Head-to-head over the 11-year window both funds have in common (2015-09-14 → 2026-09-11): VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) vs SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF) — total return with dividends reinvested, both starting at $10,000 on the same date.
On risk-adjusted return, SPY came out ahead of VTI —
but the gap is only half the story. Drawdown and yield often matter more.
VTI vs SPY — the numbers
| Metric | VTI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| CAGR | 14.5% | 15.1% |
| Volatility | 18.0% | 17.7% |
| Sharpe | 0.84 | 0.88 |
| Sortino | 1.03 | 1.08 |
| Max drawdown | -35.0% | -33.7% |
| Dividend yield | 1.04% | 0.98% |
| $10k → today | $44,459 | $46,768 |
Compared over the exact period both funds existed, so the window is shorter than 10 years when one fund is newer. Past performance doesn't predict the future — try your own dates in the tool.