SPLG vs VTI
SPDR(R) Portfolio S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SPLG or VTI?
Nearly the same fund. SPLG costs less.
SPLG has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.5%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SPLG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.02%Best | 0.03% |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | - | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 506 | 3,543 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -55.8%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 20 years | $56,457 | $59,103Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.5% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | - | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | - | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | - | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 321 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SPLG has data through Oct 30, 2025 and VTI through Sep 16, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 20 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2005 to Oct 30, 2025 (20 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 15.3% for SPLG. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -55.8% for SPLG and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPLG charges 0.02% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $3 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period.
Holdings Overlap
98.5% of SPLG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 86.0% of VTI's money is in holdings SPLG also owns.
Most of SPLG is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 396 days apart, SPLG as of Jun 30, 2025 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
485 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPLG and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 506 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 663 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SPLG (11.0% of the fund), and 17 for SPLG that do not appear in VTI (1.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPLG | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.33% | 6.40% | 0.93% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.83% | 6.29% | 0.46% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 7.03% | 4.79% | 2.24% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.94% | 3.65% | 0.29% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.46% | 2.56% | 0.10% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 1.95% | 2.90% | 0.95% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.05% | 1.70% | 1.35% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.58% | 2.31% | 0.73% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.69% | 1.28% | 0.41% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.69% | 1.22% | 0.47% |
98.5% of SPLG is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPLG or VTI?
SPLG has an expense ratio of 0.02% while VTI charges 0.03%. SPLG is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPLG or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 15.3% for SPLG. Worst drawdown: SPLG -55.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SPLG and VTI?
SPLG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPLG and VTI?
98.5% of SPLG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 86.0% of VTI's is in holdings SPLG also owns. They hold 485 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPLG and 3,463 in VTI.
Is VTI better than SPLG?
SPLG has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.