DLAG vs VTI
FT Vest US Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - August vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DLAG or VTI?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96.
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
| Metric | DLAG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $15M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 12 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +8.92% | +14.43%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.43% | +18.05%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.93% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.5%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.2%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,174 | $11,814Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 19, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 12, 2026 (1.1 years).
DLAG 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
DLAG vs VTI Performance
FT Vest US Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - August (DLAG) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DLAG returned +11.43% while VTI returned +18.05%. Year to date, DLAG is up 8.92% versus a gain of 14.43% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 5.5% for DLAG. 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 -4.2% for DLAG and -8.9% 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DLAG charges 0.85% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $3 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DLAG currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DLAG and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DLAG or VTI?
DLAG has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DLAG or VTI?
Over the past year DLAG returned +11.43% vs +18.05% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), DLAG annualized +10.62% vs +16.36% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DLAG or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 5.5% for DLAG. Worst drawdown: DLAG -4.2% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both DLAG and VTI?
DLAG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DLAG or VTI?
DLAG yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DLAG?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.