VTI vs ITOT: What's the Better Total Market ETF Buy?

Core Insights - Investing in total U.S. stock market funds is a sound strategy for building a diversified long-term portfolio [1] - The two leading ETFs, Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT), appear similar but have key differences [2] ETF Comparison - Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index, representing nearly 100% of the investable U.S. stock market, including large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks [3] - iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF tracks the S&P Total Market Index, combining the S&P 500 and the S&P Completion Index, also aiming to capture the entire U.S. stock market [3] - The Vanguard ETF holds approximately 3,500 stocks, while the iShares ETF holds around 2,500 stocks, with the difference primarily consisting of micro-cap stocks [4] Performance and Cost - The majority of the portfolios for both ETFs are nearly identical, leading to similar performance and historical track records [7] - Both ETFs charge a 0.03% expense ratio, making neither fund more cost-effective than the other [8] Investment Recommendation - The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF is preferred by a narrow margin due to its inclusion of additional micro-cap stocks, although their impact on overall performance is minimal [9]