FT vs VTI
Franklin Universal Trust vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FT or VTI?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Blend.
FT has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | FT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.00%Best | 0.03% |
| AUM | $212M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.95% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 704 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -3.87% | +11.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.68% | +15.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.15% | +20.67%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.22% | +11.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.7% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,296 | $17,303Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 23, 1988 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 15, 2026 (25.3 years).
FT 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
FT vs VTI Performance
Franklin Universal Trust (FT) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FT returned -0.68% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, FT is down 3.87% versus a gain of 11.53% for VTI.
Over three years, FT compounded at +10.15% per year against +20.67% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.22% and +11.59% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.00% annualized vs +1.16%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.3% 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 -64.7% for FT and -56.6% 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FT charges 0.00% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $0 vs $3 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FT currently yields 5.95% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.0% of VTI's money is in holdings FT also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for FT, our book for it lists positions totalling 114.3% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
VTI and FT share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, FT as of Feb 28, 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.
30 positions in common, counted across the 307 positions we hold weights for in FT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 704 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 4.74% | 0.25% | 4.49% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 3.81% | 0.08% | 3.73% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 2.82% | 0.07% | 2.75% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 2.65% | 0.03% | 2.62% |
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 2.54% | 0.03% | 2.51% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 2.30% | 0.14% | 2.16% |
| CNPCenterpoint Energy Inc. | 2.35% | 0.04% | 2.31% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 2.14% | 0.15% | 1.99% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 2.12% | 0.10% | 2.02% |
| CMSCms Energy Corp. | 2.06% | 0.03% | 2.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FT and VTI 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, FT or VTI?
FT has an expense ratio of 0.00% while VTI charges 0.03%. FT is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FT or VTI?
Over the past year FT returned -0.68% vs +15.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), FT annualized +1.16% vs +8.00% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FT or VTI?
FT has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FT -64.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both FT and VTI?
FT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 FT and VTI?
At least 2.0% of VTI's money is in holdings FT also owns. Our book for FT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 307 positions we hold weights for in FT and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, FT or VTI?
FT yields 5.95% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FT?
FT has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.