VTSAX vs. VFIAX: Returns, Risk and $10,000 Compared

VTSAX vs. VFIAX Calculator

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What would $10,000 in VTSAX vs. VFIAX be worth?

Invested	VTSAX	VFIAX	VTSAX per year	VFIAX per year
1 year	$11,122	$11,123	+11.2%	+11.2%
3 years	$16,981	$17,112	+19.3%	+19.6%
5 years	$16,974	$17,670	+11.2%	+12.1%
10 years	$38,100	$40,190	+14.3%	+14.9%
15 years	$74,552	$78,776	+14.3%	+14.8%
20 years	$75,951	$78,168	+10.7%	+10.8%
25 years	$109,703	$104,791	+10.1%	+9.9%

VTSAX vs. VFIAX returns by year

Year	VTSAX	VFIAX	Ahead
2026 (so far)	+11.3%	+11.2%	VTSAX
2025	+17.1%	+17.8%	VFIAX
2024	+23.2%	+25.0%	VFIAX
2023	+26.5%	+26.2%	VTSAX
2022	-19.5%	-18.1%	VFIAX
2021	+25.7%	+28.7%	VFIAX
2020	+21.0%	+18.4%	VTSAX
2019	+30.8%	+31.5%	VFIAX
2018	-5.2%	-4.4%	VFIAX
2017	+21.2%	+21.8%	VFIAX
2016	+12.7%	+11.9%	VTSAX
2015	+0.4%	+1.4%	VFIAX
2014	+12.6%	+13.6%	VFIAX
2013	+33.5%	+32.3%	VTSAX
2012	+16.4%	+16.0%	VTSAX

Prices run through 2026-11-02, with dividends reinvested.

Which has returned more, VTSAX or VFIAX?

Over the last 10 years, VFIAX returned 14.9% a year and VTSAX returned 14.3%, with dividends reinvested. So $10,000 in VTSAX would be worth about $38,100 now, against $40,190 in VFIAX. Over 25 years, the longest stretch both have prices for, the yearly figures are 10.1% for VTSAX and 9.9% for VFIAX. We use month-end prices through November 2026, adjusted for splits and dividends, before taxes and fees.

The ride matters as much as the result. VTSAX's monthly returns swung about 15.4% a year, measured as annualized standard deviation, against 15.0% for VFIAX, so VFIAX has been the slightly calmer of the two. VTSAX's largest fall from a high was 50.8%, from October 2007 to February 2009. VFIAX's was 50.9%, from October 2007 to February 2009.

Year by year, VTSAX beat VFIAX in 13 of 25 full calendar years. VTSAX's best year was 2013, at 33.5%, and VFIAX's was 2013, at 32.3%. Both had their worst year in 2008, when VTSAX returned -37.0% and VFIAX returned -37.0%. Month to month, they moved almost in lockstep, with a correlation of 1.00. Holding both adds little variety, because they rise and fall together.

Buying a little each month narrows the gap from timing. Putting $100 a month into each for the last 10 years would have cost $12,000 and be worth about $25,549 in VTSAX and $26,423 in VFIAX. These results are historical and hypothetical, and past performance doesn't indicate future results. A fund spreads your money across its holdings, but it still falls when they fall, as the drops above show. See each on its own on our VTSAX calculator and VFIAX calculator.

How we compare VTSAX and VFIAX

We line up both histories by month, starting December 2000, the first month both have prices. The calculator above runs any amount and period for VTSAX, and shows the same money in VFIAX beside it. Price data from Alpha Vantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VTSAX or VFIAX better?

Neither is better for everyone. VFIAX has returned more over the last 10 years, 14.9% a year against 14.3%, while swinging less. Consider what you already own, how long you'll stay invested and how you'd handle a large drop. Nothing here is investment advice.

What is the 10-year return of VTSAX vs. VFIAX?

Over the last 10 years, VTSAX returned 14.3% a year and VFIAX returned 14.9% a year, with dividends reinvested. That's a total return of 281.0% for VTSAX and 301.9% for VFIAX. The table above shows other periods, and the calculator runs any dates you choose.

How much would $10,000 in VTSAX vs. VFIAX be worth today?

Invested 25 years ago, $10,000 would be worth about $109,703 in VTSAX and $104,791 in VFIAX, as of November 2026. Over 10 years, it's $38,100 and $40,190. These assume dividends were reinvested, and leave out taxes and fees.

Which is riskier, VTSAX or VFIAX?

By how much each swung, VTSAX has been riskier: about 15.4% a year against 15.0%. VFIAX has had the deeper fall, 50.9% from its high, measured at month ends. Higher swings mean a wider range of outcomes, so the dates you buy and sell matter more.

How did VTSAX and VFIAX do in their worst years?

Both had their worst full calendar year in 2008. VTSAX returned -37.0% and VFIAX returned -37.0%. Bad years tend to arrive together for investments that move almost in lockstep.

How often has VTSAX beaten VFIAX?

VTSAX came out ahead in 13 of 25 full calendar years, or 52% of the time, and VFIAX in the rest. So far in 2026, through November 2026, VTSAX is up 11.3% and VFIAX is up 11.2%. Leadership often changes from year to year, which is hard to predict ahead of time.

Should I invest in both VTSAX and VFIAX?

It depends on how much they overlap. Their monthly returns have a correlation of 1.00, where 1 means they move exactly together. At that level, owning both is close to owning more of one, so it adds little spread. Check what each holds before splitting your money.

What if I invested $100 a month in VTSAX or VFIAX?

Over the last 10 years, $100 at each month end would have cost $12,000 and be worth about $25,549 in VTSAX and $26,423 in VFIAX, with dividends reinvested. Monthly buying spreads your entry prices, so the result depends less on one lucky or unlucky start date. Use the Buying option above to test it.

Are VTSAX and VFIAX the same kind of investment?

They're both mutual funds. Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund trades as VTSAX, and Vanguard 500 Index Fund trades as VFIAX. Their returns track each other closely, so they likely hold many of the same companies. Read each one's prospectus or annual report for fees and holdings, which we don't cover here.

Do these returns include dividends?

Yes. We use prices adjusted for splits and dividends, which assumes every dividend was reinvested. That matters most when one pays out more than the other, because a plain price chart would understate its return. Our figures leave out brokerage fees and the tax you'd owe on dividends in a regular account.

How are gains on VTSAX and VFIAX taxed?

In a taxable US account, you owe capital gains tax when you sell at a profit, at long-term rates of 0%, 15% or 20% if you held for more than a year. Dividends are usually taxed in the year you receive them. In a Roth IRA or 401(k), different rules apply. Check IRS guidance or ask a tax professional about your situation.