FWD vs VTI

FWD vs VTI

Which is better, FWD or VTI?

FWD has been ahead.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. FWD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FWD is less concentrated, with 22.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: FWDLess Concentrated: FWD

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

MetricFWDVTI
Expense Ratio0.65%0.03%Best
AUM$3.1B$666.9B
Dividend Yield0.09%1.03%
Holdings1253,543
YTD Return+20.47%Best+12.30%
1Y Return+28.26%Best+16.08%
3Y Return (annualized)+33.65%Best+21.01%
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.36%
Volatility (annualized)24.0%12.9%Best
Max Drawdown-29.0%-19.3%Best
$10,000 over 3.5 years$26,460Best$20,091
Top 10 Weight22.4%Best33.3%
Fund FamilyAllianceBernstein L.P.Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMar 22, 2023May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 22, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (3.5 years).

FWD 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 3.5 years both funds cover.

FWD vs VTI Performance

AB Disruptors ETF (FWD) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P. and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FWD returned +28.26% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, FWD is up 20.47% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.

Over three years, FWD compounded at +33.65% per year against +21.01% for VTI. Across the full 4-year window we track, FWD has the edge at +32.05% annualized vs +22.06%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

FWD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.0% compared with 12.9% 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 -29.0% for FWD and -19.3% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

FWD charges 0.65% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FWD currently yields 0.09% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

FWD already in VTI70.3%
VTI already in FWD35.9%

70.3% of FWD's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 35.9% of VTI's money is in holdings FWD also owns.

Most of FWD is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

80 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in FWD and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 125 and 3,543.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,072 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FWD (61.6% of the fund), and 5 for FWD that do not appear in VTI (3.9%).

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.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in FWDWeight in VTIDifference
NVDANvidia Corp4.10%6.40%2.30%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp2.95%4.79%1.84%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc2.74%3.65%0.91%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A2.19%2.90%0.71%
AVGOBroadcom Inc1.50%2.56%1.06%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc1.89%1.08%0.81%
LLYEli Lilly & Co.0.92%1.35%0.43%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.0.77%1.29%0.52%
CATCaterpillar, Inc.1.44%0.52%0.92%
MRKMerck & Company Inc1.49%0.45%1.04%

70.3% of FWD 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.

FWDVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FWD or VTI?

FWD has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, FWD or VTI?

Over the past year FWD returned +28.26% vs +16.08% for VTI, so FWD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), FWD annualized +32.05% vs +22.06% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, FWD or VTI?

FWD has been the more volatile fund at 24.0% annualized versus 12.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FWD -29.0% vs VTI -19.3%.

Should I hold both FWD and VTI?

FWD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 FWD and VTI?

70.3% of FWD's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 35.9% of VTI's is in holdings FWD also owns. They hold 80 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in FWD and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, FWD or VTI?

FWD yields 0.09% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than FWD?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. FWD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FWD is less concentrated, with 22.4% 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.