VTI Total Return Analyzer

VTI total return combines two components: the cumulative distributions you received from VTI over the holding period, and the change in NAV (share price) across the same window. Many high-yield funds advertise distribution rates that look spectacular in isolation but mask meaningful NAV erosion. The analyzer above shows exactly how much of your VTI return came from distributions versus price change — a 50% annualized distribution rate paired with a 30% NAV decline is a very different investment than a 50% distribution with flat NAV.

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is issued by Vanguard. Tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index — approximately 100% of the investable U.S. stock market across large, mid, small, and micro caps on NYSE and Nasdaq. Vanguard's all-in-one U.S. equity ETF with $2.1T+ in combined ETF/mutual-fund assets. Expense ratio 0.03%, forward yield ~1.2%, quarterly distributions. More diversified than VOO (adds small/mid caps) but performance is nearly identical on a total-return basis since mega-caps dominate by weight. That strategy directly shapes the gap between headline yield and real yield: option-premium and covered-call funds tend to show large gaps, while traditional dividend ETFs and index funds usually show small ones.

For the detail behind each payment, see the VTI dividend history. To project how future VTI distributions compound under DRIP, open the VTI dividend calculator.