Two great Vanguard funds, one small but real difference.
VTI and VOO are two of the most popular index ETFs — both from Vanguard, both charging just 0.03%. The difference comes down to what they hold: VTI owns the entire U.S. stock market, while VOO owns the S&P 500, the 500 largest U.S. companies.
| Attribute | VTI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Tracks | Total U.S. stock market | S&P 500 (500 large caps) |
| Holdings | ~3,600 stocks | ~500 stocks |
| Includes mid & small caps | Yes | No |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Best for | One-fund U.S. exposure | Pure large-cap core |
VTI adds mid- and small-cap companies on top of the large caps that dominate the S&P 500. Because large caps make up most of the U.S. market by value, the two funds behave very similarly day to day — but VTI is slightly more diversified.
Either is an excellent low-cost core holding. Choose VTI if you want the whole U.S. market in one fund; choose VOO if you specifically want S&P 500 exposure. Owning both is largely redundant since they overlap heavily.
Educational information only — not investment advice, and not a recommendation to buy any security. Expense ratios are approximate and can change; verify with the fund issuer. We are not a licensed financial advisor.
Yes, both pay quarterly dividends from the companies they hold.
Neither is clearly better; both are low-cost, broadly diversified funds. This is educational information, not investment advice.