FDL vs VOO
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FDL or VOO?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FDL led over 1Y and 5Y, VOO over 3Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.3%.
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 | FDL | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.43% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $8.1B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.59% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 202 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +20.36%Best | +13.37% |
| 1Y Return | +24.66%Best | +20.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.00% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.01%Best | +12.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -41.4% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,263Best | $18,335 |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.3% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 9, 2006 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
FDL vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
FDL vs VOO Performance
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FDL returned +24.66% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, FDL is up 20.36% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, FDL compounded at +20.00% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +14.01% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +9.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 13.8% for FDL. 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 -41.4% for FDL and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FDL charges 0.43% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $43 vs $3 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FDL currently yields 3.59% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
93.0% of FDL's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 5.2% of VOO's money is in holdings FDL also owns.
Most of FDL is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
60 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in FDL and 504 in VOO, against full books of 202 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 435 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for FDL (94.2% of the fund), and 40 for FDL that do not appear in VOO (6.8%).
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
| Stock | Weight in FDL | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVXChevron Corp.United States -Energy | 7.90% | 0.48% | 7.42% |
| VZVerizon Communications Inc Com Usd1 | 7.44% | 0.27% | 7.17% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 5.99% | 0.44% | 5.55% |
| PFEPfizer, Inc. | 5.99% | 0.21% | 5.78% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 4.69% | 0.29% | 4.40% |
| MOAltria Group Inc. | 4.17% | 0.19% | 3.98% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 3.58% | 0.18% | 3.40% |
| CMCSACOMCAST CORP CLASS A | 2.99% | 0.14% | 2.85% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 2.99% | 0.12% | 2.87% |
| BXBlackstone, Inc. | 2.52% | 0.14% | 2.38% |
93.0% of FDL is already inside VOO.
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, FDL or VOO?
FDL has an expense ratio of 0.43% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FDL or VOO?
Over the past year FDL returned +24.66% vs +20.08% for VOO, so FDL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), FDL annualized +9.80% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FDL or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 13.8% for FDL. Worst drawdown: FDL -41.4% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FDL and VOO?
FDL and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 FDL and VOO?
93.0% of FDL's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 5.2% of VOO's is in holdings FDL also owns. They hold 60 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in FDL and 504 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, FDL or VOO?
FDL yields 3.59% while VOO yields 1.08%, so FDL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FDL?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FDL led over 1Y and 5Y, VOO over 3Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.