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Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

VT vs VOO: The World, or US Large Caps Only?

A head-to-head of Vanguard's Total World Stock ETF and its S&P 500 ETF covering what each already includes, cost, and why holding both mostly doubles US mega caps.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • VOOInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
  • VTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

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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

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 has lagged VT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.45% total return against 16.80%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VOO has compounded at 15.46% a year, ahead of VT at 12.43%. 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.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince Sep 2010Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VOO13.59%16.45%23.23%13.71%15.46%14.93%14.8%1.111.61-18.7%
VT12.94%16.80%21.99%11.35%12.43%10.98%14.5%1.071.56-16.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 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.
MetricVOOVT
Full nameVanguard S&P 500 ETFVanguard Total World Stock ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Underlying indexS&P 500 IndexFTSE Global All Cap Index
Last Close$707.54 as of October 2, 2026$159.13 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate1.03%1.03%
Trailing 12-month yield1.05%1.52%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10089
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.03%0.92%
Expense ratio0.03%0.06%
AUM$1041B$82.9B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveTrack 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 classEquityEquity
Inception date09/07/201006/24/2008
Beta1.00.98
Last dividend$1.8226$0.408
Ex-dividend date09/28/202609/18/2026

Bottom lineChoose VOO if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund. Choose VT if you want broad equity exposure.

US concentration vs global diversification

VT already owns everything VOO holds, at the weight the global market assigns it. The choice is not which fund is better — it is how much of your equity sleeve you want concentrated in US large caps versus spread across the whole world.

VOOVT
UniverseAbout 500 US large capsThousands of stocks across developed and emerging markets, including every VOO holding
US exposureAll of itThe largest slice, at global market weight
CurrencyUS dollars onlyUnhedged mix of dollars and foreign currencies
Expense ratio0.03%0.06%
Distribution rate1.03%1.03%
Concentration riskTied to one country's largest companiesSpreads single-country risk; keeps the global mega-cap tilt
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Income calculator

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

Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4676B

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 VT.

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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.

VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.06%.

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

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1041B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VOO would generate roughly $25.75 cash per distribution, while VT would produce $25.75 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VOO yield1.03%
VT yield1.03%
Cash diff on $10K$0.00

Cost & efficiency

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

VOO ER0.03%
VT ER0.06%

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 — effectively similar market sensitivity.

VOO beta1.0
VT beta0.98

Fund details

VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1041B in assets. VT is managed by Vanguard (launched 06/24/2008) with $82.9B in assets.

VOO AUM$1041B
VT AUM$82.9B
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Frequently asked questions

Does VT already include everything VOO holds?

Effectively yes. VT tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index — thousands of stocks across developed and emerging markets — and US large caps are its biggest slice, so every major VOO holding sits inside VT at the weight the global market assigns it. The choice is therefore concentration, not selection: VOO puts the entire position in about 500 US large caps, while VT spreads the same dollars across the whole world, diluting both US outperformance and US-specific risk. Costs are 0.03% for VOO and 0.06% for VT, with distribution yields of 1.03% and 1.03% as of October 2026. Holding both mostly doubles up on the US mega caps.

What is the current distribution rate for VOO and VT?

VOO currently distributes 1.03% and VT 1.03%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is VOO or VT better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VOO 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 VOO and VT?

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 VOO or VT safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VOO scores 100, VT scores 89, so VOO's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, VOO or VT?

VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VT charges 0.06%. 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 $25.75 cash per distribution ($103.00 annually). The same in VT would produce about $25.75 cash per distribution ($103.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VOO or VT?

VOO has lagged VT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.45% total return against 16.80%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VOO has compounded at 15.46% a year, ahead of VT at 12.43%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VOO vs VT — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

VOO and VT are both Vanguard index ETFs offering ultra-low-cost passive equity exposure, but they target fundamentally different markets. VOO tracks the S&P 500, capturing roughly 500 large-cap U.S. companies, while VT tracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index, spanning developed and emerging markets worldwide. The choice between them hinges on whether you want concentrated U.S. large-cap exposure or diversified global equity exposure.

How they differ

VOO's core distinction is its purely domestic focus—it represents the largest 500 U.S. companies and nothing else. VT, by contrast, holds thousands of stocks across the U.S., developed markets (Europe, Japan, Australia), and emerging markets in a single portfolio. Both have identical distribution rates of 1.03% and quarterly payout schedules, but VT's expense ratio is 0.06% compared to VOO's 0.03%, a 0.03% difference that amounts to just $0.03 per $100 invested annually. VOO dominates on asset base—$1041B versus VT's $82.9B—and carries a beta of 1.0 while VT's is 0.98, reflecting VT's slightly lower systematic volatility due to its geographic diversification.

Who each is best for

VOO: Investors who believe U.S. large-cap equities offer the best risk-adjusted returns and want maximum simplicity; those building a core portfolio position and planning to layer international exposure separately if desired.

VT: Investors seeking a single-ticker global equity foundation covering both U.S. and non-U.S. markets; those who want built-in geographic diversification without managing multiple positions.

Key risks to know

  • Geographic concentration (VOO): Holding only U.S. large-cap stocks leaves the portfolio dependent on U.S. economic and policy cycles; a sustained underperformance of U.S. equities relative to international markets would affect returns significantly.
  • Emerging-market volatility (VT): The inclusion of emerging-market stocks adds currency and political-risk exposure; developing economies can experience sharper drawdowns during global risk-off periods.
  • Currency risk (VT): International holdings expose the portfolio to foreign-exchange fluctuations; a strengthening U.S. dollar can dampen returns from non-U.S. holdings when converted back to dollars.
  • Index-tracking risk (both): Both funds are passive trackers with minimal active adjustment; they will match their index performance minus their expense ratio, with no opportunity to outperform during market dislocations.

Bottom line

If you prioritize simplicity and believe U.S. large-cap equities deserve your full allocation, VOO offers unmatched scale and recognition at 0.03%. If you want to own global equities with less management complexity, VT provides that diversification in a single holding, albeit with exposure to non-U.S. volatility and currency risk. Past performance doesn't predict future results; the choice depends on your conviction about relative regional valuations and your tolerance for geographic volatility.

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.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.