FTBI vs VXUS
First Trust Balanced Income ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, FTBI or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92.
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 | FTBI | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.98% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $24M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.65% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 15 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +6.41% | +14.49%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.20% | +21.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.1%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.3%Best | -11.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $11,760 | $13,417Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 28, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 29, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.3 years).
FTBI vs VXUS 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
FTBI vs VXUS Performance
First Trust Balanced Income ETF (FTBI) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FTBI returned +8.20% while VXUS returned +21.52%. Year to date, FTBI is up 6.41% versus a gain of 14.49% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 6.1% for FTBI. 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 -5.3% for FTBI and -11.3% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTBI charges 0.98% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $98 vs $5 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTBI currently yields 7.65% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 15 holdings in FTBI and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 99.9% and 88.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 15 positions we hold weights for in FTBI and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 15 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 15 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions FTBI does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FTBI and VXUS 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, FTBI or VXUS?
FTBI has an expense ratio of 0.98% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTBI or VXUS?
Over the past year FTBI returned +8.20% vs +21.52% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FTBI annualized +13.28% vs +25.37% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTBI or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 6.1% for FTBI. Worst drawdown: FTBI -5.3% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both FTBI and VXUS?
FTBI and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTBI or VXUS?
FTBI yields 7.65% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so FTBI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than FTBI?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.