What is the main difference in the investment focus of these funds?

The main difference lies in their selection methodology. Fund A (VIG) specifically targets companies with a history of increasing dividends, often favouring stability and mature businesses. Fund B (VTI) tracks the entire US stock market, providing broad exposure to thousands of companies across all market caps. This makes VTI a total market representative, while VIG is a strategic tilt towards income-focused firms.

How do the expense ratios of these two funds compare?

Both funds have very low fees, typical of index tracking. Fund A (VIG) has an expense ratio of 0.04%, while Fund B (VTI) is slightly lower at 0.03%. This 0.01% difference is minimal and unlikely to drastically impact short-term returns, though compounding over decades may create a slight drag on performance for the higher-cost fund relative to the lower-cost one.

What is the difference in assets under management between the funds?

Fund B (VTI) is significantly larger than Fund A (VIG), holding $692.2 billion compared to VIG’s $110.8 billion. This reflects VTI’s status as a core holding for many investors seeking total market exposure. VIG, while still a massive fund, serves a more specialised niche. Both are highly liquid, meaning investors can generally trade large volumes without significant price impact due to the size of both assets.

How do the dividend yields of VIG and VTI compare?

Fund A (VIG) has a dividend yield of 1.51%, whereas Fund B (VTI) yields 1.02%. This is expected, as VIG specifically screens for companies with a track record of raising dividends. However, a higher yield does not always mean higher total returns. Investors should consider that VTI may offer different growth characteristics and broader exposure, which influences its lower distribution rate.

Do these funds hold similar companies in their top positions?

There is notable overlap, but the weightings differ significantly due to their construction. Both lists include MSFT, AAPL, and AVGO as top holdings. However, Fund B (VTI) is more heavily weighted towards growth giants like NVDA and AMZN, while Fund A (VIG) includes more financials like JPM and industrials like XOM. This highlights how different mandates lead to distinct portfolio compositions despite sharing some mega-cap names.

Which industries are represented in the top holdings of each fund?

Fund A (VIG)'s top holdings span technology, financials, healthcare, energy, and consumer staples, reflecting its dividend-focused mandate. Fund B (VTI)'s top holdings are heavily concentrated in technology and consumer discretionary. The inclusion of names like JPM, XOM, and WMT in VIG contrasts with the stronger tech and internet presence in VTI, showing how different investment strategies lead to different sector exposures within the market.

How does the inclusion date of these funds compare?

Fund B (VTI) was launched on May 24, 2001, providing a longer track record of total market exposure. Fund A (VIG) was started later, on Apr 21, 2006. Both are established products with nearly two decades or more of history. This longevity suggests they are mature offerings with consistent operational track records, which can be a comforting factor for investors when evaluating ETFs.

Do both funds fall into the same general category?

Yes, both Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF are classified as Large Blend category funds. This means they typically hold a mix of large-cap companies with both growth and value characteristics. While their specific holdings differ due to VIG's dividend screen, their broad classification is similar. This suggests that, at a high level, they both aim to capture the performance of major US companies.

What are the primary use cases for investors considering VIG vs VTI?

VIG is often used by investors who want to tilt their portfolio towards companies with a strong history of dividend growth. It may appeal to those seeking potentially more conservative income strategies. VTI is typically used as a core building block for a diversified portfolio, offering exposure to the entire US stock market. Investors use VTI when they want broad, unmanaged market participation rather than a specific factor tilt.

How should one interpret the sector weight data for these funds?

For this specific comparison, the exact sector weight percentages are listed as not available for both funds. Therefore, one must infer the sector focus by looking at the top holdings. For example, seeing multiple tech companies at the top for both, or financials in VIG and tech-heavy names in VTI, provides a qualitative sense of the sectors represented, even without precise weightings for the entire fund.

What is the educational context for comparing these two funds?

Comparing these two funds helps investors understand the difference between total market indexing and factor-based strategies (specifically dividends). VIG represents a rules-based subset of companies, while VTI represents the aggregate market. This comparison is useful for learning how investment mandates affect portfolio construction, sector allocation, and potential yield outcomes, without implying that one strategy is superior to the other.

What should readers keep in mind regarding this information?

This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Figures such as expense ratios, dividend yields, and net assets are subject to change over time. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Investors should conduct their own due diligence or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions based on the data presented.

VIG vs VTI

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in September 2026.

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF. This page compares fees, holdings, dividends and how each fund tracks its market. Educational content, not financial advice.

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

VIG

Metric

VTI

0.04%

Expense Ratio

0.03%

1.51%

Dividend Yield

1.02%

$110.76B

Net Assets

$692.20B

343

Holdings

3,514

Apr 21, 2006

Inception Date

May 24, 2001

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Index Tracked

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Large Blend

Fund Category

Large Blend

VTI costs about $1.00 less per year for every $10,000 invested.

Shared Top Holdings

Holding	VIG	VTI
MSFTMicrosoft Corporation	4.68%	5.10%
AAPLApple Inc.	4.51%	6.30%
AVGOBroadcom Inc.	4.35%	2.37%

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VIG vs VTV

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VIG vs VUG

Compare VIG vs VUG ETFs on fees, dividends and holdings. VIG yields 1.51% at 0.04% expense; VUG yields 0.37% at 0.03% expense. Neutral data.

Investment Analysis

VIG

Pros

Considerations

VTI

Pros

Considerations

About VIG and VTI

VIG (VIG)

The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) offers investors exposure to US large-cap companies with a history of increasing their dividends. It aims to track an index of stocks that have consistently raised payouts, focusing on financial discipline and steady growth rather than just high yields. With a very low expense ratio of 0.04% and net assets of approximately USD 110.76 billion, it is a cost-effective tool for building a diversified equity portfolio. The fund holds around 343 positions, providing broad market coverage. Investors should note that while dividend increases can signal company health, values can rise and fall, and returns are not guaranteed. Past performance does not ensure future results.

VTI (VTI)

This ETF offers broad exposure to the US equity market by tracking a comprehensive index of publicly traded companies. Designed as a large blend fund, it holds thousands of individual stocks, ranging from massive multinational corporations to smaller domestic firms. With an ultra-low expense ratio of 0.03%, it aims to provide cost-efficient long-term growth potential. The fund has a dividend yield of approximately 1.02%, reflecting the aggregate distributions from its holdings. Investors often consider this vehicle for core portfolio diversification, though it is essential to remember that stock market investments carry inherent risks, and values can fluctuate. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and returns are not guaranteed.

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VIG vs VTI

Fund Snapshot