VTI vs SPY: which ETF is right for you?
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) compared on cost, size, returns, holdings and sector mix.
VTI has a lower expense ratio at 0.03% compared to SPY's 0.095%
Expense ratios are important as they affect your investment returns. VTI charges 0.03%, while SPY charges 0.095%. This difference can lead to more savings over time.
- VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03%, SPY has 0.095%
- VTI has $2322.48 billion in assets, SPY has $796.87 billion
- VTI's one-year return is 12.06%, SPY's is 12.01%
- VTI's yield is 1.06%, SPY's yield is 1%
may suit investors looking for exposure to the S&P 500.
may suit investors wanting a broader exposure to the total stock market.
Summary written from the figures below by an AI model. Past returns do not predict future results; this is educational, not advice.
Side-by-side
VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.030%● | 0.095% |
| Fund size (assets) | $2.31T● | $796.9B |
| Dividend yield | 1.06%● | 1.00% |
| Return YTD | 11.77%● | 11.69% |
| Return 1 year | 12.06%● | 12.01% |
| 3 years (annualised) | 23.12% | 23.26%● |
| 5 years (annualised) | 10.95% | 11.96%● |
| 10 years (annualised) | 14.87% | 15.34%● |
| Volatility (5y std dev) | 15.8% | 15.4%● |
| Beta vs market (5y) | 1.00● | 0.98 |
| Issuer | Vanguard | State Street Investment Management |
| Launched | 2001-05-24 | 1993-01-22 |
● marks the best value in a row (lowest cost or volatility, highest return, yield or size). Returns as of 2026-11-06; past performance does not predict future results.
What the fees cost you
A simple illustration: the same $0M growing at an assumed 7% a year before fees. Only the expense ratios differ. This is not a forecast.
Top holdings and overlap
- NVDANVIDIA Corp7.1%
- AAPLApple Inc6.6%
- MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.2%
- AMZNAmazon.com Inc3.3%
- GOOGLAlphabet Inc Class A2.8%
- AVGOBroadcom Inc2.3%
- METAMeta Platforms Inc Class A2.2%
- GOOGAlphabet Inc Class C2.2%
- MUMicron Technology Inc1.6%
- TSLATesla Inc1.4%
- AAPLApple Inc7.7%
- NVDANVIDIA Corp7.6%
- MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.9%
- AMZNAmazon.com Inc3.6%
- GOOGLAlphabet Inc Class A2.5%
- AVGOBroadcom Inc2.4%
- METAMeta Platforms Inc Class A2.1%
- GOOGAlphabet Inc Class C2.0%
- LLYEli Lilly and Co1.7%
- TSLATesla Inc1.7%
VTI and SPY share 9 of their top 10 holdings (NVDA, AAPL, MSFT, AMZN, GOOGL, AVGO), about 32.5% of each fund in those names.
Overlap is measured on the top 10 holdings only.
Sector mix
- Technology38.1%
- Financial Services11.5%
- Healthcare10.0%
- Communication Services9.2%
- Industrials8.8%
- Consumer Cyclical8.7%
- Technology38.2%
- Financial Services12.0%
- Healthcare10.3%
- Consumer Cyclical9.2%
- Communication Services8.4%
- Industrials7.6%
Common questions
Which has lower fees, VTI or SPY?
VTI has the lower expense ratio at 0.030% a year, against 0.095% for SPY. On $10,000 that is about $6 a year in fees.
Which is bigger, VTI or SPY?
VTI manages about $2.31 trillion in assets, compared with $796.9 billion for SPY.
Do VTI and SPY hold the same stocks?
They share 9 of their top 10 holdings (NVDA, AAPL, MSFT, AMZN, GOOGL, AVGO, META, GOOG, TSLA), roughly 32.5% of each fund in those names, so owning both adds little diversification.
Compare any ETFs
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Open the compare toolFund data comes from public fund filings and market data and is refreshed daily; returns are total returns and past performance does not predict future results. This page is educational and is not investment advice. Check the fund's official documents before investing.