FFEB vs VOO
FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - February vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FFEB or VOO?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.
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 | FFEB | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 10 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.21% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.80% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.97% | +21.37%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.27% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.5%Best | 16.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -31.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,057 | $18,827Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 21, 2020 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2020 to Sep 18, 2026 (6.6 years).
FFEB 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 6.6 years both funds cover.
FFEB vs VOO Performance
FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - February (FFEB) 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 FFEB returned +13.80% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, FFEB is up 10.21% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Over three years, FFEB compounded at +15.97% per year against +21.37% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +11.27% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +15.40% annualized vs +11.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 10.5% for FFEB. 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 -22.8% for FFEB and -31.1% 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FFEB charges 0.85% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $3 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FFEB currently yields 0.00% against 1.04% for VOO.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FFEB 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, FFEB or VOO?
FFEB has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FFEB or VOO?
Over the past year FFEB returned +13.80% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), FFEB annualized +11.74% vs +15.40% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FFEB or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 10.5% for FFEB. Worst drawdown: FFEB -22.8% vs VOO -31.1%.
Should I hold both FFEB and VOO?
FFEB and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, FFEB or VOO?
FFEB yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FFEB?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.