FTKI vs VTI
First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FTKI or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FTKI led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. FTKI is less concentrated, with 20.8% 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 | FTKI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.86% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.26% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 300 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +12.54% | +14.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.67%Best | +16.88% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.75% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.68% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.4%Best | 13.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.2%Best | -16.5% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $11,875 | $13,545Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 26, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.6 years).
FTKI 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
FTKI vs VTI Performance
First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF (FTKI) 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 FTKI returned +17.67% while VTI returned +16.88%. Year to date, FTKI is up 12.54% versus a gain of 14.00% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.0% compared with 10.4% for FTKI. 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 -15.2% for FTKI and -16.5% 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTKI charges 0.86% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $86 vs $3 annually, a gap of $83 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTKI currently yields 12.26% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
77.0% of FTKI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.8% of VTI's money is in holdings FTKI also owns.
Most of FTKI is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
111 positions in common, counted across the 144 positions we hold weights for in FTKI and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 300 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,091 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FTKI (96.7% of the fund), and 11 for FTKI that do not appear in VTI (7.8%).
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 FTKI | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATHUipath Inc Series D-1 | 3.25% | 0.01% | 3.24% |
| ANFAbercrombie & Fitch Co. Class A | 2.59% | 0.01% | 2.58% |
| AGXArgan, Inc. | 2.23% | 0.01% | 2.22% |
| ETSYEtsy Inc | 2.04% | 0.01% | 2.03% |
| CARTMaplebear Inc | 1.90% | 0.01% | 1.89% |
| CRDO:KYCredo Technology Group Holding Ltd | 1.83% | 0.05% | 1.78% |
| APPNAppian Corp | 1.80% | 0.00% | 1.80% |
| EHCEmcompass Health Corporation | 1.71% | 0.02% | 1.69% |
| MCRIMonarch Casino & Resort Inc | 1.63% | 0.00% | 1.63% |
| FCFSFirstcash Inc | 1.60% | 0.01% | 1.59% |
77.0% of FTKI is already inside VTI.
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, FTKI or VTI?
FTKI has an expense ratio of 0.86% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $83 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTKI or VTI?
Over the past year FTKI returned +17.67% vs +16.88% for VTI, so FTKI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FTKI annualized +11.34% vs +20.88% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTKI or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 13.0% annualized versus 10.4% for FTKI. Worst drawdown: FTKI -15.2% vs VTI -16.5%.
Should I hold both FTKI and VTI?
FTKI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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 FTKI and VTI?
77.0% of FTKI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.8% of VTI's is in holdings FTKI also owns. They hold 111 positions in common, counted across the 144 positions we hold weights for in FTKI and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTKI or VTI?
FTKI yields 12.26% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FTKI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FTKI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FTKI led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. FTKI is less concentrated, with 20.8% 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.