SPY vs VTI: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
SPDR S&P 500 ETF TrustVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
SPY vs VTI at a glance
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) are compared below using data through the September 25, 2026 close, refreshed after every trading day.
Over the past year, SPY returned +18.48% with dividends reinvested, compared with +18.17% for VTI. VTI currently yields 1.03% (trailing 12-month) against 0.98% for SPY. Across five years the total-return gap is +85.81% for SPY vs +76.86% for VTI.
The higher-yielding fund (VTI) has trailed on 1-year total return. Yield only measures the income a fund pays; total return also counts the change in share price, so it is the fuller basis for comparing the two.
| Metric | SPY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $771.35 | $379.77 |
| Dividend yield | 0.98% (TTM) | 1.03% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | 0.09% | — |
| Pays | quarterly | quarterly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $7.58 (4 payments) | $3.90 (4 payments) |
| Issuer | SPDR | Vanguard |
| Inception | Jan 23, 1993 | — |
Performance: SPY vs VTI
Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.
Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
Overview
Key fund stats as of the latest close.
Total returns
Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| SPY | VTI | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | $1.89 | Jun 26, 2026 | $1.04 |
| Jun 18, 2026 | $1.90 | Mar 27, 2026 | $0.998 |
| Mar 20, 2026 | $1.80 | Dec 22, 2025 | $0.951 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | $1.99 | Sep 29, 2025 | $0.907 |
| Sep 19, 2025 | $1.83 | Jun 30, 2025 | $0.913 |
| Jun 20, 2025 | $1.76 | Mar 27, 2025 | $0.985 |
| Mar 21, 2025 | $1.70 | Dec 23, 2024 | $0.941 |
| Dec 20, 2024 | $1.97 | Sep 27, 2024 | $0.871 |
| Sep 20, 2024 | $1.75 | Jun 28, 2024 | $0.952 |
| Jun 21, 2024 | $1.76 | Mar 22, 2024 | $0.911 |
| Mar 15, 2024 | $1.60 | Dec 21, 2023 | $1.00 |
| Dec 15, 2023 | $1.91 | Sep 21, 2023 | $0.798 |
SPY vs VTI: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VTI?
As of September 25, 2026, SPY yields 0.98% (trailing 12-month) and VTI yields 1.03% (trailing 12-month), so VTI currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.
Which has performed better, SPY or VTI?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, SPY returned +18.48% and VTI returned +18.17%. Over five years, SPY returned +85.81% and VTI returned +76.86%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in SPY vs VTI be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $11,848 in SPY and $11,817 in VTI.
How often do SPY and VTI pay dividends?
SPY pays quarterly (4 payments in the last 12 months) and VTI pays quarterly (4 payments).
Is SPY or VTI the better investment?
It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.
Related comparisons
More side-by-side comparisons with SPY and VTI.
Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.