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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market 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

  • VTIInvestors who want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.
  • VTVInvestors who want higher current income (1.88% vs 1.02% for VTI).

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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.

VTI has lagged VTV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.72% total return against 18.70%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.79% a year, ahead of VTV at 12.38%. VTV 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.

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 Jan 2004Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VTI12.23%15.72%22.42%12.31%14.79%10.82%15.4%1.031.50-19.3%
VTV13.77%18.70%19.19%12.06%12.38%9.55%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 Jan 2004” measures every fund from January 30, 2004 — 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.
MetricVTIVTV
Full nameVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETFVanguard Morningstar Value ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Underlying indexMorningstar US Total Market IndexMorningstar US Large Cap Value Index
Last Close$374.24 as of September 30, 2026$216.08 as of September 30, 2026
Distribution rate1.02%1.88%
Trailing 12-month yield1.05%1.93%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10097
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.02%1.82%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$700B$188B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the Morningstar US Total Market Index.Seeks to track the Morningstar US Large Cap Value Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date05/24/200101/26/2004
Beta1.03790.67
Last dividend$0.9555 payable today$1.017 payable today
Ex-dividend date09/28/202609/28/2026

Bottom lineChoose VTI if you want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost. Choose VTV if you want higher current income (1.88% vs 1.02% for VTI).

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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$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.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VTI and VTV.

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Quick verdict

VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market 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 1.02% for VTI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: VTI is linked to Morningstar US Total Market Index while VTV is linked to Morningstar US Large Cap Value Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($700B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VTI would generate roughly $25.50 cash per distribution, while VTV would produce $47.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VTI yield1.02%
VTV yield1.88%
Cash diff on $10K$21.50

Cost & efficiency

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

VTI ER0.03%
VTV ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index, while VTV tracks Morningstar US Large Cap Value Index with an index approach. Beta is 1.0379 for VTI and 0.67 for VTV, making VTV the less volatile of the two by this measure.

VTI beta1.0379
VTV beta0.67

Fund details

VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $700B in assets. VTV is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $188B in assets.

VTI AUM$700B
VTV AUM$188B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for VTI and VTV?

VTI currently distributes 1.02% 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 VTI 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 VTI and VTV?

VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index, 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 VTI 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 VTI 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 — VTI scores 100, VTV scores 97, so VTI's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. VTV has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.67 vs 1.04 for VTI). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, VTI or VTV?

VTI 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 VTI vs VTV generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in VTI would generate roughly $25.50 cash per distribution ($102.00 annually). The same in VTV would produce about $47.00 cash per distribution ($188.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VTI or VTV?

VTI has lagged VTV over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.72% total return against 18.70%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.79% a year, ahead of VTV at 12.38%. VTV 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. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VTI vs VTV — at a glance

Generated September 26, 2026.

Overview

VTI and VTV are both Vanguard-issued equity ETFs tracking Morningstar indexes, but they capture fundamentally different slices of the U.S. stock market. VTI holds the full spectrum—large, mid, and small-cap stocks across all valuation styles—and tracks the Morningstar US Total Market Index. VTV restricts itself to large-cap value stocks only, screening for cheaper valuations within the top tier of the market. The choice between them hinges on whether you want complete market exposure or a focused bet on value equities.

How they differ

The biggest structural difference is scope: VTI owns approximately 3,500 stocks across the entire U.S. market, while VTV owns roughly 350 large-cap value stocks. VTV's narrower focus produces higher income—1.88% versus 1.02%—reflecting the dividend-rich profile of value stocks compared to the broad market. Both charge 0.03%, so cost is identical. VTV's 0.67 beta versus VTI's 1.0379 signals that value stocks typically move less than the market in up cycles, though the opposite can hold when value underperforms growth.

Who each is best for

VTI: Investors seeking a single holding that owns the entire investable U.S. market, from mega-cap tech and financials through small emerging businesses. Fits a "set and forget" core-portfolio philosophy with minimal style drift.

VTV: Investors with a conviction that large-cap value stocks offer better long-term risk-adjusted returns and are comfortable accepting slower growth exposure in exchange for higher near-term dividend yield. Also suits those building a multi-fund strategy who want deliberate value tilt without broad market redundancy.

Key risks to know

  • Style concentration: VTV holds only value stocks, so when value underperforms growth over extended periods—as happened for much of the past decade—VTV will lag a total-market baseline. The reverse holds too, amplifying timing risk if the value thesis reverses.
  • Valuation mean reversion: VTV's 1.88% yield relies partly on the assumption that currently "cheap" large-cap value stocks remain mispriced. If the market reprices value downward further, NAV could fall even as dividends flow.
  • Beta asymmetry: VTV's 0.67 implies downside capture below the market during declines, but also lower upside participation in rallies. This smooths volatility but can trail significantly in bull markets led by growth.
  • Concentration within the category: While VTV diversifies across 350+ holdings, large-cap value means heavier weighting to sectors like financials, energy, and utilities, which carry sector-specific risks absent from VTI's broader mix.

Bottom line

If you want maximum diversification with minimal opinion, VTI's total-market approach and $700B asset base make it a transparent core. If you believe value is structurally undervalued and value 1.86 percentage points of extra yield, VTV's 0.67 stability and focused strategy merit consideration—but recognize that bet comes with timing and style rotation risk. Past performance does not predict future results.

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

Learn the method

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.