QABA vs VTI
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, QABA or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QABA is less concentrated, with 25.6% 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 | QABA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $99M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 322 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +16.68%Best | +13.14% |
| 1Y Return | +16.50% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.81% | +22.30%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.35% | +12.01%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.5% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.0% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,605 | $17,631Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.6%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2009 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 1, 2009 to Sep 23, 2026 (17.2 years).
QABA 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 17.2 years both funds cover.
QABA vs VTI Performance
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) 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 QABA returned +16.50% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, QABA is up 16.68% versus a gain of 13.14% for VTI.
Over three years, QABA compounded at +20.81% per year against +22.30% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.35% and +12.01% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.43% annualized vs +7.91%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QABA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.5% compared with 14.8% 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 -51.0% for QABA 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QABA charges 0.60% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $3 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QABA currently yields 2.22% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
96.5% of QABA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings QABA also owns.
Most of QABA is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
158 positions in common, counted across the 160 positions we hold weights for in QABA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 322 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,135 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for QABA (97.3% of the fund), and 1 for QABA that do not appear in VTI (3.1%).
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 QABA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WTFCWintrust Financial Corp | 4.10% | 0.01% | 4.09% |
| CBSHCommerce Bancshares Inc | 3.40% | 0.01% | 3.39% |
| UBSIUnited Bankshares Inc/Wv | 2.63% | 0.01% | 2.62% |
| HWCHancock Whitney Corp Common Stock Usd3.33 | 2.44% | 0.01% | 2.43% |
| OZKBank Ozk | 2.17% | 0.01% | 2.16% |
| EBCEastern Bankshares Inc | 2.05% | 0.01% | 2.04% |
| TFSLTfs Financial Corp Com | 1.98% | 0.00% | 1.98% |
| FFINFirst Financial Bankshares Inc | 1.93% | 0.01% | 1.92% |
| FULTFulton Financial Corp | 1.81% | 0.01% | 1.80% |
| IBOCInternational Bancshares Corp | 1.76% | 0.01% | 1.75% |
96.5% of QABA 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, QABA or VTI?
QABA has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QABA or VTI?
Over the past year QABA returned +16.50% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), QABA annualized +7.91% vs +13.43% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QABA or VTI?
QABA has been the more volatile fund at 22.5% annualized versus 14.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: QABA -51.0% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both QABA and VTI?
QABA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 QABA and VTI?
96.5% of QABA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's is in holdings QABA also owns. They hold 158 positions in common, counted across the 160 positions we hold weights for in QABA and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QABA or VTI?
QABA yields 2.22% while VTI yields 1.03%, so QABA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than QABA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QABA is less concentrated, with 25.6% 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.