VTI vs. VOO: Which Vanguard ETF Will Buy More SpaceX Stock After Its IPO?

June 6, 2026 - 22:30

SpaceX has not yet gone public, but investors are already asking which Vanguard exchange-traded fund will snap up shares first. The answer depends on the index each fund tracks. The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF, known by its ticker VTI, follows the CRSP US Total Market Index. That index includes nearly every publicly traded U.S. company, from the largest blue chips down to small caps. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, or VOO, tracks the S&P 500, which only holds the 500 biggest companies by market capitalization.

When SpaceX eventually lists on a stock exchange, its market cap will likely be enormous. Private valuations have already pushed past $200 billion. But even at that size, SpaceX would not automatically qualify for the S&P 500. That index requires a company to show positive earnings over the most recent four quarters. SpaceX has been profitable in recent years, but the S&P 500 committee also considers liquidity, public float, and sector representation. The process can take quarters or even years.

VTI has no such earnings requirement. As soon as SpaceX begins trading on a major U.S. exchange, the CRSP index will add the stock within days, often at the next quarterly rebalance. That means VTI could hold SpaceX shares within weeks of the IPO. VOO could lag by months or longer. For investors who want early exposure to the rocket company through a broad index fund, VTI is the clear winner. But both funds will eventually hold the stock if SpaceX meets the S&P 500 criteria. The timing gap, however, could be significant.