tighter bid-ask spreads and lower trading costs; VT, while still liquid, carries noticeably wider spreads that matter for large positions.

Bottom line

If you want pure U.S. large-cap exposure at minimal cost and maximum liquidity, VOO stands out. If you prioritize global diversification and are willing to accept currency and emerging-market volatility in exchange for that breadth, VT offers it in a single, low-cost vehicle. Past performance of either geographic region does not predict future results.

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