FYC vs VTI
First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FYC or VTI?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FYC led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. FYC is less concentrated, with 8.8% 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 | FYC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 529 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +20.20%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +27.47%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.31%Best | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.60% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.1% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,549 | $18,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2011 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2011 to Oct 2, 2026 (15.5 years).
FYC 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 15.5 years both funds cover.
FYC vs VTI Performance
First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FYC) 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 FYC returned +27.47% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, FYC is up 20.20% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, FYC compounded at +29.31% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +10.60% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.21% annualized vs +12.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FYC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.0% compared with 14.7% 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 -48.1% for FYC 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FYC charges 0.70% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FYC currently yields 0.17% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
96.2% of FYC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.5% of VTI's money is in holdings FYC also owns.
Most of FYC is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, FYC 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.
254 positions in common, counted across the 262 positions we hold weights for in FYC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 529 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,104 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FYC (97.0% of the fund), and 6 for FYC that do not appear in VTI (2.5%).
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 FYC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RNGRingcentral Inc, Class A | 0.98% | 0.01% | 0.97% |
| TXG10x Genomics Inc Com Usd 1 Cl A | 0.96% | 0.01% | 0.95% |
| AVAHAveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc | 0.90% | 0.00% | 0.90% |
| AAMIAcadian Asset Management Inc | 0.89% | 0.00% | 0.89% |
| CLMTCalumet Inc. | 0.87% | 0.01% | 0.86% |
| TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp. | 0.86% | 0.01% | 0.85% |
| LFSTLifestance Health Group Inc | 0.84% | 0.00% | 0.84% |
| NEONeogenomics Inc | 0.84% | 0.00% | 0.84% |
| TVTXTravere Therapeutics Inc | 0.83% | 0.01% | 0.82% |
| PGENPrecigen Corp | 0.81% | 0.00% | 0.81% |
96.2% of FYC 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, FYC or VTI?
FYC has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FYC or VTI?
Over the past year FYC returned +27.47% vs +15.92% for VTI, so FYC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), FYC annualized +12.07% vs +12.21% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FYC or VTI?
FYC has been the more volatile fund at 20.0% annualized versus 14.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FYC -48.1% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both FYC and VTI?
FYC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 FYC and VTI?
96.2% of FYC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.5% of VTI's is in holdings FYC also owns. They hold 254 positions in common, counted across the 262 positions we hold weights for in FYC and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, FYC or VTI?
FYC yields 0.17% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FYC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FYC led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. FYC is less concentrated, with 8.8% 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.