FV vs VTI
First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FV or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FV led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | FV | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.8B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.50% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 6 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +14.05%Best | +12.28% |
| 1Y Return | +19.03%Best | +16.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.54% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.73% | +11.94%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.2% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.0%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,908 | $17,576Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 5, 2014 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 6, 2014 to Sep 17, 2026 (12.5 years).
FV 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 12.5 years both funds cover.
FV vs VTI Performance
First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF (FV) 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 FV returned +19.03% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, FV is up 14.05% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Over three years, FV compounded at +17.54% per year against +20.89% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.73% and +11.94% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +11.95% annualized vs +11.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.2% compared with 15.1% for VTI. 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 -34.0% for FV and -35.0% 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FV charges 0.89% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $3 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FV currently yields 0.50% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 5 holdings in FV and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 100.0% and 98.1% 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 5 positions we hold weights for in FV and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 6 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 FV (97.5% of the fund), and 5 for FV that do not appear in VTI (100.0%).
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 FV 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, FV or VTI?
FV has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FV or VTI?
Over the past year FV returned +19.03% vs +16.78% for VTI, so FV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), FV annualized +11.20% vs +11.95% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FV or VTI?
FV has been the more volatile fund at 18.2% annualized versus 15.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FV -34.0% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both FV and VTI?
FV and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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, FV or VTI?
FV yields 0.50% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FV?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FV led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.