iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT): Complete Beginner's Guide

What is iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF?

ITOT tracks the S&P Total Market Index, providing exposure to the entire U.S. stock market including large, mid, small, and micro-cap companies in a single fund. With over 2,500 holdings, it captures virtually all investable U.S. stocks at an ultra-low expense ratio. This fund is an ideal core holding for investors who want complete U.S. equity market coverage without worrying about which size segment to favor.

ITOT is managed by BlackRock and has been available since 2004. With $60.0B in assets under management, it's a well-established fund with strong institutional backing. The fund charges an expense ratio of 0.03%, which means for every $10,000 you invest, you pay approximately $3 per year in management fees.

ITOT at a Glance — Key Metrics

Top 10 Holdings in ITOT

ITOT holds 2,500 different securities. Here are the largest positions that make up the core of this fund:

ITOT Performance History

Here's how ITOT has performed over different time periods. Remember that past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but it gives you a sense of the fund's track record:

Beginner Suitability Score: 9/10

Our proprietary Beginner Suitability Score evaluates ETFs based on five factors that matter most to new investors: fees, volatility, diversification, dividend history, and track record length.

ITOT scores 9/10 because it has very low fees, can be more volatile than the broader market, offers broad diversification across 2,500 holdings, and has been available since 2004, giving it a proven track record.

How to Buy ITOT — Step by Step

1. Open a brokerage account — We recommend Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard for ETF investing. All offer $0 commissions on ETF trades.
2. Fund your account — Transfer money from your bank. You can start with as little as $1 if your broker offers fractional shares.
3. Search for "ITOT" — Use the search bar in your brokerage platform to find iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF.
4. Place your order — Choose "Market Order" for simplicity or "Limit Order" if you want to set a specific price. Enter how many shares (or dollar amount) you want to buy.
5. Set up automatic investing — Most brokers let you schedule recurring purchases (e.g., $100/month on the 1st). This is dollar cost averaging in action.

ITOT Sector Allocation

Here's how ITOT distributes its investments across different sectors of the economy:

Dollar Cost Averaging Into ITOT

Here's what consistent monthly investing could look like over time, assuming an average annual return of 8% (approximate historical stock market average):

*Projections assume 8% average annual return with monthly compounding. Actual returns will vary. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Fee impact: With ITOT's expense ratio of 0.03%, a $10,000 investment would lose approximately $258 to fees over 20 years compared to a zero-fee investment. This is a reasonable fee level for the value provided.

Pros and Cons of ITOT

ITOT vs Similar ETFs

See how ITOT stacks up against similar funds:

Frequently Asked Questions