FSLD vs VTI

FSLD vs VTI

Which is better, FSLD or VTI?

Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.6%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTILess Concentrated: VTI

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

MetricFSLDVTI
Expense Ratio0.20%0.03%Best
AUM$5M$666.9B
Dividend Yield4.40%1.03%
Holdings2273,543
Volatility (annualized)0.8%Best15.8%
Max Drawdown-0.6%Best-19.3%
$10,000 over 3.6 years$11,532$15,841Best
Top 10 Weight38.6%33.3%Best
Fund FamilyFidelity Investments (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleShort Term BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionApr 19, 2022May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).

The two price series end 313 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. FSLD has data through Nov 13, 2025 and VTI through Sep 22, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 21, 2022 to Nov 13, 2025 (3.6 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 0.8% for FSLD. 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 -0.6% for FSLD and -19.3% 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 0.26. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

FSLD charges 0.20% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FSLD currently yields 4.40% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 231 holdings in FSLD and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.8% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

The two holdings books were reported 334 days apart, FSLD as of Aug 31, 2025 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.

0 positions in common, counted across the 231 positions we hold weights for in FSLD and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 227 and 3,543.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,148 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FSLD (97.5% of the fund), and 229 for FSLD that do not appear in VTI (99.8%).

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.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of FSLD and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

FSLDVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FSLD or VTI?

FSLD has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, FSLD or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 0.8% for FSLD. Worst drawdown: FSLD -0.6% vs VTI -19.3%.

Should I hold both FSLD and VTI?

FSLD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.26, 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, FSLD or VTI?

FSLD yields 4.40% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FSLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than FSLD?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.