VTI vs VUG: Which Should You Buy?
Same fund company (Vanguard), same 0.03% fee.
Over the period we can measure, VUG has returned about 3.1% a year more and overlap about 52% by weight. Pick VUG for the tighter 166-holding portfolio; pick VTI to own 3,598 instead. Both cost 0.03% per year.
This is purely for informational purposes, not investment advice. Always consult a professional before making investment decisions.
VTI wins if...
You want maximum diversification: 3,598 holdings covering the broader market, tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index.
VUG wins if...
You want the tighter portfolio: 166 holdings rather than 3,598, tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index.
VTI vs VUG, side by side
The numbers that actually differ are highlighted.
| Metric | VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | VUGVanguard Morningstar Growth ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Index tracked | CRSP US Total Market Index | CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index |
| Number of holdings | 3,598 | 166 |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Dividend yield | 1.04% | 0.38% |
| AUM | $2.30T | $384.60B |
| Top 10 concentration | 33.5% | 63.5% |
| 10-yr total return | 14.9% | 17.9% |
| 5-yr total return | 12.3% | 13.0% |
| Beta (vs S&P 500) | 1.02 | 1.23 |
| Max drawdown (10yr) | -35.0% | -35.6% |
| Market-cap coverage | Large + mid + small | Large + mid cap |
| Inception | 2001 | 2004 |
VUG holds 166 positions tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. VTI holds 3,598, a broader slice of the same market.
How much do VTI and VUG overlap?
The single most decision-relevant fact, and the one most comparisons skip.
- Shared
- 52.4%
- VUG-only
- 47.8%
~52% identical by weight
146 weighted positions appear in both funds, and by weight about 52% of the two portfolios is the same exposure. Where a stock sits in both, the shared share is whichever weight is smaller. That is the part of a dollar that behaves identically in either fund.
The difference is VTI's remaining 3,432 positions, which VUG does not hold at all. They are smaller by weight, which is why the two track each other closely and drift apart only at the margins.
Growth of $10,000: VTI vs VUG
Growth of $10,000
10 years
Which should you choose?
- You want the wider net: 3,598 holdings against 166
- You want to track the CRSP US Total Market Index
- You want the higher yield: 1.04% against 0.38%
- You want the larger, more heavily traded fund ($2.3T)
- You want concentrated exposure: 166 holdings, not 3,598
- You want to track the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
Compare and track all ETFs in your sheet
Type =WISE("VTI","dividend yield","ttm") or =WISEFUNDS("VTI","expense ratio") in Excel or Google Sheets and the fund's data lands in your sheet, ready to be refreshed when you want.
Get The Add-in - FreeVTI vs VUG frequently asked questions
VUG has the stronger record, by about 3.1% a year and they overlap roughly 52% by weight. Both charge 0.03%, so cost is not the deciding factor.
VUG holds 166 positions tracking the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index. VTI holds 3,598, a broader slice of the same market.
Yes, by about 52% by weight. 146 weighted positions appear in both funds. Because the largest positions dominate both portfolios, the two behave similarly day to day.
Yes. At about 52% overlap the two hold substantially different positions, so holding both does broaden the exposure.