FDT vs VOO
First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FDT or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FDT led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. FDT is less concentrated, with 8.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | FDT | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.71% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 625 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +22.57%Best | +12.50% |
| 1Y Return | +32.62%Best | +17.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.96%Best | +21.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,044 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.6%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 18, 2011 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 19, 2011 to Sep 11, 2026 (15.4 years).
FDT 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
FDT vs VOO Performance
First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) 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 FDT returned +32.62% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, FDT is up 22.57% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, FDT compounded at +27.96% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +12.53% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +12.72% annualized vs +5.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FDT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 14.3% for VOO. 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 -48.6% for FDT 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FDT charges 0.80% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $3 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FDT currently yields 2.71% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 298 holdings in FDT and 505 in VOO, totalling 99.2% and 99.9% 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 298 positions we hold weights for in FDT and 505 in VOO, against full books of 625 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for FDT (99.4% of the fund), and 6 for FDT that do not appear in VOO (1.9%).
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 FDT and VOO 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, FDT or VOO?
FDT has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FDT or VOO?
Over the past year FDT returned +32.62% vs +17.58% for VOO, so FDT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FDT annualized +5.74% vs +12.72% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FDT or VOO?
FDT has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 14.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: FDT -48.6% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FDT and VOO?
FDT and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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, FDT or VOO?
FDT yields 2.71% while VOO yields 1.04%, so FDT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FDT?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FDT led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. FDT is less concentrated, with 8.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.