FLSA vs VTI
Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FLSA or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.7%.
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 | FLSA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.97% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 68 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +3.18% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.85% | +18.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +1.73% | +23.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.93% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 17.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,474 | $17,734Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.7% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 9, 2018 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2018 to Sep 25, 2026 (8 years).
FLSA 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 8 years both funds cover.
FLSA vs VTI Performance
Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF (FLSA) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FLSA returned -2.85% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, FLSA is up 3.18% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, FLSA compounded at +1.73% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +0.93% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +14.51% annualized vs +5.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FLSA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 17.1% 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 -40.2% for FLSA 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLSA charges 0.39% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $3 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FLSA currently yields 2.97% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 64 holdings in FLSA and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.3% and 98.1% 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 64 positions we hold weights for in FLSA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 68 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FLSA (97.5% of the fund), and 0 for FLSA that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 FLSA 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, FLSA or VTI?
FLSA has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FLSA or VTI?
Over the past year FLSA returned -2.85% vs +18.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), FLSA annualized +5.86% vs +14.51% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLSA or VTI?
FLSA has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 17.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FLSA -40.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both FLSA and VTI?
FLSA 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, FLSA or VTI?
FLSA yields 2.97% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FLSA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FLSA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.