ABLS vs VTI

ABLS vs VTI

Which is better, ABLS or VTI?

Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTILess Concentrated: VTI

MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricABLSVTI
Expense Ratio0.39%0.03%Best
AUM$448,100.93$666.9B
Dividend Yield0.98%1.03%
Holdings493,543
YTD Return+2.63%+12.43%Best
1Y Return-1.09%+15.92%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+22.42%
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.37%
Volatility (annualized)18.5%13.1%Best
Max Drawdown-19.3%Tie-19.3%Tie
$10,000 over 1.6 years$9,290$12,617Best
Top 10 Weight46.9%33.3%Best
Fund FamilyAbacus FCF AdvisorsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleSmall Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionFeb 18, 2025May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 19, 2025 to Sep 28, 2026 (1.6 years).

ABLS vs VTI growth

Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.6 years both funds cover.

ABLS vs VTI Performance

Abacus FCF Small Cap Leaders ETF (ABLS) is an ETF from Abacus FCF Advisors and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ABLS returned -1.09% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, ABLS is up 2.63% versus a gain of 12.43% for VTI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

ABLS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.5% compared with 13.1% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -19.3% for ABLS and -19.3% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

ABLS charges 0.39% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ABLS currently yields 0.98% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

ABLS already in VTI96.2%
VTI already in ABLS0.1%

96.2% of ABLS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings ABLS also owns.

Most of ABLS is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

45 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in ABLS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 49 and 3,543.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,139 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for ABLS (97.3% of the fund), and 0 for ABLS that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).

Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in ABLSWeight in VTIDifference
AGXArgan, Inc.8.94%0.01%8.93%
ENVAEnova International Inc. (usd)5.86%0.01%5.85%
OSCROscar Health, Inc.5.69%0.01%5.68%
APAMArtisan Partners Asset Management, Inc.4.84%0.00%4.84%
QLYSQualys Inc4.44%0.01%4.43%
HRMYHarmony Biosciences, Llc4.07%0.00%4.07%
HCSGHealthcare Services Group, Inc3.58%0.00%3.58%
APPNAppian Corp3.35%0.00%3.35%
KTBKontoor Brands Inc3.11%0.01%3.10%
COLLCollegium Pharmaceutical Inc3.02%0.00%3.02%

96.2% of ABLS is already inside VTI.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

ABLSVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, ABLS or VTI?

ABLS has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, ABLS or VTI?

Over the past year ABLS returned -1.09% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ABLS annualized -4.50% vs +15.64% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ABLS or VTI?

ABLS has been the more volatile fund at 18.5% annualized versus 13.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ABLS -19.3% vs VTI -19.3%.

Should I hold both ABLS and VTI?

ABLS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

What is the holdings overlap between ABLS and VTI?

96.2% of ABLS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's is in holdings ABLS also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in ABLS and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, ABLS or VTI?

ABLS yields 0.98% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than ABLS?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.