Broad-Market ETF Showdown: Do These Extra Stocks Really Move the Needle for VTI?
While State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF (NYSEMKT:SPTM) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (NYSEMKT:VTI) share identical costs, the State Street fund offers a narrower S&P 1500 focus while the Vanguard fund provides broader exposure with over 3,500 holdings. Both ETFs serve as core building blocks for U.S. equity exposure. SPTM tracks the S&P Composite 1500 Index , covering roughly 90% of the investable market. VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index , aiming for nearly 100% coverage. The Vanguard fund manages a massive $2.3 trillion in assets under management (AUM), significantly larger than the $14 billion held by the State Street ETF. Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield. Continue reading