SmarterDividends

VTI vs YMAG: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared

As of Nov 7, 2026, YMAG yields more: 48.17% (dividend yield) against 1.09% for VTI. VTI is cheaper to own at 0.03% a year vs 1.34%. Over the same 2 years (Jan 2024 to Oct 2026), YMAG returned 21.0% a year with distributions reinvested, and VTI 18.7%.

ComparedVTIYMAG
YieldDividend yield1.09%48.17%
Expense ratio0.03%1.34%
Total return, 1 yr+12.0%+1.9%
Total return, 3 yr (a year)+23.1%—
Total return, 5 yr (a year)+10.9%—
Total return, 10 yr (a year)+14.9%—
Worst drop since Jan 2024-8.4%-14.6%
Share price since Jan 2024+55%−46%
PaysQuarterlyWeekly
IssuerVanguardYieldMax
Assets$2.3T$271.2M
Started20012024
TypeLarge BlendLarge Blend

Higher yield

YMAG

48.17%

Lower cost

VTI

0.03%

Better total return

YMAG

21.0%/yr

Smaller worst drop

VTI

-8.4%

Key facts: VTI vs YMAG

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 7, 2026, VTI yields 1.09% (dividend yield) and YMAG yields 48.17% (dividend yield).
  • VTI's expense ratio is 0.03% and YMAG's is 1.34%: $3 vs $134 a year on $10,000.
  • From Jan 2024 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in VTI grew to $16,025 (18.7% a year) and $10,000 in YMAG to $16,887 (21.0% a year), distributions reinvested.
  • Their worst month-end drops over that time: -8.4% for VTI and -14.6% for YMAG.
  • 0 of VTI's top ten holdings are also in YMAG's top ten.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "VTI vs YMAG: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 7, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/vti-vs-ymag

$10,000 in each, Jan 2024 to Oct 2026

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

VTI became

$16,025

18.7% a year

YMAG became

$16,887

21.0% a year

Try other dates, monthly additions or more tickers →

Top holdings

No overlap in the top ten.

VTI

  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%

YMAG

  1. TSLY YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF15.7%
  2. APLY YieldMax AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF15.0%
  3. MSFO YieldMax MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF14.6%
  4. NVDY YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF14.2%
  5. AMZY YieldMax AMZN Option Income Strategy ETF14.0%
  6. FBY YieldMax META Option Income Strategy ETF13.3%
  7. GOOY YieldMax GOOGL Option Income Stgy ETF12.3%
  8. FGXXX First American Government Obligs X1.0%

VTI vs YMAG: questions

Is VTI or YMAG better?

It depends on the job. YMAG pays more today (48.17% vs 1.09%), VTI costs less, and YMAG has the better total return over Jan 2024 to Oct 2026, with VTI 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, VTI or YMAG?

YMAG, at 48.17% against 1.09% for VTI as of Nov 7, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $4,817 vs $109 a year at today's rates.

Which has the better total return?

YMAG. From Jan 2024 to Oct 2026, it returned 21.0% a year with distributions reinvested, against 18.7% for VTI. $10,000 became $16,887 vs $16,025.

Which is cheaper, VTI or YMAG?

VTI, with a 0.03% expense ratio against 1.34%.

Do VTI and YMAG hold the same things?

Not at the top: none of their top ten holdings match.

Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. VTI leads on 4 of 5 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 7, 2026.