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VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

Category: Large Cap Growth Equities

Inception: 2001-05-24 Issuer: Vanguard
Net Assets
$1700B
Expense Ratio
0.03 %
# of Holdings
3
Average Daily Volume
4.34M

Fund Overview

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is designed to provide investors with exposure to the entire U.S. equity market, including large-, mid-, small-, and micro-cap stocks. The fund seeks to track the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index, which represents nearly 100% of the investable U.S. stock market. VTI is one of the most popular ETFs for broad market exposure due to its low expense ratio and high liquidity. It is suitable for long-term investors seeking diversified exposure to U.S. equities without the need to pick individual stocks.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
N/A
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 1.19 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
2 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the VTI ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Provides diversified exposure to the entire U.S. stock market, reducing single-stock risk.
  • Low expense ratio (0.03% as of 2025), making it cost-effective for long-term investors.
  • Highly liquid, with tight bid-ask spreads, facilitating easy entry and exit.
  • Passively managed, minimizing turnover and potential tax inefficiencies.
  • Strong long-term performance, closely tracking the broad U.S. market.

Potential Risks

  • Market risk: Performance is tied to the overall U.S. stock market, which can be volatile.
  • No exposure to international markets, limiting diversification outside the U.S.
  • Heavily weighted toward large-cap stocks, which dominate the index.
  • Passive management means the fund will not avoid downturns or capitalize on short-term opportunities.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
+1.94% +1.57% +16.82% +86.64% +82.51% +14.73% +17.32% +24.65% +938.68%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +1.6% -0.5% -5.0% +10.4% +5.2% -0.4% -0.5% +2.7% -0.8% +2.2% - -
2025 +3.0% -1.9% -5.9% -0.7% +6.3% +5.2% +2.3% +2.4% +3.4% +2.2% +0.3% 0.0%
2024 +1.1% +5.3% +3.3% -4.3% +4.8% +3.1% +1.9% +2.1% +2.0% -0.8% +6.7% -3.0%
2023 +6.9% -2.4% +2.7% +1.1% +0.4% +6.7% +3.7% -1.9% -4.8% -2.6% +9.4% +5.3%
2022 -6.1% -2.5% +3.3% -9.1% -0.3% -8.2% +9.3% -3.7% -9.2% +8.1% +5.2% -5.8%
2021 -0.3% +3.1% +3.6% +5.0% +0.5% +2.5% +1.7% +2.9% -4.5% +6.7% -1.5% +3.8%
2020 -0.1% -8.0% -13.9% +13.1% +5.4% +2.3% +5.7% +7.1% -3.5% -1.9% +11.8% +4.7%
2019 +8.5% +3.6% +1.4% +3.9% -6.4% +7.1% +1.4% -2.1% +1.8% +2.1% +3.8% +2.8%
2018 +5.2% -3.8% -2.0% +0.4% +2.7% +0.7% +3.3% +3.4% +0.2% -7.4% +2.0% -9.2%
2017 +1.9% +3.7% +0.1% +1.1% +1.0% +0.9% +1.9% +0.1% +2.4% +2.2% +3.0% +1.2%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
AAPL APPLE INC 6.1 %
MSFT MICROSOFT CORP 5.3 %
NVDA NVIDIA CORP 4.8 %
AMZN AMAZON.COM INC 3.8 %
META META PLATFORMS INC CLASS A 2.6 %
GOOGL ALPHABET INC CLASS A 2.0 %
TSLA TESLA INC 1.9 %
AVGO BROADCOM INC 1.8 %
GOOG ALPHABET INC CLASS C 1.7 %
BRK-B BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC CLASS B 1.4 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 3 total holdings.

Related ETFs: VTI vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
ITOT iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF 0.03 % $61.9B 2 Equity
IVV iShares Core S&P 500 ETF 0.03 % $579.9B 505 Equity
IWV iShares Russell 3000 ETF 0.20 % $14.4B 2 Equity
SCHB Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF 0.03 % $30.7B 2 Equity
SPTM SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF 0.03 % $9.4B 1 Equity
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust 0.09 % $576B 504 Equity
VB Vanguard Small Cap ETF 0.05 % $143.4B 1 Equity
VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF 0.03 % $1300B 506 Equity
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF 0.04 % $260.8B 180 Equity
VXF Vanguard Extended Market ETF 0.05 % $101.4B 3 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index, which includes all U.S. common stocks listed on the NYSE, NASDAQ, and other major exchanges. The index is market-cap weighted, meaning larger companies have a greater influence on performance. The fund holds over 3,500 stocks, providing comprehensive exposure to the U.S. equity market. VTI is passively managed, meaning it aims to replicate the index rather than outperform it. The fund is rebalanced periodically to maintain alignment with the index, typically resulting in low turnover and tax efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does VTI pay dividends?

Yes, VTI pays quarterly dividends, as it holds dividend-paying stocks within its portfolio.

How does VTI differ from S&P 500 ETFs like VOO or SPY?

VTI includes small- and mid-cap stocks in addition to large-cap stocks, providing broader market exposure compared to S&P 500 ETFs, which focus solely on large-cap companies.

Is VTI suitable for retirement accounts?

Yes, VTI's low costs and broad diversification make it a popular choice for retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s.

What is the tax efficiency of VTI?

VTI is highly tax-efficient due to its low turnover and structure as an ETF, which typically generates fewer capital gains distributions than mutual funds.

Industry Overview

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) offers investors a way to gain exposure to the entire U.S. equity market, spanning all sectors and market capitalizations. The U.S. stock market is one of the largest and most liquid in the world, driven by factors such as economic growth, corporate earnings, interest rates, and investor sentiment. Investing in a broad-market ETF like VTI allows investors to participate in the overall growth of the U.S. economy while mitigating the risks associated with individual stocks or sectors. VTI is particularly appealing for those seeking a core holding in their portfolio.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to its closest peers, such as ITOT and SCHB, VTI stands out for its slightly lower expense ratio and broader market coverage. While ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) and SCHB (Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF) also provide broad U.S. market exposure, VTI's CRSP index includes more micro-cap stocks, offering marginally greater diversification. VTI's expense ratio of 0.03% is competitive with ITOT's 0.03% and SCHB's 0.03%, making all three attractive for cost-conscious investors.

Issuer Overview

Vanguard is one of the largest and most respected investment management companies globally, known for its low-cost index funds and ETFs. Founded by John C. Bogle in 1975, Vanguard pioneered the index investing approach, emphasizing low fees, transparency, and long-term performance. The company operates as a client-owned structure, meaning its funds are owned by the investors, aligning its interests with those of its shareholders.

Conclusion

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an excellent choice for investors seeking broad, low-cost exposure to the U.S. equity market. Its diversified holdings, low expense ratio, and strong track record make it a core holding for many portfolios. While it carries market risk like any equity investment, its passive management and comprehensive coverage provide a solid foundation for long-term growth.

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