LMBS vs VTI
First Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, LMBS or VTI?
Short Term Government 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 | LMBS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.66% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6.4B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.13% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,249 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +1.14% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.36% | +17.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.40% | +20.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.95% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.2%Best | 15.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.5%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,565 | $17,514Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Government Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 4, 2014 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 5, 2014 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.8 years).
LMBS 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.
LMBS vs VTI Performance
First Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF (LMBS) 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 LMBS returned +2.36% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, LMBS is up 1.14% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, LMBS compounded at +5.40% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +2.95% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.17% annualized vs +1.44%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 2.2% for LMBS. 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 -8.5% for LMBS 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LMBS charges 0.66% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $66 vs $3 annually, a gap of $63 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LMBS currently yields 4.13% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 740 holdings in LMBS and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 71.3% and 90.6% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 740 positions we hold weights for in LMBS and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 1,249 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LMBS 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, LMBS or VTI?
LMBS has an expense ratio of 0.66% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $63 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LMBS or VTI?
Over the past year LMBS returned +2.36% vs +17.22% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), LMBS annualized +1.44% vs +12.17% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LMBS or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 2.2% for LMBS. Worst drawdown: LMBS -8.5% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both LMBS and VTI?
LMBS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, LMBS or VTI?
LMBS yields 4.13% while VTI yields 1.03%, so LMBS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than LMBS?
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.