FESC vs VTI
First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FESC or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FESC is less concentrated, with 11.2% 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 | FESC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -7.11% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +18.17% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.04% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.14% |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.2%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Eagle Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 30, 2026 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
FESC 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
FESC vs VTI Performance
First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF (FESC) is an ETF from First Eagle Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, FESC is down 7.11% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FESC 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, FESC currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
92.7% of FESC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.7% of VTI's money is in holdings FESC also owns.
Most of FESC is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
175 positions in common, counted across the 184 positions we hold weights for in FESC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,090 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FESC (96.8% of the fund), and 3 for FESC that do not appear in VTI (3.6%).
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 FESC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BKDBrookdale Senior Living Inc | 1.19% | 0.00% | 1.19% |
| ABCBAmeris Bancorp Common Stock Usd1.0 | 1.07% | 0.01% | 1.06% |
| LADLithia Motors Inc | 0.98% | 0.01% | 0.97% |
| IBPInstalled Building Products | 0.97% | 0.01% | 0.96% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 0.97% | 0.01% | 0.96% |
| PNTGPennant Group Inc/the | 0.96% | 0.00% | 0.96% |
| KWRQuaker Chemical Corp. | 0.96% | 0.00% | 0.96% |
| SPBSpectrum Brands Holdings Inc | 0.95% | 0.00% | 0.95% |
| HNGEHinge Health Inc | 0.95% | 0.00% | 0.95% |
| MURMurphy Oil Corp | 0.94% | 0.01% | 0.93% |
92.7% of FESC 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, FESC or VTI?
FESC 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.
What is the holdings overlap between FESC and VTI?
92.7% of FESC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.7% of VTI's is in holdings FESC also owns. They hold 175 positions in common, counted across the 184 positions we hold weights for in FESC and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, FESC or VTI?
FESC yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FESC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FESC is less concentrated, with 11.2% 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.