A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
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 VTI.
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares
Issuer
Vanguard
Vanguard
Last Close
$371.16 as of July 15, 2026
$181.42 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield
1.12%
1.11%
Distribution Safety Score
100
100
Expense ratio
0.03%
0.04%
AUM
$654B
$1000B
Distribution frequency
Quarterly
Quarterly
Underlying index
CRSP US Total Market Index
US Total Market
Objective
Track the CRSP US Total Market Index, representing the broad U.S. equity market.
Seeks to track the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
05/24/2001
—
Beta
1.0379
1.03
Last dividend
$1.0437
$0.5040
Ex-dividend date
06/26/2026
06/26/2026
Bottom lineVTI and VTSAX are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar total market exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: VTI is cheaper at 0.03% vs 0.04%.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Quick verdict
VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) is an ETF, while VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) is a mutual fund — they take fundamentally different approaches.
VTI offers the higher yield at 1.12% vs 1.11% for VTSAX. 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 0.04%.
They track different benchmarks: VTI is linked to CRSP US Total Market Index while VTSAX tracks US Total Market, which means their performance drivers differ.
VTSAX is the larger fund by assets ($1000B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, VTI would generate roughly $9.33/month, while VTSAX would produce $9.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
VTI yield1.12%
VTSAX yield1.11%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.08
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, VTI would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $40 for VTSAX (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
VTI ER0.03%
VTSAX ER0.04%
Strategy & risk
VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index, while VTSAX tracks US Total Market with an index approach. Beta is 1.0379 for VTI and 1.03 for VTSAX, indicating VTSAX is less volatile relative to the market.
VTI beta1.0379
VTSAX beta1.03
Fund details
VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $654B in assets. VTSAX is managed by Vanguard with $1000B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is VTI or VTSAX better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VTI 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 VTI and VTSAX?
VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) tracks CRSP US Total Market Index, while VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) tracks US Total Market with an index approach. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.
Can I hold both VTI and VTSAX?
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, VTI or VTSAX?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VTSAX charges 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in VTI vs VTSAX generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in VTI would generate roughly $9.33 per month ($112.00 annually). The same in VTSAX would produce about $9.25 per month ($111.00 annually).
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