LDSF vs VTI
First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, LDSF or VTI?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | LDSF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.77% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $161M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.69% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 20 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -0.36% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.44% | +15.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.88% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.10% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.4%Best | 16.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.7%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,095 | $17,869Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 2, 2019 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 7, 2019 to Oct 1, 2026 (7.7 years).
LDSF 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
LDSF vs VTI Performance
First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF (LDSF) 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 LDSF returned +0.44% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, LDSF is down 0.36% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, LDSF compounded at +4.88% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.10% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +15.85% annualized vs +1.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 3.4% for LDSF. 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 -8.7% for LDSF 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LDSF charges 0.77% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $77 vs $3 annually, a gap of $74 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LDSF currently yields 4.69% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 9 holdings in LDSF and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.7% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, LDSF 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 9 positions we hold weights for in LDSF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 20 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for LDSF (97.5% of the fund), and 9 for LDSF that do not appear in VTI (99.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LDSF and VTI 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, LDSF or VTI?
LDSF has an expense ratio of 0.77% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $74 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LDSF or VTI?
Over the past year LDSF returned +0.44% vs +15.23% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), LDSF annualized +1.48% vs +15.85% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LDSF or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 3.4% for LDSF. Worst drawdown: LDSF -8.7% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both LDSF and VTI?
LDSF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, LDSF or VTI?
LDSF yields 4.69% while VTI yields 1.03%, so LDSF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than LDSF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.