FGSM vs VTI
Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FGSM or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FGSM led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | FGSM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.82% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $47M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.10% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 14 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +14.20%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +18.38%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0%Best | 12.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.7%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $14,058Best | $13,235 |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Frontier Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 19, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 20, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.8 years).
FGSM 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
FGSM vs VTI Performance
Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF (FGSM) is an ETF from Frontier Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FGSM returned +18.38% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, FGSM is up 14.20% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.5% compared with 12.0% for FGSM. 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 -17.7% for FGSM and -19.3% 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FGSM charges 0.82% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $82 vs $3 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FGSM currently yields 4.10% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 6 holdings in FGSM and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.7% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, FGSM 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 6 positions we hold weights for in FGSM and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 14 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FGSM (97.5% of the fund), and 6 for FGSM that do not appear in VTI (99.7%).
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 FGSM 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, FGSM or VTI?
FGSM has an expense ratio of 0.82% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FGSM or VTI?
Over the past year FGSM returned +18.38% vs +15.92% for VTI, so FGSM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FGSM annualized +20.83% vs +16.85% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FGSM or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.5% annualized versus 12.0% for FGSM. Worst drawdown: FGSM -17.7% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both FGSM and VTI?
FGSM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, FGSM or VTI?
FGSM yields 4.10% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FGSM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FGSM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FGSM led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.