FNY vs VTI
First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FNY or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. FNY is less concentrated, with 8.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.73% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $564M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 451 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +8.23% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.53% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.71% | +23.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.37% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.2% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.9% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,270 | $18,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.7%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2011 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2011 to Oct 2, 2026 (15.5 years).
FNY 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 15.5 years both funds cover.
FNY vs VTI Performance
First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FNY) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FNY returned +8.53% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, FNY is up 8.23% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, FNY compounded at +19.71% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.37% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.21% annualized vs +11.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FNY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.2% compared with 14.7% 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 -38.9% for FNY 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FNY charges 0.73% per year while VTI 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 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
99.4% of FNY's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.6% of VTI's money is in holdings FNY also owns.
Most of FNY is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, FNY as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
223 positions in common, counted across the 224 positions we hold weights for in FNY and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 451 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 946 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FNY (94.9% of the fund), and 0 for FNY 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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FNY | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZETAZeta Global Holdings Corp-A | 1.02% | 0.01% | 1.01% |
| HALOHalozyme Therapeutics Inc | 0.89% | 0.01% | 0.88% |
| GHGuardant Health, Inc | 0.87% | 0.03% | 0.84% |
| CORTCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 0.87% | 0.01% | 0.86% |
| PACSPacs Group Inc | 0.86% | 0.00% | 0.86% |
| TPCTutor Perini Corp | 0.85% | 0.01% | 0.84% |
| FTDRFrontdoor Inc | 0.84% | 0.01% | 0.83% |
| OKTAOkta Inc. | 0.82% | 0.03% | 0.79% |
| TGTXTg Therapeutics Inc Common Stock | 0.82% | 0.01% | 0.81% |
| COKECoca-cola Consolidated Inc | 0.81% | 0.01% | 0.80% |
99.4% of FNY is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FNY or VTI?
FNY has an expense ratio of 0.73% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FNY or VTI?
Over the past year FNY returned +8.53% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), FNY annualized +11.11% vs +12.21% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FNY or VTI?
FNY has been the more volatile fund at 18.2% annualized versus 14.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FNY -38.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both FNY and VTI?
FNY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between FNY and VTI?
99.4% of FNY's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.6% of VTI's is in holdings FNY also owns. They hold 223 positions in common, counted across the 224 positions we hold weights for in FNY and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, FNY or VTI?
FNY yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FNY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. FNY is less concentrated, with 8.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.