FYT vs VOO
First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FYT or VOO?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FYT led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FYT is less concentrated, with 8.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | FYT | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $198M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.43% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 526 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +25.75%Best | +12.74% |
| 1Y Return | +27.71%Best | +19.43% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.02% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.95% | +12.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.3% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.7% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,351 | $18,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.3%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2011 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 20, 2011 to Sep 8, 2026 (15.4 years).
FYT vs VOO 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
FYT vs VOO Performance
First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (FYT) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FYT returned +27.71% while VOO returned +19.43%. Year to date, FYT is up 25.75% versus a gain of 12.74% for VOO.
Over three years, FYT compounded at +16.02% per year against +21.18% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +8.95% and +12.76% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +12.65% annualized vs +9.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FYT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.3% compared with 14.3% for VOO. 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 -51.7% for FYT and -34.3% for VOO. 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
FYT charges 0.70% per year while VOO 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, FYT currently yields 1.43% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of FYT's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings FYT also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 260 positions we hold weights for in FYT and 504 in VOO, against full books of 526 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for FYT (99.3% of the fund), and 250 for FYT that do not appear in VOO (95.2%).
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 FYT | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNCCentene Corp | 0.71% | 0.05% | 0.66% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FYT and VOO 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, FYT or VOO?
FYT has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FYT or VOO?
Over the past year FYT returned +27.71% vs +19.43% for VOO, so FYT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), FYT annualized +9.10% vs +12.65% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FYT or VOO?
FYT has been the more volatile fund at 22.3% annualized versus 14.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: FYT -51.7% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FYT and VOO?
FYT and VOO 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, FYT or VOO?
FYT yields 1.43% while VOO yields 1.08%, so FYT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FYT?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FYT led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FYT is less concentrated, with 8.3% 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.