FXAIX vs VFIAX

FXAIX vs VFIAX

Which is better, FXAIX or VFIAX?

Nearly the same fund. FXAIX costs less.

FXAIX has a lower expense ratio. FXAIX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. VFIAX is less concentrated, with 36.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.

Lower Fees: FXAIXHigher Returns: FXAIXLess Concentrated: VFIAX

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

MetricFXAIXVFIAX
Expense Ratio0.02%Best0.04%
AUM$594.0B$677.6B
Dividend Yield1.06%1.03%
Holdings507506
YTD Price Return+11.90%Best+11.82%
1Y Price Return+16.26%Best+16.19%
3Y Price Return (annualized)+19.75%Best+19.71%
5Y Price Return (annualized)+11.40%Best+11.37%
Volatility (annualized)15.4%Best15.6%
Max Drawdown-25.4%Tie-25.4%Tie
$10,000 over 5 years$17,156Best$17,133
Top 10 Weight36.4%36.3%Best
Fund FamilyFidelity Investments (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 4, 2011Nov 13, 2000

Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for FXAIX or VFIAX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. FXAIX yields 1.06% and VFIAX 1.03% on top.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2021 to Sep 11, 2026 (5 years).

FXAIX vs VFIAX 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.

FXAIX vs VFIAX Performance

Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX) is a mutual fund from Fidelity Investments (US) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Class (VFIAX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FXAIX returned +16.26% while VFIAX returned +16.19%. Year to date, FXAIX is up 11.90% versus a gain of 11.82% for VFIAX.

Over three years, FXAIX compounded at +19.75% per year against +19.71% for VFIAX; over five years the annualized figures are +11.40% and +11.37% respectively.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VFIAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 15.4% for FXAIX. 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 -25.4% for FXAIX and -25.4% for VFIAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

FXAIX charges 0.02% per year while VFIAX charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $4 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FXAIX currently yields 1.06% against 1.03% for VFIAX.

Holdings Overlap

FXAIX already in VFIAX96.8%
VFIAX already in FXAIX96.4%

96.8% of FXAIX's money is in holdings VFIAX also owns. 96.4% of VFIAX's money is in holdings FXAIX also owns.

Most of FXAIX is already inside VFIAX. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

494 positions in common, counted across the 508 positions we hold weights for in FXAIX and 500 in VFIAX, against full books of 507 and 506.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 4 positions for VFIAX that do not appear in our book for FXAIX (0.5% of the fund), and 6 for FXAIX that do not appear in VFIAX (2.6%).

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 FXAIXWeight in VFIAXDifference
NVDANvidia Corp.7.51%7.50%0.01%
AAPLApple, Inc6.59%6.57%0.02%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 374.30%4.29%0.01%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc3.62%3.61%0.01%
GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.0013.25%3.24%0.01%
AVGOBroadcom Inc2.77%2.77%0.00%
GOOGAlphabet Inc2.59%2.58%0.01%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.2.02%2.01%0.01%
METAMeta Platforms, Inc.1.92%1.91%0.01%
TSLATesla Inc1.84%1.83%0.01%

96.8% of FXAIX is already inside VFIAX.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

FXAIXVFIAX

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FXAIX or VFIAX?

FXAIX has an expense ratio of 0.02% while VFIAX charges 0.04%. FXAIX is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, FXAIX or VFIAX?

Over the past year FXAIX returned +16.26% vs +16.19% for VFIAX, so FXAIX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, FXAIX or VFIAX?

VFIAX has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 15.4% for FXAIX. Worst drawdown: FXAIX -25.4% vs VFIAX -25.4%.

Should I hold both FXAIX and VFIAX?

FXAIX and VFIAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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.

What is the holdings overlap between FXAIX and VFIAX?

96.8% of FXAIX's money is in holdings VFIAX also owns. 96.4% of VFIAX's is in holdings FXAIX also owns. They hold 494 positions in common, counted across the 508 positions we hold weights for in FXAIX and 500 in VFIAX.

Which pays a higher dividend, FXAIX or VFIAX?

FXAIX yields 1.06% while VFIAX yields 1.03%, so FXAIX currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VFIAX better than FXAIX?

FXAIX has a lower expense ratio. FXAIX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. VFIAX is less concentrated, with 36.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.