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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Updated September 30, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • VOOInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
  • VTVInvestors who want higher current income (1.88% vs 1.04% for VOO).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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 VTV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.19% total return against 18.70%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VOO has compounded at 15.39% a year, ahead of VTV at 12.38%. 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
VOO12.52%16.19%22.89%13.48%15.39%14.87%14.9%1.091.58-18.7%
VTV13.77%18.70%19.19%12.06%12.38%12.66%12.2%1.071.56-14.5%

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.
MetricVOOVTV
Full nameVanguard S&P 500 ETFVanguard Morningstar Value ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Underlying indexS&P 500 IndexMorningstar US Large Cap Value Index
Last Close$700.86 as of September 30, 2026$216.08 as of September 30, 2026
Distribution rate1.04%1.88%
Trailing 12-month yield1.06%1.93%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10097
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.04%1.82%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$1041B$188B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveTrack the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.Seeks to track the Morningstar US Large Cap Value Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date09/07/201001/26/2004
Beta1.00.67
Last dividend$1.8226 payable today$1.017 payable today
Ex-dividend date09/28/202609/28/2026

Bottom lineChoose VOO if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund. Choose VTV if you want higher current income (1.88% vs 1.04% for VOO).

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Income calculator

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Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4677B

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.

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Quick verdict

VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and VTV (Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VTV offers the higher yield at 1.88% vs 1.04% for VOO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: VOO is linked to S&P 500 Index while VTV is linked to Morningstar US Large Cap Value 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 $26.00 cash per distribution, while VTV would produce $47.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VOO yield1.04%
VTV yield1.88%
Cash diff on $10K$21.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VOO would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $30 for VTV (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

VOO ER0.03%
VTV ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VTV tracks Morningstar US Large Cap Value Index with an index approach. Beta is 1.0 for VOO and 0.67 for VTV, making VTV the less volatile of the two by this measure.

VOO beta1.0
VTV beta0.67

Fund details

VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1041B in assets. VTV is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $188B in assets.

VOO AUM$1041B
VTV AUM$188B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for VOO and VTV?

VOO currently distributes 1.04% and VTV 1.88%, based on fund data updated September 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 VTV better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VTV 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 VTV?

VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach, while VTV (Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF) tracks Morningstar US Large Cap Value Index with an index approach. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both VOO and VTV?

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 VTV 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, VTV scores 97, so VOO's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. VTV has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.67 vs 1.00 for VOO). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, VOO or VTV?

VOO and VTV both charge the same expense ratio of 0.03%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in VOO would generate roughly $26.00 cash per distribution ($104.00 annually). The same in VTV would produce about $47.00 cash per distribution ($188.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VOO or VTV?

VOO has lagged VTV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.19% total return against 18.70%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VOO has compounded at 15.39% a year, ahead of VTV at 12.38%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VOO vs VTV — at a glance

Generated September 26, 2026.

Overview

VOO and VTV are both Vanguard equity ETFs tracking large-cap U.S. stock indexes, but they pursue fundamentally different approaches to that universe. The result is a choice between broad market exposure and value-tilted exposure.

How they differ

VOO holds the entire S&P 500 by market capitalization, so your largest positions reflect the biggest companies by total market value—currently heavy on technology and growth stocks. VTV screens that universe for valuation metrics and holds a narrower roster of cheaper large-cap stocks. This structural difference shows up in yield: VTV's distribution rate is 1.88%, more than 75 basis points higher than VOO's 1.04%, because value stocks tend to pay higher dividends. The risk profile differs too—VTV's beta of 0.67 suggests it typically moves about a third less than the broad market, while VOO tracks the market with a 1.0 beta. Both charge the same 0.03% expense ratio, so fees are not a differentiator. VOO carries vastly larger assets at $1041B, compared to VTV's $188B.

Who each is best for

VOO: Fits investors seeking broad exposure to large-cap U.S. stocks with minimal active decision-making—those comfortable holding a market-cap-weighted portfolio that weights growth and technology heavily.

VTV: Fits investors who believe value stocks offer better entry prices and prefer higher current income from dividends, and who tolerate lower market beta in exchange for that positioning.

Key risks to know

  • Style drift and relative performance: When growth stocks outperform value stocks over extended periods (as occurred in much of the 2010s and 2020s), VTV's total return may lag VOO significantly, even if both deliver their target index returns. This is structural to the strategy, not a performance flaw, but the gap compounds over years.
  • Value trap risk concentrated in VTV: VTV's lower beta and higher yield can signal that the market has priced stocks cheaply for a reason—deteriorating fundamentals, structural headwinds, or deserved multiple compression.
  • Concentration risk in VOO: Market-cap weighting means the largest technology stocks represent a growing share of the index. A severe drawdown in mega-cap tech ripples through the fund's performance more than it would through a value-tilted portfolio.

Bottom line

VOO serves investors who want the simplest market portfolio with the lowest fees; VTV serves those seeking higher dividend income and lower market beta through value exposure. If you want broad diversification and don't mind the current tech weighting, VOO's scale and simplicity stand out. If you prioritize current income and are willing to accept lagging performance when growth outperforms, VTV's yield premium warrants consideration. Neither approach guarantees future returns; relative performance depends on how value versus growth stocks behave over your holding period.

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.