FTHY vs VTI
First Trust High Yield Opportunities 2027 Term Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FTHY or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FTHY is less concentrated, with 16.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | FTHY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.59% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $644M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.78% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 301 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +0.51% | +12.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.78% | +16.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.03% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.50% | +11.94%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9%Best | 15.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -31.2% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,773 | $17,576Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 16.1%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2020 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2020 to Sep 17, 2026 (6.2 years).
FTHY 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 6.2 years both funds cover.
FTHY vs VTI Performance
First Trust High Yield Opportunities 2027 Term Fund (FTHY) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FTHY returned -0.78% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, FTHY is up 0.51% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Over three years, FTHY compounded at +10.03% per year against +20.89% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +1.50% and +11.94% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +17.05% annualized vs +2.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 11.9% for FTHY. 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 -31.2% for FTHY and -25.4% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTHY charges 3.59% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $359 vs $3 annually, a gap of $356 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTHY currently yields 10.78% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 222 holdings in FTHY and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 102.9% 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 63 days apart, FTHY as of May 29, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 222 positions we hold weights for in FTHY and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 301 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FTHY (97.5% of the fund), and 221 for FTHY that do not appear in VTI (102.9%).
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 FTHY 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, FTHY or VTI?
FTHY has an expense ratio of 3.59% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $356 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTHY or VTI?
Over the past year FTHY returned -0.78% vs +16.78% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), FTHY annualized +2.39% vs +17.05% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTHY or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 11.9% for FTHY. Worst drawdown: FTHY -31.2% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both FTHY and VTI?
FTHY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, FTHY or VTI?
FTHY yields 10.78% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FTHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FTHY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FTHY is less concentrated, with 16.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.