FBT vs VTI
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FBT or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FBT led over 1Y and the full window, VTI over 3Y and 5Y.
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 | FBT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.9B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 62 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +26.06%Best | +12.57% |
| 1Y Return | +46.55%Best | +17.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.92% | +20.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.10% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.9% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.5%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,457 | $17,514Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2006 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 23, 2006 to Sep 11, 2026 (20.2 years).
FBT 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 20.2 years both funds cover.
FBT vs VTI Performance
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT) 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 FBT returned +46.55% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, FBT is up 26.06% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, FBT compounded at +19.92% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.10% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, FBT has the edge at +13.70% annualized vs +9.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FBT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.9% compared with 15.7% 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 -40.5% for FBT and -56.6% 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FBT charges 0.55% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FBT currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 64.5% of FBT's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, FBT as of Sep 1, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
20 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in FBT and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 62 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FBT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HALOHalozyme Therapeutics Inc | 4.34% | 0.01% | 4.33% |
| NEONeogenomics Inc | 3.94% | 0.00% | 3.94% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 3.67% | 0.27% | 3.40% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 3.73% | 0.09% | 3.64% |
| NTRANatera Inc | 3.70% | 0.05% | 3.65% |
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 3.50% | 0.22% | 3.28% |
| ILMNIllumina, Inc. | 3.49% | 0.03% | 3.46% |
| SRPTSarepta Therapeutics Inc | 3.45% | 0.00% | 3.45% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. | 3.38% | 0.04% | 3.34% |
| INCYIncyte Corp. | 3.28% | 0.03% | 3.25% |
64.5% of FBT 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FBT or VTI?
FBT has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FBT or VTI?
Over the past year FBT returned +46.55% vs +17.22% for VTI, so FBT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), FBT annualized +13.70% vs +9.77% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FBT or VTI?
FBT has been the more volatile fund at 22.9% annualized versus 15.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FBT -40.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both FBT and VTI?
FBT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 FBT and VTI?
At least 64.5% of FBT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in FBT and 2,787 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, FBT or VTI?
FBT yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FBT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FBT led over 1Y and the full window, VTI over 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.