FLN vs VOO
First Trust Latin America AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FLN or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FLN led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FLN is less concentrated, with 33.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | FLN | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $41M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 56 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +19.09%Best | +12.74% |
| 1Y Return | +32.16%Best | +19.43% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.18% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.51% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.0% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -67.7% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,028 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.7%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 18, 2011 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2011 to Sep 8, 2026 (15.4 years).
FLN 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
FLN vs VOO Performance
First Trust Latin America AlphaDEX Fund (FLN) 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 FLN returned +32.16% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, FLN is up 19.09% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Over three years, FLN compounded at +17.18% per year against +21.18% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +12.51% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +12.65% annualized vs +0.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.0% compared with 14.3% for VOO. 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 -67.7% for FLN and -34.3% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLN charges 0.80% per year while VOO 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, FLN currently yields 3.38% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in FLN and 504 in VOO, totalling 99.4% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in FLN and 504 in VOO, against full books of 56 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for FLN (99.3% of the fund), and 1 for FLN that do not appear in VOO (0.5%).
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 FLN 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, FLN or VOO?
FLN has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FLN or VOO?
Over the past year FLN returned +32.16% vs +19.43% for VOO, so FLN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FLN annualized +0.78% vs +12.65% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLN or VOO?
FLN has been the more volatile fund at 26.0% annualized versus 14.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: FLN -67.7% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FLN and VOO?
FLN and VOO 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, FLN or VOO?
FLN yields 3.38% while VOO yields 1.08%, so FLN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FLN?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FLN led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FLN is less concentrated, with 33.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.