VB vs VTI: One Is Already Inside the Other
This comparison is unusual because the two funds are not alternatives. VTI holds the entire US market, small caps included, so it already contains essentially everything VB owns. The real question is whether you want that slice weighted heavier than the market weights it.
VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) holds roughly 3,700 US companies at 0.03%, covering large, mid, and small caps at market weight. VB (Vanguard Small-Cap ETF) holds about 1,400 small-cap names from the CRSP index at 0.05%. Because VTI already includes the small-cap segment, buying VB alongside it does not add exposure you lack, it increases the weight of exposure you already have. That is a legitimate decision, and it is the only reason to own both. Small caps sit at roughly 5% to 10% of US market value, so an investor holding VTI alone has a small-cap allocation in that range without doing anything. Someone who believes small caps are positioned to outperform can add VB on top to push that share higher. Someone with no view has no reason to. Over the periods shown here VTI has outperformed VB, driven by the large-cap concentration that has led the market since 2010, and that pattern has reversed before. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
Both funds trade commission-free at every major brokerage. How the major brokerages compare →
📋 VB vs VTI: Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | VB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Tracks Index | CRSP US Small Cap | CRSP US Total Market |
| Expense Ratio | 0.05% | 0.03% ✓ |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $5.00 | $3.00 |
| AUM | $183.4B | $2,202.6B |
| Holdings | 1,400 | 3,700 |
| Inception | 2004 | 2001 |
| 1-Year Return | +24.79% | +19.43% |
| 3-Year Return | +15.59% | +20.94% |
| 5-Year Return | +7.78% | +12.18% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.22% | 1.06% |
| Holdings Overlap | See holdings overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.01% | 0.01% |
Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated Aug 9, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 VB vs VTI: Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?
- want the specific exposure defined by the CRSP US Small Cap
- want the lowest fees: saves ~$2/yr per $10K vs VB
- want broader diversification (3,700 holdings vs 1,400)
- want the entire US stock market: large, mid, and small cap in one fund
💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs
Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.
Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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❓ VB vs VTI: Frequently Asked Questions
New to ETF investing? See answers to the most common ETF questions →