Discover a comparison of FBALX vs. VSS to determine which is best for you! Use the table below to compare their key characteristics.
FBALX vs. VSS Key Characteristics
| Metrics | FBALX | VSS |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Annual Return | 21.60% | 15.25% |
| 5-Year Annual Return | 12.37% | 6.90% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.07% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 7.25% |
| Number of Holdings | 5,207 | 4616 |
Overview of FBALX
FBALX, the Fidelity Balanced Fund, is a mutual fund managed by Fidelity Investments. This fund is categorized as a balanced or hybrid fund, aiming to provide a mix of income and capital growth by investing in both stocks and bonds. The primary goal of FBALX is to offer investors a diversified portfolio through a single investment. The fund typically invests in a combination of U.S. stocks, foreign stocks, and bonds.
Overview of VSS
The Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF, trading under the ticker symbol VSS, is an exchange-traded fund managed by Vanguard. This ETF is designed to track the performance of the FTSE Global Small Cap ex-US Index, which includes small-cap companies in both developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States. VSS provides investors with diversified exposure to international small-cap stocks, offering the potential for growth and diversification outside of the U.S. market.
Performance Comparison of FBALX vs. VSS
The total return performance including dividends is crucial to consider when analyzing different investment funds.
As of 1/15/2024, FBALX has a one year annualized return of 21.60%, while VSS has a five year annualized return of 15.25%.
FBALX vs. VSS Dividend Yield
Both FBALX and VSS pay dividends to their shareholders from the earnings of their underlying stocks. The dividend yield is a measure of how much a company pays in dividends relative to its share price.
As of 1/15/2024 the dividend yield of FBALX is 0.98%, while the dividend yield of VSS is 7.25%.
FBALX vs. VSS Expense Ratios
The expense ratio is a measure of how much an ETF charges its investors for managing the fund. It is expressed as a percentage of the fund’s assets per year.
The expense ratio is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing an ETF because it directly affects your returns over time. The lower the expense ratio, the more money you get to keep from your investment.
As of 1/15/2024 FBALX has an expense ratio of 0.51%, while VSS has an expense ratio of 0.07%.
FBALX vs. VSS Holdings
A fund’s holdings are the basket of individual securities that it owns and tracks. It is crucial for investors to analyze a fund’s holdings because they are effectively what you are investing in by purchasing the fund.
As of 1/15/2024 FBALX holds 5,207 securities, while VSS holds 4616.
ETF Comparison Tool
I created an ETF comparison tool you can use with the chart below. Simply search for multiple ETFs or mutual funds to easily compare the key metrics of over 2,000 funds.
Mutual Funds vs. ETFs
When comparing investment funds, you may be confused about the difference between an ETF and a mutual fund. Keep in mind, an index fund is a specific type of mutual fund. ETFs are tradeable during the stock market hours, while mutual funds only update once per day.
Mutual funds are pooled investment vehicles that are managed by a fund company or an investment advisor. They issue and redeem shares directly to investors at the end of each trading day based on their net asset value (NAV). Investors can buy and sell mutual fund shares through the fund company or a broker.
ETFs are also pooled investment vehicles that are managed by a fund company or an investment advisor. However, they trade like stocks on an exchange throughout the trading day at market prices that may differ from their NAV. Investors can buy and sell ETF shares through a broker.
Some of the advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds vs ETFs are:
- Mutual funds may offer more convenience and flexibility for investors who want to invest a fixed amount of money or set up automatic investments or withdrawals.
- Mutual funds may require a larger minimum investment.
- ETFs may incur bid-ask spreads and premiums or discounts to their NAV, which can affect their trading efficiency and performance.
- Mutual funds may be less tax-efficient than ETFs, as they may distribute more capital gains to their shareholders due to their redemption mechanism.
- ETFs may be more tax-efficient than mutual funds, as they may avoid realizing capital gains through their creation and redemption mechanism.
FBALX vs. VSS - Bottom Line
Ultimately, both FBALX and VSS are solid investment choices. The choice between the two ultimately depends on the exposure you want and the amount of risk you are willing to take.
Hopefully, the information in this article helps you decide which is better for your portfolio. To continue your research, check out our other fund comparison articles as well!
Comparing ETFs With TradingView
When comparing ETFs, it is crucial that you are comparing the total return to include dividend payments. TradingView allows you to compare several stocks and ETFs at once on a single chart adjusted for dividends.
You can simply sign up for a free TradingView account and type the stock ticker you want to compare.
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Next, click the plus sign next to the ticker at the top left of the chart to add symbols to compare.
Finally, ensure you click the ‘ADJ’ at the bottom to adjust the returns for dividends!
As you can see in the TradingView chart below, you can compare multiple funds and ETFs on a single chart, making your research much easier. Feel free to compare any ETFs you'd like using the widget. Alternatively, sign up for a free TradingView account and use the main website for a better experience.
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