FDTS vs VTI
First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FDTS or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FDTS led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. FDTS is less concentrated, with 6.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | FDTS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $11M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.63% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 414 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +22.36%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | +29.69%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.35%Best | +22.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.30% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,861 | $17,869Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.1%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 15, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 16, 2012 to Oct 1, 2026 (14.6 years).
FDTS 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 14.6 years both funds cover.
FDTS vs VTI Performance
First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FDTS) 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 FDTS returned +29.69% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, FDTS is up 22.36% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, FDTS compounded at +27.35% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.30% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.74% annualized vs +7.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FDTS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% compared with 14.4% 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 -53.2% for FDTS and -35.0% 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FDTS charges 0.80% per year while VTI 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, FDTS currently yields 2.63% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of FDTS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings FDTS also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, FDTS as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 394 positions we hold weights for in FDTS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 414 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FDTS (97.4% of the fund), and 8 for FDTS that do not appear in VTI (2.1%).
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 FDTS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRESempra Energy | 0.07% | 0.08% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FDTS 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, FDTS or VTI?
FDTS has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FDTS or VTI?
Over the past year FDTS returned +29.69% vs +15.23% for VTI, so FDTS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FDTS annualized +7.25% vs +12.74% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FDTS or VTI?
FDTS has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 14.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FDTS -53.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both FDTS and VTI?
FDTS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, FDTS or VTI?
FDTS yields 2.63% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FDTS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FDTS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FDTS led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. FDTS is less concentrated, with 6.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.