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VTSAX vs. VTI
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VTSAX vs. VTI

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds from Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VTSAX returned 15.03%/yr vs 15.04%/yr for VTI. With a 0.99 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. VTSAX charges 0.04%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VTI.

Performance

VTSAX vs. VTI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VTSAX achieves a 11.13% return, which is significantly lower than VTI's 11.72% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VTSAX having a 15.03% annualized return and VTI not far ahead at 15.04%.

VTSAX

1D
-0.75%
1M
4.07%
YTD
11.13%
6M
10.86%
1Y
28.10%
3Y*
22.03%
5Y*
12.68%
10Y*
15.03%

VTI

1D
0.47%
1M
4.59%
YTD
11.72%
6M
11.43%
1Y
28.79%
3Y*
22.37%
5Y*
12.80%
10Y*
15.04%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VTSAX vs. VTI - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
VTSAX
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares		11.13%17.12%23.23%26.51%-19.52%25.72%20.98%30.79%-5.18%21.16%
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF		11.72%17.10%23.81%26.05%-19.52%25.68%21.08%30.67%-5.23%21.21%

Correlation

The correlation between VTSAX and VTI is 1.00 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.00

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

1.00

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

1.00

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

1.00

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 1, 2001

0.99

The correlation between VTSAX and VTI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.99 to 1.00 - a consistent structural relationship.

VTSAX vs. VTI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VTSAX
VTI

Technology

33.3%
33.5%

Financial Services

11.9%
12.0%

Communication Services

10.1%
10.3%

Consumer Cyclical

9.8%
10.0%

Industrials

9.5%
9.8%

Healthcare

9.1%
9.2%

Consumer Defensive

4.7%
4.7%

Energy

3.8%
3.7%

Utilities

2.7%
2.3%

Real Estate

2.4%
2.4%

Basic Materials

2.0%
2.0%

Technology

VTSAX
33.3%
VTI
33.5%

Financial Services

VTSAX
11.9%
VTI
12.0%

Communication Services

VTSAX
10.1%
VTI
10.3%

Consumer Cyclical

VTSAX
9.8%
VTI
10.0%

Industrials

VTSAX
9.5%
VTI
9.8%

Healthcare

VTSAX
9.1%
VTI
9.2%

Consumer Defensive

VTSAX
4.7%
VTI
4.7%

Energy

VTSAX
3.8%
VTI
3.7%

Utilities

VTSAX
2.7%
VTI
2.3%

Real Estate

VTSAX
2.4%
VTI
2.4%

Basic Materials

VTSAX
2.0%
VTI
2.0%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

Often compared with VTSAX:
VTSAX vs. VOOVTSAX vs. VTIAXVTSAX vs. SWTSXVTSAX vs. FSKAXVTSAX vs. SPYVTSAX vs. VTWAXVTSAX vs. VBTLX
Often compared with VTI:
VTI vs. VOOVTI vs. VXUSVTI vs. SPYVTI vs. VTVTI vs. SCHDVTI vs. FZROXVTI vs. QQQ

Return for Risk

VTSAX vs. VTI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
VTSAX
VTSAX Risk / Return Rank: 6464
Overall Rank
VTSAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6161
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VTSAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 5656
Sortino Ratio Rank
VTSAX Omega Ratio Rank: 5656
Omega Ratio Rank
VTSAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 6767
Calmar Ratio Rank
VTSAX Martin Ratio Rank: 7878
Martin Ratio Rank
VTI
VTI Risk / Return Rank: 7373
Overall Rank
VTI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7474
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VTI Sortino Ratio Rank: 7373
Sortino Ratio Rank
VTI Omega Ratio Rank: 7373
Omega Ratio Rank
VTI Calmar Ratio Rank: 6666
Calmar Ratio Rank
VTI Martin Ratio Rank: 7878
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VTSAX vs. VTI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

VTSAXVTIDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.31
2.38

-0.06

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.17
3.24

-0.07

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.42

1.43

-0.01

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.17

3.24

-0.08

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

14.61

14.94

-0.34

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VTSAX vs. VTI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VTSAX Sharpe Ratio is 2.31, which is comparable to the VTI Sharpe Ratio of 2.38. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VTSAX and VTI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

VTSAXVTIDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.31

2.38

-0.06

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.73

0.74

0.00

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.82

0.82

-0.01

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.47

0.51

-0.04

Drawdowns

VTSAX vs. VTI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VTSAX drawdown since its inception was -55.33%, roughly equal to the maximum VTI drawdown of -55.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTSAX and VTI.

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Drawdown Indicators

VTSAXVTIDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-55.33%

-55.45%

+0.12%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.92%

-8.92%

0.00%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-19.36%

-19.30%

-0.06%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.36%

-25.36%

0.00%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-34.97%

-35.00%

+0.03%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.75%

-0.26%

-0.49%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-9.00%

-8.03%

-0.97%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.93%

1.93%

0.00%

Volatility

VTSAX vs. VTI - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) has a higher volatility of 3.05% compared to Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) at 2.90%. This indicates that VTSAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VTSAXVTIDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.05%

2.90%

+0.15%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

9.20%

9.13%

+0.07%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.22%

12.17%

+0.05%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.36%

17.40%

-0.04%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.41%

18.30%

+0.11%

VTSAX vs. VTI - Expense Ratio Comparison

VTSAX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is higher than VTI's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VTSAX vs. VTI - Dividend Comparison

VTSAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.01%, which matches VTI's 1.01% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF		1.01%1.12%1.27%1.44%1.66%1.21%1.42%1.78%2.04%1.71%1.92%1.98%
VTSAX
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares		1.01%1.11%1.26%1.42%1.65%1.20%1.41%1.76%2.03%1.71%1.92%1.98%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 1.00, VTSAX and VTI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

VTSAX has higher volatility (3.05%) compared to VTI (2.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTSAX dropped -55.33% vs VTI's -55.45%.

VTI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.38 vs 2.31), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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