2 of the Most Trusted Total Market ETFs Go Head to Head: VTI vs. SPTM
Key takeaways
- Both funds serve as highly efficient core building blocks for long-term investors seeking total U.S. market exposure.
- Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns.
- Ownership costs are identical for these two competitors, as both ETFs charge a rock-bottom expense ratio of 0.03%.
VTI STT ^GSPC The primary difference between State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF (NYSEMKT:SPTM) and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSEMKT:VTI) is the depth of small-cap and micro-cap exposure.
Both funds serve as highly efficient core building blocks for long-term investors seeking total U.S. market exposure. While the State Street fund focuses on the S&P Composite 1500, the Vanguard fund casts a wider net across approximately 3,600 stocks, offering nearly complete coverage of the investable market. This comparison explores which approach better balances risk and return in a diversified portfolio.
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.