VOO vs VTI: 2026 Comparison
Verdict for Passive Income: It's a Draw
Distinct Roles: VOO is a stable core holding, while VTI is a high-growth, high-volatility play.
Distinct Roles: VOO is a stable core holding, while VTI is a high-growth, high-volatility play.
While both are excellent, VOO edges ahead due to slightly better historical returns and lower volatility, making it the ideal core holding.
Expense Ratio
Dividend Yield
CAGR (15y)
Holdings
Stress Test: How Did They React?
Real historical performance during key market events (Crashes & Rallies).
| Market Event | VOO Return | VTI Return | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
COVID-19 Crash Global pandemic lockdown selling pressure 2020-02-19 • 2020-03-23 | -34.0% | -35.0% | VOO Wins |
Post-COVID Recovery QE-fueled tech and growth rally 2020-03-24 • 2021-12-31 | +100.5% | +103.2% | VTI Wins |
2022 Inflation Bear Rate hikes and tech valuations reset 2022-01-01 • 2022-10-12 | -24.5% | -25.4% | VOO Wins |
AI Boom & Rally Generative AI hype driving Mega Caps 2023-01-01 • Present | +86.3% | +83.5% | VOO Wins |
👤 Which one is right for you?
Select your primary investment goal to see the recommended choice:
Yield-focused investors won't find a meaningful difference here—VOO and VTI both deliver comparable income.
Growth of $10,000
Historical performance if you invested $10k at the start
⚖️ The Expert Debate
Case for VOO
▲ The Bull Argument
- ✓Proved to be the gold standard for growth (concentrated winners).
- ✓Slightly higher 10y returns due to Mega-Cap Tech dominance.
- ✓Filters out 'junk' small caps that drag down performance.
▼ The Bear Risks
- ✕Misses out on potential Small Cap rallies.
- ✕Higher concentration risk (top 10 holdings = ~32%).
- ✕Technically less diversified than the total market.
Case for VTI
▲ The Bull Argument
- ✓Owns everything (approx 3,700 stocks vs 500).
- ✓Guarantees you never miss the 'next Amazon' (small cap winners).
- ✓Mathematically closer to the 'Market Portfolio' theory.
▼ The Bear Risks
- ✕Carries 'over-diversification' from thousands of unprofitable small caps.
- ✕Higher volatility during economic stress.
- ✕Historically slight drag on returns compared to S&P 500 recently.
Final Consensus
"Academic consensus favors VTI for maximum theoretical efficiency. However, Wall Street and recent performance favor VOO for its quality filter. For most, the correlation (0.99) makes them functionally identical."
Head-to-Head Metrics
Direct comparison of key investment characteristics
| Metric | VOO | VTI | Contextual Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% | Essentially identical |
| Dividend Yield | 1.50% | 1.45% | Comparable |
| Beta (Volatility) | 17.21% | 17.54% | Effectively the same |
Expense Ratio
Dividend Yield
Beta (Volatility)
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