Benchmark research · Total US Stock Market
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VTI (Total US Stock Market)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF), we screened VTI against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against VTI live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top VTI: The bar was high. Of 953 eligible ETFs, 59 (6.2%) outperformed VTI in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods; 23 were all-weather, outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Among 1,502 eligible stocks, 248 (17%) cleared the consistency bar and 87 were all-weather.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: QQQ outperformed in 3 of 5 short-term periods and all 3 long-term periods, while VOO, IVV, and SPY each outperformed in 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. SCHD was stronger recently, with 5 of 5 short-term periods, but had 0 of 3 long-term periods. ITOT and IWV tied VTI in every period.
- Top ETFs: Technology was the largest category among the top ETFs, with 7 of the 15 shown. DXJ, BNO, and CRAK each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods; VGT also outperformed in all 3 long-term periods and 4 of 5 short-term periods.
- Top stocks: 248 stocks met the consistency rule. The top 10 shown include healthcare names NTRA, LLY, and CORT, along with energy companies CVI and MPC. Each of those stocks outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs and stocks were all more volatile than VTI. The top ETFs had median volatility of 26.0% versus 17.5% for VTI, while the top stocks had median volatility of 42.4%. Most also had higher Sharpe ratios, a measure of return relative to risk: 11 of 15 ETFs and 9 of 10 stocks topped VTI's 0.71.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against VTI, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| QQQ Made the listInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 3/5 short3/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0%1.3× VTI | 0.71 |
| VOO Made the listVanguard S&P 500 ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9%1.0× VTI | 0.80 |
| IVV Made the listiShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 17.0%1.0× VTI | 0.80 |
| SPY Made the listState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 3/5 short2/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%1.0× VTI | 0.79 |
| SCHD Fell shortSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 5/5 short0/3 long | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 14.3%0.8× VTI | 0.72 |
| VTWV Fell shortVanguard Russell 2000 Value ETF | 2/5 short0/3 long | −2.3% | −4.1% | +2.6% | +16.9% | +19.3% | +74.6% | +40.1% | +151% | 21.4%1.2× VTI | 0.42 |
| DIA Fell shortState Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust | 1/5 short0/3 long | +0.9% | +1.6% | +6.8% | +9.6% | +13.9% | +66.1% | +60.6% | +250% | 14.8%0.8× VTI | 0.72 |
| RSP Fell shortInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | 1/5 short0/3 long | +1.5% | +2.0% | +6.7% | +13.3% | +15.5% | +65.4% | +48.6% | +211% | 16.1%0.9× VTI | 0.57 |
| ITOT Same indexiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | ≈ Same returns | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.2% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +88.0% | +72.7% | +301% | 17.4%1.0× VTI | 0.72 |
| IWV Same indexiShares Russell 3000 ETF | ≈ Same returns | −0.7% | +3.3% | +8.2% | +12.9% | +15.0% | +86.9% | +72.0% | +297% | 17.3%1.0× VTI | 0.72 |
| SCHB Fell shortSchwab U.S. Broad Market ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −0.9% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +88.0% | +72.9% | +286% | 17.3%1.0× VTI | 0.72 |
| VB Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −0.8% | −1.8% | +1.3% | +11.2% | +13.7% | +66.8% | +35.2% | +179% | 20.6%1.2× VTI | 0.40 |
| IWM Fell shortiShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4%1.3× VTI | 0.34 |
| VXUS Fell shortVanguard Total International Stock ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.9% | +1.0% | +0.9% | +10.2% | +14.6% | +77.2% | +48.6% | +140% | 16.4%0.9× VTI | 0.57 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed VTI
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed VTI in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5% | 0.71 | ||
| 1 | DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | 0.0% | +4.7% | +9.9% | +25.0% | +36.4% | +127% | +225% | +428% | 19.1%1.1× VTI | 1.34 | 0.48% | $8.1B |
| 2 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1%2.1× VTI | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 3 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9%1.2× VTI | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 4 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6%1.5× VTI | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 5 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%1.5× VTI | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 6 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%1.5× VTI | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 7 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1%1.5× VTI | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 8 | XNTK TechnologyState Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −6.7% | +3.7% | +18.9% | +27.2% | +26.2% | +168% | +119% | +728% | 29.3%1.7× VTI | 0.68 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| 9 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2%1.5× VTI | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 10 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5%1.5× VTI | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| 11 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1%1.4× VTI | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| 12 | EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2%1.4× VTI | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| 13 | CIBR TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1%1.5× VTI | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| 14 | SPYG Broad MarketState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.4% | +4.0% | +9.9% | +13.9% | +15.8% | +110% | +86.5% | +418% | 21.5%1.2× VTI | 0.69 | 0.04% | $57B |
| 15 | VOOG Broad MarketVanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.3% | +4.0% | +9.9% | +13.9% | +15.8% | +110% | +86.0% | +416% | 21.6%1.2× VTI | 0.69 | 0.07% | $28B |
Stocks that consistently outperformed VTI
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5% | 0.71 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%3.3× VTI | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8%1.9× VTI | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| 3 | CORT Medical - PharmaceuticalsCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9%4.3× VTI | 0.81 | $13B |
| 4 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%2.2× VTI | 1.10 | $14B |
| 5 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%3.0× VTI | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 6 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%1.9× VTI | 1.41 | $133B |
| 7 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%2.5× VTI | 0.71 | $30B |
| 8 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%2.3× VTI | 0.79 | $14B |
| 9 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.0% | +43.2% | +49.3% | +177% | +144% | +215% | +726% | +1,194% | 49.7%2.8× VTI | 1.10 | $11B |
| 10 | AAPL Consumer ElectronicsApple Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.2% | +4.0% | +24.6% | +25.6% | +29.9% | +99.0% | +133% | +1,168% | 28.0%1.6× VTI | 0.75 | $5.0T |
What stands out
The ETF leaders span technology, international stocks, commodities, and energy, but technology was the largest group among the top ETFs. DXJ, BNO, and CRAK kept ahead across both the short-term and long-term periods, while the technology funds named here also had strong long-term records. The stock leaders came from a narrower set of sectors, especially healthcare and energy. The screen also shows that broad-market alternatives did not all keep pace: QQQ and the S&P 500 funds qualified, but several popular funds fell short on the long-term periods.
The return advantage came with a bumpier ride. Over 5 years, none of the top ETFs or top stocks was less volatile than VTI, and the top stocks had median volatility roughly double or more than the benchmark. Still, most of each group had higher Sharpe ratios, suggesting that their added volatility generally came with enough relative return to improve risk-adjusted performance over that period. These comparisons describe past results, not a guarantee of future performance.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than VTI's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of VTI's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- 4 ETFs that track essentially the same returns as VTI (ITOT, IWV, VTHR, IYY) are excluded, since tiny fee differences decide whether they finish ahead.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.