S&P 500 vs total market
Compare an S&P 500 fund against a total US market fund, including coverage and distribution differences.
VOO tracks the S&P 500, which is large-cap US stocks. VTI holds the total US market, adding mid- and small-cap companies on top of the same large-cap core.
Both are broad, low-turnover index funds with similar distribution profiles, so the main difference is coverage rather than tax character. Run the backtest to see how the added mid- and small-cap exposure changes the after-tax path.
Historical results
Historical results for a $10,000 lump sum with dividends reinvested and monthly rebalancing, as of 2025-12-31. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Not investment advice.
After-tax assumptions: Single filer, $150,000 income, taxable account, HIFO lots, 2026 federal brackets, no state tax.
Run it live with your own dates and tax profileDo VOO and VTI have different tax treatment?
Their tax character is similar: both are broad, low-turnover index funds with comparable dividend yields. The difference is coverage, since VTI adds mid- and small-cap stocks that VOO does not hold.
Is there a large overlap between the two funds?
Yes. The S&P 500 makes up most of the total US market by weight, so VOO and VTI share their large-cap holdings. VTI differs mainly in the smaller-company tail.
Run this comparison with your own dates, account type, and tax profile.
Open the prefilled backtest