FLC vs VTI
Flaherty & Crumrine Total Return Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FLC or VTI?
Preferred Stock against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | FLC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.64% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $193M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.82% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 257 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -1.43% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.32% | +20.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.05% | +20.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.13% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,935 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | Flaherty & Crumrine | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 29, 2003 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2003 to Sep 4, 2026 (22.9 years).
FLC 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.
FLC vs VTI Performance
Flaherty & Crumrine Total Return Fund (FLC) is an ETF from Flaherty & Crumrine and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FLC returned +2.32% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, FLC is down 1.43% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, FLC compounded at +13.05% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -0.13% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.80% annualized vs -0.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FLC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 15.0% 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 -83.0% for FLC and -56.6% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLC charges 1.64% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $164 vs $3 annually, a gap of $161 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FLC currently yields 6.82% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 184 holdings in FLC and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 130.3% and 92.3% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 23 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 214 days apart, FLC as of Nov 28, 2025 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
23 positions in common, counted across the 184 positions we hold weights for in FLC and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 257 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FLC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHNFt Real Estate Secs /pfd//res/ | 2.02% | 0.02% | 2.00% |
| SYFSynchrony Financial | 1.38% | 0.04% | 1.34% |
| WSBCWesbanco, Inc. | 1.27% | 0.00% | 1.27% |
| CFGCitizens Financial Group Inc. | 0.91% | 0.04% | 0.87% |
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 0.80% | 0.07% | 0.73% |
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 0.77% | 0.05% | 0.72% |
| APOAthene (Ath) / Apollo Global Management (Apo) | 0.62% | 0.07% | 0.55% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 0.32% | 0.35% | 0.03% |
| VLYValley National Bancorp | 0.60% | 0.00% | 0.60% |
| CNOBConnectone Bancorp Inc | 0.58% | 0.00% | 0.58% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FLC 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, FLC or VTI?
FLC has an expense ratio of 1.64% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $161 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FLC or VTI?
Over the past year FLC returned +2.32% vs +20.00% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), FLC annualized -0.08% vs +9.80% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLC or VTI?
FLC has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 15.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FLC -83.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both FLC and VTI?
FLC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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, FLC or VTI?
FLC yields 6.82% while VTI yields 1.07%, so FLC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FLC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.