S&P 500 vs total market

VOO vs VTI in a taxable account

Compare an S&P 500 fund against a total US market fund, including coverage and distribution differences.

Modeled result

From 2011 to 2025, VOO finished ahead of VTI before tax and retained about $3,168 more in estimated end-date sale proceeds after taxes paid during the test, from the same $10,000 start.

Change dates or tax profile

Historical model

Growth of $10,000

2011-01-03 to 2025-12-31

Chart window

All history

Chart window

Pre-tax growth for VOO and VTI from 2011-01-03 to 2025-12-31. VOO ends at $70,895; VTI ends at $66,475.
HoldingBefore taxValue after taxes paidIf sold at endMax drawdown

VOO

S&P 500 (VOO)

$70,895$66,309$58,774-33.99%

VTI

Total market (VTI)

$66,475$62,621$55,606-35.00%
  • VOO

    S&P 500 (VOO)

    Before tax
    $70,895
    Value after taxes paid
    $66,309
    Max drawdown
    -33.99%
  • VTI

    Total market (VTI)

    Before tax
    $66,475
    Value after taxes paid
    $62,621
    Max drawdown
    -35.00%

Detailed metrics

HoldingPre-tax valuePre-tax CAGRMax drawdownValue after taxes paidTax paidEmbedded taxIf sold at endCAGR if sold

S&P 500 (VOO)

VOO

$70,89513.96%-33.99%$66,309$1,656$7,535$58,77412.54%

Total market (VTI)

VTI

$66,47513.47%-35.00%$62,621$1,589$7,015$55,60612.12%

Assumptions

$10,000 lump sum; distributions reinvested; monthly rebalancing; 2011-01-03 to 2025-12-31.

Tax profile: Single filer, $150,000 income, taxable account, HIFO lots, 2026 federal brackets, no state tax.

FAQ

Do 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.

Related pages