VTI vs VOO: 3,600 Stocks vs 500 — Same Price
Both cost the same 0.03% per year. The difference is breadth: VTI covers the entire US stock market while VOO focuses on the 500 largest companies. For a decades-long retirement holder, that breadth is the whole decision.
VTI and VOO charge identical 0.03% expense ratios, so cost doesn't decide this one. VTI holds roughly 3,600+ US stocks — including small- and mid-cap companies — while VOO holds only the 500 largest. In practice, because mega-cap stocks dominate both indexes by weight, VTI and VOO tend to move almost in lockstep: their 10-year correlation is above 0.99. The question is whether you want exposure to smaller companies that could outperform over long cycles. For a long-term retirement portfolio, that time horizon actually tilts the odds slightly toward VTI: the longer you hold, the more room small- and mid-caps have to add their historical (if inconsistent) premium, and you never have to bolt on a separate small-cap fund later. But the difference is small — either fund is a completely valid single-holding core for a retirement account. If you want the broadest possible US diversification, VTI edges out VOO. If you want the simplest, most stable large-cap core, VOO is perfectly sufficient.
Both funds trade commission-free at every major brokerage. Where to buy them →
📋 VTI vs VOO: Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | VTI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Tracks Index | CRSP US Total Market | S&P 500 |
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| AUM | $2,202.6B | $1,600.2B |
| Holdings | 3,642 | 503 |
| Inception | 2001 | 2010 |
| 1-Year Return | +16.20% | +16.96% |
| 3-Year Return | +22.68% | +23.07% |
| 5-Year Return | +12.74% | +13.98% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 1.06% |
| Holdings Overlap | ~85% by weight (S&P 500 stocks make up ~85% of VTI) — see full overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.00% | 0.00% |
AUM and returns updated Oct 14, 2026 from ETF BFF database; expense ratios verified against issuer filings. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
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📊 VTI vs VOO: Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?
- want broader diversification (3,642 holdings vs 503)
- want the entire US stock market: large, mid, and small cap in one fund
- want focused large-cap US stock exposure via S&P 500
💰 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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