FPX vs VTI
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FPX or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FPX led over 3Y and the full window, VTI over 1Y and 5Y. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.8%.
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 | FPX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.18% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 204 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +4.93% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.73% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.95%Best | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.44% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.5% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.4%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,662 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.8% | 33.5%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 12, 2006 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 13, 2006 to Oct 14, 2026 (20.5 years).
FPX 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 20.5 years both funds cover.
FPX vs VTI Performance
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX) 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 FPX returned +4.73% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, FPX is up 4.93% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, FPX compounded at +27.95% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.44% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 21-year window we track, FPX has the edge at +11.19% annualized vs +9.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FPX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.5% compared with 15.6% 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 -56.4% for FPX and -56.6% 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
FPX charges 0.61% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $61 vs $3 annually, a gap of $58 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FPX currently yields 0.18% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
88.2% of FPX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.9% of VTI's money is in holdings FPX also owns.
Most of FPX is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
90 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in FPX and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 204 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,088 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for FPX (93.7% of the fund), and 5 for FPX that do not appear in VTI (7.7%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FPX | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 7.04% | 1.33% | 5.71% |
| GEVGe Vernova Inc Usd 0.01 | 7.75% | 0.33% | 7.42% |
| SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies | 6.59% | 0.11% | 6.48% |
| STXSeagate Technology Holdings | 5.05% | 0.25% | 4.80% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 3.18% | 0.10% | 3.08% |
| WBDWarner Bros Discovery Inc | 3.05% | 0.09% | 2.96% |
| DINOHf Sinclair Corporation | 3.08% | 0.02% | 3.06% |
| TWLOTwilio Inc. Class A | 2.22% | 0.05% | 2.17% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/the | 1.79% | 0.38% | 1.41% |
| CPAYCorpay Inc | 1.98% | 0.03% | 1.95% |
88.2% of FPX 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, FPX or VTI?
FPX has an expense ratio of 0.61% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $58 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FPX or VTI?
Over the past year FPX returned +4.73% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (21 years), FPX annualized +11.19% vs +9.43% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FPX or VTI?
FPX has been the more volatile fund at 20.5% annualized versus 15.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: FPX -56.4% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both FPX and VTI?
FPX 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 FPX and VTI?
88.2% of FPX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.9% of VTI's is in holdings FPX also owns. They hold 90 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in FPX and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, FPX or VTI?
FPX yields 0.18% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FPX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. FPX led over 3Y and the full window, VTI over 1Y and 5Y. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.