FXH vs VTI
First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FXH or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FXH led over the full window, VTI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. FXH is less concentrated, with 24.8% 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 | FXH | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.77% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 148 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +13.57%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +15.84% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.37% | +23.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.59% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.7%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,364 | $18,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 8, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 10, 2007 to Oct 2, 2026 (19.4 years).
FXH 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 19.4 years both funds cover.
FXH vs VTI Performance
First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (FXH) 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 FXH returned +15.84% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, FXH is up 13.57% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, FXH compounded at +11.37% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.59% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, FXH has the edge at +10.24% annualized vs +9.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FXH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 16.0% 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 -43.7% for FXH and -56.6% 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FXH charges 0.61% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $61 vs $3 annually, a gap of $58 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FXH currently yields 0.77% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
95.6% of FXH's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 7.0% of VTI's money is in holdings FXH also owns.
Most of FXH is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, FXH as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
70 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in FXH and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 148 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,083 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FXH (90.4% of the fund), and 1 for FXH that do not appear in VTI (1.6%).
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
| Stock | Weight in FXH | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2.83% | 0.11% | 2.72% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.55% | 1.35% | 0.20% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.55% | 0.20% | 2.35% |
| NTRANatera Inc | 2.67% | 0.05% | 2.62% |
| UHSUniversal Health Services Inc. | 2.58% | 0.01% | 2.57% |
| SOLVSolventum Corp | 2.53% | 0.02% | 2.51% |
| ZBHZimmer Biomet Holdings | 2.39% | 0.03% | 2.36% |
| GHGuardant Health, Inc | 2.36% | 0.03% | 2.33% |
| CICigna Corp. | 2.27% | 0.10% | 2.17% |
| THCTenet Healthcare Corp Common Stock Usd 0.05 | 2.34% | 0.03% | 2.31% |
95.6% of FXH 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, FXH or VTI?
FXH has an expense ratio of 0.61% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $58 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FXH or VTI?
Over the past year FXH returned +15.84% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), FXH annualized +10.24% vs +9.20% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FXH or VTI?
FXH has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FXH -43.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both FXH and VTI?
FXH and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 FXH and VTI?
95.6% of FXH's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 7.0% of VTI's is in holdings FXH also owns. They hold 70 positions in common, counted across the 73 positions we hold weights for in FXH and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, FXH or VTI?
FXH yields 0.77% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FXH?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FXH led over the full window, VTI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. FXH is less concentrated, with 24.8% 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.