FMB vs VOO
First Trust Managed Municipal ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FMB or VOO?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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 | FMB | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.62% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 1,276 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -0.61% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.80% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.09% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.15% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.9%Best | 14.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.2%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,075 | $18,335Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 13, 2014 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 15, 2014 to Sep 4, 2026 (12.3 years).
FMB 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 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.
FMB vs VOO Performance
First Trust Managed Municipal ETF (FMB) 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 FMB returned +2.80% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, FMB is down 0.61% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, FMB compounded at +3.09% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +0.15% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +12.91% annualized vs +1.23%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 4.9% for FMB. 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 -14.2% for FMB 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 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FMB charges 0.39% per year while VOO 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, FMB currently yields 3.62% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 642 holdings in FMB and 505 in VOO, totalling 54.8% 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 642 positions we hold weights for in FMB and 505 in VOO, against full books of 1,276 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FMB 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, FMB or VOO?
FMB has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FMB or VOO?
Over the past year FMB returned +2.80% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), FMB annualized +1.23% vs +12.91% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FMB or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 4.9% for FMB. Worst drawdown: FMB -14.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FMB and VOO?
FMB and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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, FMB or VOO?
FMB yields 3.62% while VOO yields 1.08%, so FMB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FMB?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO 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.