FCA vs VXUS
First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, FCA or VXUS?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | FCA | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $32M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.86% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 106 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -4.58% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.01% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.14% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.06% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.1% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.6% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,073 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 18, 2011 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 21, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (15.4 years).
FCA vs VXUS 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
FCA vs VXUS Performance
First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund (FCA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FCA returned +5.01% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, FCA is down 4.58% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, FCA compounded at +17.14% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +2.06% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.59% annualized vs +0.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FCA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.1% compared with 15.1% for VXUS. 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 -47.6% for FCA and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FCA charges 0.80% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $5 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FCA currently yields 2.86% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 62.9% of FCA's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% 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.
33 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FCA and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 106 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FCA | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2688:KYEnn Energy Holdings Ltd | 3.75% | 0.01% | 3.74% |
| 601919:SHCosco Shipping Holdings Co Ltd | 3.67% | 0.00% | 3.67% |
| 3808:HKSinotruk Hong Kong Ltd | 3.44% | 0.01% | 3.43% |
| 000338:SHWeichai Power Co | 3.26% | 0.02% | 3.24% |
| 1530:HK3sbio Inc | 3.20% | 0.01% | 3.19% |
| 1378:HKChina Hongqiao Group Ltd | 3.01% | 0.02% | 2.99% |
| 1508:HKChina Reinsurance (group) Corporation | 3.01% | 0.00% | 3.01% |
| 2883:TWChina Development Financial Holding Corp | 2.77% | 0.03% | 2.74% |
| 600585:SHAnhui Conch Cement Co Ltd | 2.69% | 0.00% | 2.69% |
| 2018:HKAac Technologies Holdings Inc | 2.47% | 0.01% | 2.46% |
62.9% of FCA is already inside VXUS.
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, FCA or VXUS?
FCA has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FCA or VXUS?
Over the past year FCA returned +5.01% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FCA annualized +0.98% vs +4.59% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FCA or VXUS?
FCA has been the more volatile fund at 25.1% annualized versus 15.1% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: FCA -47.6% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both FCA and VXUS?
FCA and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 FCA and VXUS?
At least 62.9% of FCA's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FCA and 8,094 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, FCA or VXUS?
FCA yields 2.86% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so FCA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than FCA?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.