The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSEMKT:VTI) and the Vanguard Value ETF (NYSEMKT:VTV) are both strong investments that can help protect against risk, but they differ in their underlying portfolios.<\/p>\n
While one provides comprehensive exposure to the entire U.S. market, the other tilts toward stable, dividend-paying stocks. Here\u2019s how these ultra-popular ETFs compare in the ways that matter to investors.<\/p>\n
Snapshot (cost & size) <\/p>\n
Metric<\/p>\n
VTV<\/p>\n
VTI<\/p>\n
Issuer<\/p>\n
Vanguard<\/p>\n
Vanguard<\/p>\n
Expense ratio<\/p>\n
0.03%<\/p>\n
0.03%<\/p>\n
1-yr return (as of June 13, 2026)<\/p>\n
26.89%<\/p>\n
24.78%<\/p>\n
Dividend yield<\/p>\n
1.88%<\/p>\n
1.01%<\/p>\n
Beta (5Y monthly)<\/p>\n
0.72<\/p>\n
1.03<\/p>\n
Assets under management (AUM)<\/p>\n
$179.0 billion<\/p>\n
$660.7 billion<\/p>\n
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12\u00a0months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.<\/p>\n
Both funds offer an exceptionally low 0.03% expense ratio, making them among the most affordable options in their categories. For income-seekers, the value-focused VTV provides a higher trailing-12-month dividend payout than VTI.<\/p>\n
Performance & risk comparison <\/p>\n
Metric<\/p>\n
VTV<\/p>\n
VTI<\/p>\n
Max drawdown (5 yr)<\/p>\n
-17.03%<\/p>\n
-25.36%<\/p>\n
Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)<\/p>\n
$1,744<\/p>\n
$1,779<\/p>\n
What’s inside <\/p>\n
VTI offers a massive portfolio of 3,484 stocks spanning small-, mid-, and large-cap companies. It tracks a broad index that encompasses both growth and value styles, providing a comprehensive view of the domestic equity market.<\/p>\n
The portfolio is heavily weighted toward technology at around 34% of assets, followed by financial services and communication services. Its largest positions include Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft.<\/p>\n
VTV focuses on a more concentrated selection of 309 large-cap value stocks. Unlike its broader peer, it targets companies identified as undervalued by specific fundamental metrics. This strategy results in a distinct sector profile, led by financial services, which accounts for around 22% of assets, followed by healthcare and industrials. Its largest positions include JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway, and Exxon Mobil.<\/p>\n
For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n What this means for investors <\/p>\n VTI and VTV both offer stability and consistency, but they take different approaches.<\/p>\n VTI provides maximum diversification, aiming to encapsulate the entire U.S. market. It holds stocks ranging from small-cap growth to large-cap value and everything in between, delivering broad exposure to the overall market.<\/p>\n This level of diversification can help limit risk. While tech stocks account for around one-third of the fund, mirroring the overall market, that\u2019s still less than many other funds\u2019 tech allocations. Compared to, say, a growth ETF, broad-market ETFs can help cushion against tech\u2019s inevitable volatility.<\/p>\n VTV\u2019s strength is in its focus on large value stocks. These companies are often well-established with a long history of stability, which can also hedge against risk. While value stocks can sometimes underperform other types of stocks, they often make up for it with higher dividend yields.<\/p>\n The right choice for you will depend mostly on your goals. VTI\u2019s broad-market exposure makes it a popular core portfolio holding, ideal for investors seeking ample diversification. VTV, on the other hand, offers consistent dividends and access to a smaller portfolio of stable and reliable companies that are less prone to volatility.<\/p>\n Should you buy stock in Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF right now? <\/p>\n Before you buy stock in\u00a0Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF, consider this:<\/p>\n The Motley Fool\u00a0Stock Advisor\u00a0analyst team just identified what they believe are the\u00a010 best stocks<\/a>\u00a0for investors to buy now\u2026 and\u00a0Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF\u00a0wasn\u2019t one of them.\u00a0The 10 stocks that made the cut are built for long-term growth and could produce monster returns in the coming years.<\/p>\n Consider when\u00a0Netflix\u00a0made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation,\u00a0you\u2019d have $433,268!*\u00a0Or\u00a0when\u00a0Nvidia\u00a0made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation,\u00a0you\u2019d have $1,259,391!*<\/p>\n That performance is why people listen. With a track record of\u00a0beating the S&P 500 by nearly 5x,\u00a0Stock Advisor\u00a0offers a distinct advantage. Don’t miss the latest top 10 list, available with\u00a0Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built for the long haul.<\/p>\n See the 10 stocks \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n *Stock Advisor returns as of June 13, 2026. <\/p>\n JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Katie Brockman<\/a> has positions in Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF and Vanguard Value ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Vanguard Value ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n