Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

VTI

Market cap $565B

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF offers broad exposure but remains heavily weighted to large-cap stocks (technology), limiting true diversification. VTI's performance closely tracks large-cap ETFs like VOO, with both outperforming small-cap benchmarks such as IWM over recent years. Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund ETF provides better diversification, lower tech exposure, and a low expense ratio but is rated Hold due to valuation concerns.

Many investors are worried about market volatility right now. Over time, the stock market is incredibly likely to see positive long-term returns.

The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) has averaged a 1.24% dividend yield over the past 12 months. VTI contains small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap companies.

If you plan to invest each month, you don't have to worry about having a big lump sum right away. Over time, your balance will grow, and that means the effects of compounding will also be greater.

It doesn't matter if you are someone looking to retire in the near future or someone who is just preparing mentally for what's to come when retirement does hit, but understanding how to best balance your portfolio for retirement income is something you should be thinking through right now.

On the same day of the five-year anniversary of Dimensional entering a competitive, rapidly evolving exchange traded fund business, the active ETF provider received an approval notice from the SEC granting the firm exemptive relief to offer dual share class funds. Their timing couldn't be more auspicious.

Both ETFs track the entire U.S. stock market with near-identical sector weights and top holdings VTI boasts far greater assets under management and trading liquidity than ITOT Expense ratios and yields are matched, making the choice mostly about scale and brand preference

In most years, especially in strong up years, the Nasdaq 100 has stood taller than the S&P 500, driven largely by the tech sector's outsized gains. Invesco's Q3 update shows QQQ with a NAV gain of 8.94 percent in Q3 2025, edging out the S&P 500's 8.12 percent. Still, outperformance on the way up does not guarantee the same result going forward, particularly if tech shifts from boom to sudden slowdown.

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF is upgraded to a "Buy," citing strong long-term fundamentals and recent price reset. VTI benefits from broad diversification, low expenses, and high liquidity, despite a weak start to November and elevated valuations. Seasonal trends and contrarian sentiment suggest a potential year-end rally, especially around Thanksgiving and December.

Both SCHB and VTI charge identical ultra-low fees and offer matching dividend yields. VTI holds more stocks and is much larger, but recent returns and risk metrics are nearly indistinguishable.