Explore how differences in cost, diversification, and holdings shape the appeal of these two popular U.S. equity ETFs for investors.
The State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY +1.92%) and the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI +2.11%) are both designed for broad U.S. stock market exposure, but they differ in scope and cost.
SPY tracks the S&P 500 Index, focusing on large-cap companies, while VTI holds thousands of stocks across all market capitalizations, offering access to a more comprehensive slice of the U.S. market.
This comparison highlights the key differences to help investors weigh which may better fit their portfolio goals.
Snapshot (cost & size)
MetricSPYVTIIssuerSPDRVanguardExpense ratio0.09%0.03%1-yr return (as of Feb. 5, 2026)13.13%12.43%Dividend yield1.05%1.10%Beta (5Y monthly)1.001.04AUM$709 billion$571 billion
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500….
