VGT vs VTI: which was the better investment?
Vanguard Information Technology ETF against Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 30, 2004 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VGT beat VTI?
Yes — measured from Jan 30, 2004 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VGT came out ahead: $234,396 versus $103,870 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.0% annual return against 10.9%.
What would $10,000 in VGT be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) on Jan 30, 2004 would be worth about $234,396 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 2244.0% (15.0% per year). The same $10,000 in VTI would be worth $103,870.
Which was riskier — VGT or VTI?
VGT swung with an annualized volatility of 22.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -54.6%; VTI ran at 18.8% volatility with a -55.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.57 for VGT vs 0.47 for VTI.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 30, 2004 through Aug 28, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with VGT vs VTI. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.