VTI Owns Over 3,500 Stocks, Including Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft. Is This the Smartest Way to Buy the Entire U.S. Market Right Now?

By Bram Berkowitz – Apr 5, 2026 at 12:32PM ESTKey PointsThe Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF allows investors to hold a basket of stocks that includes a majority of publicly traded U.S. companies.However, VTI is still market-weighted.Investors should understand the implications of owning a market-weighted index, especially in today's investing landscape.The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI +0.16%) provides investors with access to a much larger pool of U.S. stocks than the broader S&P 500 index. While the S&P 500 tracks roughly 500 large-cap U.S. stocks across sectors, the VTI exchange-traded fund (ETF) holds a basket of 3,500 stocks, representing a majority of U.S. publicly traded companies. VTI, which is passively managed, consists of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks across sectors and categories, including growth and value. Image source: Getty Images. Like the S&P 500, VTI holds some of the world's largest companies by market cap, including Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft. VTI is also a market-weighted index, meaning its largest sector is technology, which accounts for roughly 36% of the ETF. It also means large stocks in the S&P 500 make up a disproportionate amount of the ETF. For instance, Nvidia comprises over 6% of the ETF, Apple nearly 5.9%, and Microsoft roughly 4.4%. Is this the smartest way to buy the entire U.S. stock market right now? Heavy concentration removes the diversity component The market-weighted component of VTI means the ETF is still overweight tech stocks right now. To be fair, large U.S. tech and artificial intelligence stocks look pretty attractive after struggles to find their footing this year. While the group has sold off, Wall Street analysts have largely raised their earnings estimates, compressing their valuation multiples. For instance, Nvidia now trades at a forward earnings multiple of 21.4. That's not bad for a company growing earnings and revenue as much as they are. AI concerns, such as circular financing and a potential future slowdown in AI capital expenditures, remain prevalent, but it's hard to say the risk-reward proposition hasn't improved. ExpandNYSEMKT: VTIVanguard Total Stock Market ETFToday's Change(0.16%) $0.52Current Price$323.76Key Data PointsDay's Range$318.23 - $324.9052wk Range$236.42 - $344.42Volume3.7M That said, buying indexes like the S&P 500 and VTI still places too much reliance on big tech, so investors really need to think about what they want. VTI is fine to buy if you want exposure to the market, as it is currently structured, where big tech makes up a disproportionate amount. However, in doing so, investors are still living and dying on a dozen or so names and their performance. If investors simply want exposure to a diverse basket of names in the stock market with no market-weight component applied, then they are likely better off purchasing the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF. This ETF will be less volatile, meaning it will experience less of a sell-off in bear markets but also less upside in bull markets. It really depends on the investor's current position in life and overall strategy to determine which is the best way to gain exposure to the entire U.S. stock market right now.Read NextApr 5, 2026 •By David DierkingMost Investors Build Their Portfolio Backwards. Here's the Right Order.Apr 4, 2026 •By David DierkingThe Vanguard ETF Portfolio That Could Replace a Financial AdvisorApr 4, 2026 •By David DierkingWhy Buying VOO Might Actually Be a Mistake Right NowApr 2, 2026 •By Reuben Gregg BrewerVTI Is Down From Its High, but Its 52-Week Range Tells a Different Story.

Here Is What Long-Term Investors Should Make of ItApr 1, 2026 •By Matt DiLallo7 Best ETFs to Buy in April 2026Mar 31, 2026 •By Robin Hartill, CFPHow to Buy Peloton Stock (PTON) in 2026About the AuthorBram Berkowitz is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering financials, technology, consumer goods, and macroeconomic trends.

Before The Motley Fool, Bram worked in equity research covering bank stocks and as a reporter for local publications. He holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses, as well as a bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in economics from Syracuse University.TMFBramX@BramBerkoStocks MentionedVanguard Total Stock Market ETFNYSEMKT: VTI$323.76(+0.16%)+$0.52*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.