FSST vs SDVD

FSST vs SDVD

Which is better, FSST or SDVD?

FSST has been ahead.

FSST has a lower expense ratio. FSST led over 1Y and the full window. SDVD is less concentrated, with 10.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.8%.

Lower Fees: FSSTHigher Returns: FSSTLess Concentrated: SDVD

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

MetricFSSTSDVD
Expense Ratio0.59%Best0.85%
AUM$13M$872M
Dividend Yield1.55%8.68%
Holdings90348
Volatility (annualized)14.8%Best24.9%
Max Drawdown-22.4%Best-29.1%
$10,000 over 2.3 years$15,189Best$10,475
Top 10 Weight43.8%10.3%Best
Fund FamilyFidelity Investments (US)First Trust Portfolios (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJun 15, 2021Aug 9, 2023

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).

The two price series end 335 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. FSST has data through Nov 13, 2025 and SDVD through Oct 14, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 10, 2023 to Nov 13, 2025 (2.3 years).

Compare FSST against instead:FSST vs SPYFSST vs QQQFSST vs VOOFSST vs VTISDVD against:SDVD vs VXUS

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SDVD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.9% compared with 14.8% for FSST. 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 -22.4% for FSST and -29.1% for SDVD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

FSST charges 0.59% per year while SDVD charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $85 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FSST currently yields 1.55% against 8.68% for SDVD.

Holdings Overlap

FSST already in SDVD1.1%
SDVD already in FSST1.3%

1.1% of FSST's money is in holdings SDVD also owns. 1.3% of SDVD's money is in holdings FSST also owns.

SDVD and FSST share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 428 days apart, FSST as of Jul 31, 2025 and SDVD as of Oct 2, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

2 positions in common, counted across the 94 positions we hold weights for in FSST and 172 in SDVD, against full books of 90 and 348.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 167 positions for SDVD that do not appear in our book for FSST (96.7% of the fund), and 86 for FSST that do not appear in SDVD (95.0%).

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

StockWeight in FSSTWeight in SDVDDifference
EMEEmcor Group Inc0.68%0.95%0.27%
PHMPultegroup Inc.0.48%0.37%0.11%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of FSST and SDVD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

FSSTSDVD

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FSST or SDVD?

FSST has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SDVD charges 0.85%. FSST is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, FSST or SDVD?

SDVD has been the more volatile fund at 24.9% annualized versus 14.8% for FSST. Worst drawdown: FSST -22.4% vs SDVD -29.1%.

Should I hold both FSST and SDVD?

FSST and SDVD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 FSST and SDVD?

1.3% of SDVD's money is in holdings FSST also owns. 1.3% of SDVD's is in holdings FSST also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 94 positions we hold weights for in FSST and 172 in SDVD.

Which pays a higher dividend, FSST or SDVD?

FSST yields 1.55% while SDVD yields 8.68%, so SDVD currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SDVD better than FSST?

FSST has a lower expense ratio. FSST led over 1Y and the full window. SDVD is less concentrated, with 10.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.