FPA vs VYM
First Trust Asia Pacific Ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, FPA or VYM?
Each has led over a different period.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. FPA led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. FPA is less concentrated, with 24.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%.
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 | FPA | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $113M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.52% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 212 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +36.63%Best | +13.75% |
| 1Y Return | +44.47%Best | +19.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.56%Best | +18.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.00%Best | +12.17% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.2% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.8% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,424Best | $17,758 |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.0%Best | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 18, 2011 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2011 to Sep 9, 2026 (15.4 years).
FPA vs VYM 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.
FPA vs VYM Performance
First Trust Asia Pacific Ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FPA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FPA returned +44.47% while VYM returned +19.42%. Year to date, FPA is up 36.63% versus a gain of 13.75% for VYM.
Over three years, FPA compounded at +29.56% per year against +18.22% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +13.00% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.84% annualized vs +4.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FPA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.2% compared with 13.0% for VYM. 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 -55.8% for FPA and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FPA charges 0.80% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $4 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FPA currently yields 3.52% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of FPA's money is in holdings VYM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in FPA and 603 in VYM, against full books of 212 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 567 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for FPA (97.4% of the fund), and 2 for FPA that do not appear in VYM (2.4%).
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 FPA | Weight in VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCIService Corp International | 0.24% | 0.04% | 0.20% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FPA and VYM 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, FPA or VYM?
FPA has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FPA or VYM?
Over the past year FPA returned +44.47% vs +19.42% for VYM, so FPA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FPA annualized +4.85% vs +9.84% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FPA or VYM?
FPA has been the more volatile fund at 22.2% annualized versus 13.0% for VYM. Worst drawdown: FPA -55.8% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both FPA and VYM?
FPA and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, FPA or VYM?
FPA yields 3.52% while VYM yields 2.22%, so FPA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than FPA?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. FPA led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VYM over the full window. FPA is less concentrated, with 24.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 25.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.