SmarterDividends

VFIAX vs VTSAX: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 5, 2026, VFIAX yields more: 0.79% (dividend yield) against 0.79% for VTSAX. VFIAX is cheaper to own at 0.04% a year vs 0.04%. Over the same 18 years (Dec 2007 to Oct 2026), VFIAX returned 11.1% a year with distributions reinvested, and VTSAX 11.0%.

ComparedVFIAXVTSAX
YieldDividend yield0.79%0.79%
Expense ratio0.04%0.04%
Total return, 1 yr+11.8%+11.8%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+23.2%+23.0%
Total return, 5 yr (a year)+12.0%+10.9%
Total return, 10 yr (a year)+15.4%+14.8%
Worst drop since Dec 2007-48.4%-48.2%
Share price since Dec 2007+418%+411%
PaysQuarterlyQuarterly
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Assets$1.7T$2.3T
Started20102001
TypeLarge BlendLarge Blend

Higher yield

VFIAX

0.79%

Lower cost

VFIAX

0.04%

Better total return

VFIAX

11.1%/yr

Smaller worst drop

VTSAX

-48.2%

Key facts: VFIAX vs VTSAX

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, VFIAX yields 0.79% (dividend yield) and VTSAX yields 0.79% (dividend yield).
  • VFIAX's expense ratio is 0.04% and VTSAX's is 0.04%: $4 vs $4 a year on $10,000.
  • From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in VFIAX grew to $73,212 (11.1% a year) and $10,000 in VTSAX to $71,238 (11.0% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -48.4% for VFIAX and -48.2% for VTSAX.
  • 10 of VFIAX's top ten holdings are also in VTSAX's top ten, an overlap of at least 35% of the fund.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "VFIAX vs VTSAX: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/vfiax-vs-vtsax

$10,000 in each, Dec 2007 to Oct 2026

Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.

VFIAX became

$73,212

11.1% a year

VTSAX became

$71,238

11.0% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Year by year

YearVFIAXVTSAX
2025+17.8%+17.1%
2024+25.0%+23.7%
2023+26.2%+26.0%
2022−18.2%−19.5%
2021+28.7%+25.7%
2020+18.3%+21.0%
2019+31.5%+30.8%
2018−4.5%−5.2%
2017+21.8%+21.2%
2016+11.9%+12.7%
2015+1.3%+0.4%
2014+13.7%+12.6%
2013+32.3%+33.5%
2012+16.0%+16.4%
2011+2.1%+1.1%
2010+15.0%+17.3%
2009+26.7%+28.8%
2008−37.0%−37.0%

Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.

Top holdings

10 of the top ten overlap, at least 35% of each fund.

VFIAX

  1. NVDA NVIDIA Corp8.4%
  2. AAPL Apple Inc7.4%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.8%
  4. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.7%
  5. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A3.1%
  6. AVGO Broadcom Inc2.5%
  7. GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C2.5%
  8. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.4%
  9. MU Micron Technology Inc1.8%
  10. TSLA Tesla Inc1.5%

VTSAX

  1. NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.1%
  2. AAPL Apple Inc6.6%
  3. MSFT Microsoft Corp5.2%
  4. AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.3%
  5. GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.8%
  6. AVGO Broadcom Inc2.3%
  7. META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.2%
  8. GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C2.2%
  9. MU Micron Technology Inc1.6%
  10. TSLA Tesla Inc1.4%

VFIAX vs VTSAX: questions

Is VFIAX or VTSAX better?

It depends on the job. VFIAX pays more today (0.79% vs 0.79%), VFIAX costs less, and VFIAX has the better total return over Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, with VTSAX holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.

Which pays a higher dividend, VFIAX or VTSAX?

VFIAX, at 0.79% against 0.79% for VTSAX as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $79 vs $79 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

VFIAX. From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, it returned 11.1% a year with distributions reinvested, against 11.0% for VTSAX. $10,000 became $73,212 vs $71,238.

Which is cheaper, VFIAX or VTSAX?

VFIAX, with a 0.04% expense ratio against 0.04%.

Do VFIAX and VTSAX hold the same things?

Partly. 10 of their top ten holdings match (NVDA, AAPL, MSFT, AMZN), at least 35% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.

Related comparisons

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. VFIAX leads on 6 of 7 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.