VST vs VTI: which was the better investment?
Vistra Corp. against Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Oct 5, 2016 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VST beat VTI?
Yes — measured from Oct 5, 2016 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VST came out ahead: $145,718 versus $39,263 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 31.5% annual return against 15.0%.
What would $10,000 in VST be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vistra Corp. (VST) on Oct 5, 2016 would be worth about $145,718 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 1357.2% (31.5% per year). The same $10,000 in VTI would be worth $39,263.
Which was riskier — VST or VTI?
VST swung with an annualized volatility of 42.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -53.3%; VTI ran at 18.4% volatility with a -35.0% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.70 for VST vs 0.71 for VTI.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Oct 5, 2016 through Jul 15, 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 VST 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.