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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 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • VTIInvestors who want higher current income (1.01% vs 0.40% 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 16.09% total return against 14.00%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VUG has compounded at 18.12% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.86%. 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
VTI13.35%16.09%22.79%12.47%14.86%10.87%15.4%1.051.52-19.3%
VUG12.87%14.00%26.46%13.89%18.12%12.42%19.7%0.971.40-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 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 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$377.99 as of October 2, 2026$91.17 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate1.01%0.40%
Trailing 12-month yield1.04%0.38%
Distribution Safety Score™ 10090
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.01%0.36%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$700B$235B
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 0.40% 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%0.40%
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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 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 0.40% 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 ($700B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VTI would generate roughly $25.25 cash per distribution, while VUG would produce $10.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VTI yield1.01%
VUG yield0.40%
Cash diff on $10K$15.25

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 $700B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $235B in assets.

VTI AUM$700B
VUG AUM$235B
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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 $700B versus $235B. Distributions are 1.01% and 0.40% as of October 2026.

What is the current distribution rate for VTI and VUG?

VTI currently distributes 1.01% and VUG 0.40%, 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 100, VUG scores 90, 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 $10.00 cash per distribution ($40.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VTI or VUG?

VTI has outpaced VUG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.09% total return against 14.00%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VUG has compounded at 18.12% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.86%. 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 3, 2026.

Overview

VTI and VUG are both Vanguard equity ETFs tracking Morningstar indexes, but they pursue fundamentally different market segments. VTI targets the entire U.S. stock market across all capitalizations and styles; VUG focuses on large-cap growth companies only. The choice between them hinges on whether you want broad diversification or concentrated exposure to faster-growing, higher-multiple equities.

How they differ

The core difference is scope: VTI holds the full market—large, mid, small, and micro caps in both value and growth styles—while VUG excludes mid and small caps entirely and filters the large-cap universe for growth characteristics only. That structural difference drives VUG's higher beta of 1.27 versus VTI's 1.0379, reflecting greater sensitivity to market swings and sector rotation.

Income yield reflects the same split.

Who each is best for

VTI: Fits investors seeking a single-fund core holding that captures U.S. equity market returns without tilting toward any size or style. Works well for those building a portfolio foundation and aiming for minimal rebalancing friction.

VUG: Fits investors who believe large-cap growth will outperform and accept higher volatility in exchange for concentrated exposure to that theme. Suits those already holding value-oriented or small-cap holdings elsewhere and wanting to overweight growth without adding another broad-market fund.

Key risks to know

  • Sector concentration in growth. VUG's large-cap growth filter naturally overweights technology and consumer discretionary, leaving it more vulnerable to sector rotations that favor industrials, healthcare, or financials. Its higher beta amplifies drawdowns in a downturn.
  • Market-cap and style bias miss. By excluding mid and small caps, VUG forgoes exposure to emerging leaders and value opportunities that VTI captures. This structural omission can lag in markets where smaller or cheaper stocks outperform.
  • Dividend yield gap. VUG's 0.40% yield versus VTI's 1.01% means investors relying on distributions for income will see lower cash flows from VUG, requiring more reliance on capital appreciation to meet spending needs.
  • Growth drawdown severity. VUG's 1.27 beta signals it will decline more steeply than the broad market in bear markets, a risk that matters for near-term withdrawals or investors with low loss tolerance.

Bottom line

If you want a core U.S. equity holding with broad diversification and lower volatility, VTI's full-market approach captures the entire opportunity set. If you're building a tilted portfolio and specifically want large-cap growth exposure, VUG concentrates your bet with higher sensitivity to market moves and lower income. Past performance doesn't 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.