FTKI vs VXUS
First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, FTKI or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | FTKI | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.86% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 12.39% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 300 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +14.59% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.31% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 11.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.2% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $12,020 | $14,708Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 26, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.5 years).
FTKI 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
FTKI vs VXUS Performance
First Trust Small Cap BuyWrite Income ETF (FTKI) 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 FTKI returned +19.31% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, FTKI is up 14.59% versus a gain of 16.15% 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 11.7% compared with 10.1% 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 -13.6% 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTKI charges 0.86% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $86 vs $5 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTKI currently yields 12.39% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 6.3% of FTKI's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
FTKI and VXUS share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 144 positions we hold weights for in FTKI and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 300 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FTKI | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAPCredicorp Ltd - Common | 1.65% | 0.00% | 1.65% |
| EQX:CAEquinox Gold Corp | 1.42% | 0.02% | 1.40% |
| SSRMSsr Mining Inc | 1.33% | 0.01% | 1.32% |
| SLF:CASun Life Financial, Inc. | 0.47% | 0.10% | 0.37% |
| ING:AUInghams Group Ltd | 0.34% | 0.00% | 0.34% |
| TFPM:CATriple Flag Precious Met Common Stock | 0.28% | 0.00% | 0.28% |
| FBKFb Financial Corp | 0.24% | 0.03% | 0.21% |
| PAC:MXGrupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico Sab De Cv Adr | 0.21% | 0.00% | 0.21% |
| EFX:CAEnerflex Ltd | 0.18% | 0.01% | 0.17% |
| ATAT:SHAtour Lifestyle Holdings Limited | 0.17% | 0.00% | 0.17% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FTKI 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, FTKI or VXUS?
FTKI has an expense ratio of 0.86% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTKI or VXUS?
Over the past year FTKI returned +19.31% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FTKI annualized +13.05% vs +29.33% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTKI or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 11.7% annualized versus 10.1% for FTKI. Worst drawdown: FTKI -15.2% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both FTKI and VXUS?
FTKI and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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 VXUS?
At least 6.3% of FTKI's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 144 positions we hold weights for in FTKI and 8,094 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTKI or VXUS?
FTKI yields 12.39% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so FTKI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than FTKI?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.