FTHI vs VOO
First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FTHI or VOO?
Long-Short Strategy against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FTHI is less concentrated, with 33.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | FTHI | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.5B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.86% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 352 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +6.57% | +12.25%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.18% | +17.03%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.62% | +21.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.91% | +13.08%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.4%Best | 14.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,782 | $18,490Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.0%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Long-Short Strategy | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 6, 2014 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 7, 2014 to Sep 17, 2026 (12.7 years).
FTHI 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 12.7 years both funds cover.
FTHI vs VOO Performance
First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) 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 FTHI returned +9.18% while VOO returned +17.03%. Year to date, FTHI is up 6.57% versus a gain of 12.25% for VOO.
Over three years, FTHI compounded at +13.62% per year against +21.25% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +10.91% and +13.08% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +12.60% annualized vs +4.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 11.4% for FTHI. 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 -35.5% for FTHI 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTHI charges 0.75% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $3 annually, a gap of $72 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTHI currently yields 8.86% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
72.8% of FTHI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 60.1% of VOO's money is in holdings FTHI also owns.
Most of FTHI is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
89 positions in common, counted across the 168 positions we hold weights for in FTHI and 494 in VOO, against full books of 352 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 398 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for FTHI (39.0% of the fund), and 49 for FTHI that do not appear in VOO (12.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FTHI | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.68% | 7.05% | 0.63% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.99% | 7.55% | 1.56% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.54% | 5.36% | 2.82% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.56% | 4.13% | 1.57% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.03% | 3.24% | 1.21% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.15% | 2.86% | 0.71% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.70% | 2.62% | 0.92% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.78% | 1.46% | 1.32% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 2.46% | 0.63% | 1.83% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.19% | 1.90% | 0.71% |
72.8% of FTHI 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, FTHI or VOO?
FTHI has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTHI or VOO?
Over the past year FTHI returned +9.18% vs +17.03% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), FTHI annualized +4.98% vs +12.60% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTHI or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 11.4% for FTHI. Worst drawdown: FTHI -35.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FTHI and VOO?
FTHI and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 FTHI and VOO?
72.8% of FTHI's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 60.1% of VOO's is in holdings FTHI also owns. They hold 89 positions in common, counted across the 168 positions we hold weights for in FTHI and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTHI or VOO?
FTHI yields 8.86% while VOO yields 1.04%, so FTHI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FTHI?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FTHI is less concentrated, with 33.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.