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Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

VTI vs VUG: Own the Whole Market, or Just Large-Cap Growth?

A head-to-head of Vanguard Total Stock Market and Vanguard Growth covering breadth versus a growth screen, not a yield gap.

Updated October 14, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • VTIInvestors who want higher current income (1.01% vs 0.41% for VUG).
  • VUGInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

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.

VTI has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.63% total return against 13.79%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VUG has compounded at 18.14% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.99%. VTI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.4% against 19.7% for VUG. 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
VTI13.37%16.63%22.37%11.99%14.99%10.84%15.4%1.031.50-19.3%
VUG10.88%13.79%25.26%13.11%18.14%12.33%19.7%0.921.33-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 14, 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.
MetricVTIVUG
Full nameVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETFVanguard Morningstar Growth ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Underlying indexMorningstar US Total Market IndexMorningstar US Large Cap Growth Index
Last Close$376.88 as of October 14, 2026$89.87 as of October 14, 2026
Distribution rate1.01%0.41%
Trailing 12-month yield1.05%0.39%
Distribution Safety Score™ 9789
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.98%0.36%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$705B$238B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the Morningstar US Total Market Index.Seeks to track the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date05/24/200101/26/2004
Beta1.03791.27
Last dividend$0.9555$0.091
Ex-dividend date09/28/202609/28/2026

Bottom lineChoose VTI if you want higher current income (1.01% vs 0.41% for VUG). Choose VUG if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

Total US stock market versus large-cap growth

VTI holds the whole US market. VUG holds large-cap growth. Breadth versus a growth screen is the decision.

VTIVUG
UniverseTotal US stock marketUS large-cap growth
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
Distribution rate1.01%0.41%
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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$4.71T

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 VUG.

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Quick verdict

VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) and VUG (Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VTI offers the higher yield at 1.01% vs 0.41% for VUG. 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 VUG is linked to Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($705B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VTI would generate roughly $25.25 cash per distribution, while VUG would produce $10.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VTI yield1.01%
VUG yield0.41%
Cash diff on $10K$15.00

Cost & efficiency

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

VTI ER0.03%
VUG ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index, while VUG tracks Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.0379 for VTI and 1.27 for VUG, making VTI the less volatile of the two by this measure.

VTI beta1.0379
VUG beta1.27

Fund details

VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $705B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $238B in assets.

VTI AUM$705B
VUG AUM$238B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between VTI and VUG?

VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) holds the total US stock market. VUG (Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF) holds large-cap growth. Breadth versus a growth screen is the split. Cost is 0.03% versus 0.03%; size is $705B versus $238B. Distributions are 1.01% and 0.41% as of October 2026.

What is the current distribution rate for VTI and VUG?

VTI currently distributes 1.01% and VUG 0.41%, 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 VTI or VUG 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.

Can I hold both VTI and VUG?

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 VUG 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 97, VUG scores 89, so VTI's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. VTI has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.04 vs 1.27 for VUG). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, VTI or VUG?

VTI and VUG 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 VUG generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in VTI would generate roughly $25.25 cash per distribution ($101.00 annually). The same in VUG would produce about $10.25 cash per distribution ($41.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VTI or VUG?

VTI has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.63% total return against 13.79%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VUG has compounded at 18.14% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.99%. VTI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.4% against 19.7% for VUG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VTI vs VUG — at a glance

Generated October 10, 2026.

Overview

VTI and VUG are both Vanguard equity ETFs tracking Morningstar indexes, but they offer fundamentally different market exposures. VTI targets the entire U.S. stock market across all market capitalizations and styles, while VUG focuses exclusively on large-cap growth stocks. The choice between them hinges on whether you want broad diversification or a concentrated bet on the growth segment of the market.

How they differ

The defining difference is scope: VTI holds the full U.S. equity market—large, mid, and small caps across value and growth styles—while VUG limits itself to large-cap growth names only. This strategy gap drives their yield and volatility profiles. VTI distributes 1.01%, while VUG yields 0.41%, a gap of 0.60 percentage points reflecting growth stocks' lower dividend orientation. VUG also carries higher volatility: its beta of 1.27 versus VTI's 1.0379 means growth exposure swings more sharply with market moves. Both charge 0.03% annually, keeping costs identical. VTI's asset base of $705B dwarfs VUG's $238B, giving VTI a larger investable pool but making no claim about trading tightness.

Who each is best for

  • VTI: Fits investors seeking a single-ticker foundation for U.S. equity exposure, favoring simplicity and the risk-dampening effect of owning small caps and value stocks alongside growth. Works well as a core holding across time horizons.
  • VUG: Designed for investors with higher risk tolerance who believe large-cap growth will lead the market and are comfortable ignoring mid, small, and value-stock segments. Suits those building concentrated, style-tilted allocations or adding growth emphasis to a diversified base.

Key risks to know

  • Style concentration: VUG's exclusion of value and smaller-cap stocks leaves it vulnerable to prolonged periods when those segments outperform. A sustained market rotation away from growth could materially lag VTI.
  • Higher beta and drawdown risk: VUG's beta of 1.27 signals it amplifies both rallies and declines. In downturns, expect losses roughly 27% larger than the broad market, versus VTI's near-market-level moves.
  • Large-cap exposure overlap: Both funds' holdings likely overlap significantly in mega-cap growth names (though specific overlap data is not provided), meaning they may not diversify as much as their different mandates suggest. Verify holdings before combining them.
  • Valuation sensitivity: Large-cap growth stocks, which dominate VUG, are often priced on forward earnings and sentiment. Rising interest rates or recession fears can hit growth multiples harder than the value and small-cap segments VTI includes.

Bottom line

If you want a simple, all-weather U.S. equity core, VTI's breadth and lower yield provide steady, undifferentiated market exposure. If you're tilting deliberately toward growth and can tolerate greater volatility, VUG concentrates that bet at the same cost. Neither approach is inherently superior—it depends on your conviction about growth's future relative performance and your comfort with style risk. Past performance of either fund 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.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.