FRI vs VOO
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FRI or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%.
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 | FRI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $198M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.40% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 254 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +15.19%Best | +13.37% |
| 1Y Return | +15.26% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.92% | +21.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.60% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,934 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.7% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 8, 2007 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
FRI 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 16 years both funds cover.
FRI vs VOO Performance
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI) 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 FRI returned +15.26% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, FRI is up 15.19% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, FRI compounded at +11.92% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +3.60% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +6.24%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FRI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 14.1% 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 -44.2% for FRI 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FRI charges 0.50% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FRI currently yields 2.40% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
69.0% of FRI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.6% of VOO's money is in holdings FRI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
25 positions in common, counted across the 126 positions we hold weights for in FRI and 505 in VOO, against full books of 254 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 472 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for FRI (97.9% of the fund), and 100 for FRI that do not appear in VOO (27.1%).
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 FRI | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 12.06% | 0.25% | 11.81% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 9.45% | 0.20% | 9.25% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 4.69% | 0.16% | 4.53% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 4.58% | 0.09% | 4.49% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | 4.52% | 0.11% | 4.41% |
| ORealty Income Corp. | 4.21% | 0.09% | 4.12% |
| PSAPublic Storage | 3.95% | 0.08% | 3.87% |
| VTRVentas Inc . | 3.24% | 0.07% | 3.17% |
| IRMIron Mtn Inc New Com Npv | 2.72% | 0.06% | 2.66% |
| EXRExtra Space Storage Inc. | 2.28% | 0.05% | 2.23% |
69.0% of FRI is already inside VOO.
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, FRI or VOO?
FRI has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FRI or VOO?
Over the past year FRI returned +15.26% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), FRI annualized +6.24% vs +13.48% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FRI or VOO?
FRI has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: FRI -44.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FRI and VOO?
FRI and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 FRI and VOO?
69.0% of FRI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 1.6% of VOO's is in holdings FRI also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 126 positions we hold weights for in FRI and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, FRI or VOO?
FRI yields 2.40% while VOO yields 1.08%, so FRI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FRI?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.