FBDC vs VTI
FT Confluence BDC & Specialty Finance Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FBDC or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
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 78.1%.
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 | FBDC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 12.44% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $35M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.44% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 42 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -3.87% | +14.05%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.78% | +16.93%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.65% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.46% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8% | 11.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -20.6% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $9,440 | $12,619Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 78.1% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 25, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 30, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.2 years).
FBDC 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
FBDC vs VTI Performance
FT Confluence BDC & Specialty Finance Income ETF (FBDC) 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 FBDC returned -4.78% while VTI returned +16.93%. Year to date, FBDC is down 3.87% versus a gain of 14.05% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FBDC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.8% compared with 11.6% 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 -20.6% for FBDC 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 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FBDC charges 12.44% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $1244 vs $3 annually, a gap of $1241 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FBDC currently yields 12.44% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 20 holdings in FBDC and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 95.6% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 20 positions we hold weights for in FBDC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 42 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FBDC (97.5% of the fund), and 20 for FBDC that do not appear in VTI (95.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FBDC 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, FBDC or VTI?
FBDC has an expense ratio of 12.44% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $1241 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FBDC or VTI?
Over the past year FBDC returned -4.78% vs +16.93% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FBDC annualized -4.69% vs +21.39% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FBDC or VTI?
FBDC has been the more volatile fund at 16.8% annualized versus 11.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FBDC -20.6% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both FBDC and VTI?
FBDC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, FBDC or VTI?
FBDC yields 12.44% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FBDC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FBDC?
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 78.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.