FPE vs VOO
First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FPE or VOO?
Preferred Stock 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 | FPE | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.83% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6.3B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.89% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 261 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +0.28% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.72% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.09% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.47% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.4%Best | 14.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,298 | $18,335Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 11, 2013 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 12, 2013 to Sep 4, 2026 (13.6 years).
FPE 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.
FPE vs VOO Performance
First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (FPE) 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 FPE returned +2.72% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, FPE is up 0.28% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, FPE compounded at +9.09% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +2.47% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.40% annualized vs +1.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 8.4% for FPE. 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 -34.8% for FPE 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FPE charges 0.83% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $83 vs $3 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FPE currently yields 5.89% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of VOO's money is in holdings FPE also owns.
Stated as a floor: for FPE, our book for it covers 75.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 198 positions we hold weights for in FPE and 504 in VOO, against full books of 261 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FPE 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, FPE or VOO?
FPE has an expense ratio of 0.83% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FPE or VOO?
Over the past year FPE returned +2.72% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), FPE annualized +1.32% vs +13.40% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FPE or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 8.4% for FPE. Worst drawdown: FPE -34.8% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FPE and VOO?
FPE and VOO 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, FPE or VOO?
FPE yields 5.89% while VOO yields 1.08%, so FPE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FPE?
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.