Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) are two of the most popular ETFs for long-term investors in the U.S. stock market, and both are often seen as simple, low-cost ways to build wealth over time. VOO tracks the S&P 500, giving investors exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies, while VTI goes broader by covering nearly the entire U.S. stock market. Using TipRanks’ ETF Comparison Tool, we have placed VOO and VTI against each other to find the best Vanguard ETF for investors in 2026.
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In terms of risk, both ETFs move closely with the broader market. VOO has a beta of 0.99, while VTI is slightly higher at 1.01, meaning VTI is just a bit more sensitive to market swings. This is mainly because it includes mid- and small-cap stocks, which tend to be more volatile than large-cap names.
Let’s look at these ETFs in detail.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ($VOO)
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is a popular choice for investors looking for direct exposure to large U.S. companies. It tracks the S&P 500 Index (SPX), which is widely viewed as a key benchmark for the overall U.S. stock market and a reflection of the broader economy.
In terms of holdings, VOO is heavily tilted toward the technology sector and currently holds 507 stocks with total assets of about $910.18 billion. However, it is more concentrated at the top compared to VTI. Its top 10 holdings account for 36.5% of total assets, versus 32% for VTI, meaning a larger share of performance is driven by a few mega-cap companies.
VOO’s largest positions include Nvidia (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Alphabet (GOOGL).
Is VOO ETF a Good Buy?
According to TipRanks’ unique ETF analyst consensus, determined based on a weighted average of analyst ratings on its holdings, VOO is a Moderate Buy. The Street’s average price target of $767.95 implies an upside of 16.80%.
Currently, VOO’s top two holdings with the highest upside are Loews (L) at 80% upside and Axon Enterprise (AXON) at 77%.
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) offers investors exposure to nearly the entire U.S. stock market, holding thousands of companies across large-, mid-, and small-cap segments. This makes it a simple, highly diversified core option for long-term investors who want broad market coverage in a single fund.
Like VOO, VTI is still weighted toward mega-cap stocks because the largest companies dominate the market today. However, VTI is slightly more diversified overall. It currently holds 3,473 stocks and manages about $614.88 billion in total assets.
VTI’s top holdings—Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet—are the same as VOO’s. The key difference is not the top stocks, but the broader exposure VTI provides beyond the largest companies, giving investors access to a wider slice of the U.S. economy.
Is VTI ETF a Good Buy?
According to TipRanks’ unique ETF analyst consensus, determined based on a weighted average of analyst ratings on its holdings, VTI is a Moderate Buy. The Street’s average price target of $412.90 implies an upside of 17%. VTI’s top two holdings with the highest upside are Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) at 2700% upside and Curis (CRIS) at 1791% upside.
Conclusion
Both VOO and VTI are strong, low-cost core ETFs. For most long-term investors, VTI has a slight edge for wealth building because its exposure to small- and mid-cap stocks adds more diversification, and these segments have historically outperformed large caps over very long periods. VOO, on the other hand, is slightly more straightforward and tends to feel more stable and predictable, making it a strong choice for investors who prefer concentrated exposure to large tech companies.