FJP vs VTI
First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FJP or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FJP led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FJP is less concentrated, with 20.3% 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 | FJP | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $264M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 204 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +18.83%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +26.60%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.82% | +23.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.29% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.9% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,853 | $18,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.3%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 18, 2011 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2011 to Oct 2, 2026 (15.4 years).
FJP 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
FJP vs VTI Performance
First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FJP) 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 FJP returned +26.60% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, FJP is up 18.83% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, FJP compounded at +21.82% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.29% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.13% annualized vs +5.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FJP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 14.7% 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 -43.9% for FJP 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FJP 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, FJP currently yields 2.51% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 100 holdings in FJP and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.8% 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, FJP 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 100 positions we hold weights for in FJP and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 204 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 FJP (97.5% of the fund), and 2 for FJP that do not appear in VTI (2.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FJP 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, FJP or VTI?
FJP 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, FJP or VTI?
Over the past year FJP returned +26.60% vs +15.92% for VTI, so FJP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FJP annualized +5.30% vs +12.13% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FJP or VTI?
FJP has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 14.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FJP -43.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both FJP and VTI?
FJP and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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, FJP or VTI?
FJP yields 2.51% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FJP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FJP?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FJP led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FJP is less concentrated, with 20.3% 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.