FNY vs VOO
First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FNY or VOO?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FNY is less concentrated, with 8.3% 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 | FNY | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.73% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $582M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 226 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.65% | +12.74%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.00% | +19.43%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.80% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.66% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.9% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,804 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.3%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 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).
FNY 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.
FNY vs VOO Performance
First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FNY) 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 FNY returned +15.00% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, FNY is up 10.65% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Over three years, FNY compounded at +17.80% per year against +21.18% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +6.66% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +12.65% annualized vs +11.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FNY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% 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 -38.9% for FNY 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FNY charges 0.73% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $73 vs $3 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FNY currently yields 0.00% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
4.2% of FNY's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.3% of VOO's money is in holdings FNY also owns.
FNY and VOO share little of their money.
14 positions in common, counted across the 226 positions we hold weights for in FNY and 504 in VOO, against full books of 226 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for FNY (99.0% of the fund), and 210 for FNY that do not appear in VOO (94.7%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FNY | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IVZInvesco Plc | 0.75% | 0.02% | 0.73% |
| RLRalph Lauren Corp. Class A | 0.58% | 0.02% | 0.56% |
| CRLCharles River Laboratories International Inc | 0.53% | 0.02% | 0.51% |
| HASHasbro Inc | 0.34% | 0.02% | 0.32% |
| KIMKimco Realty Reit Corp | 0.30% | 0.03% | 0.27% |
| FRTFederal Realty Investment Trust | 0.30% | 0.02% | 0.28% |
| NCLHNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. | 0.30% | 0.02% | 0.28% |
| ALLEAllegion Plc | 0.18% | 0.02% | 0.16% |
| CLXClorox Co. | 0.17% | 0.02% | 0.15% |
| GDDYGodaddy Inc | 0.17% | 0.02% | 0.15% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FNY 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, FNY or VOO?
FNY has an expense ratio of 0.73% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FNY or VOO?
Over the past year FNY returned +15.00% vs +19.43% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FNY annualized +11.32% vs +12.65% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FNY or VOO?
FNY has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 14.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: FNY -38.9% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FNY and VOO?
FNY and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between FNY and VOO?
4.2% of FNY's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.3% of VOO's is in holdings FNY also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 226 positions we hold weights for in FNY and 504 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, FNY or VOO?
FNY yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FNY?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FNY is less concentrated, with 8.3% 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.