FCAL vs VTI
First Trust California Municipal High Income ETF compared with Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
FCAL
First Trust California Municipal High Income ETF
TTM yield · Monthly
VTI
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- FCAL yields more today: 3.51% vs 1.11% (forward).
- FCAL has grown its payout faster: 8.2%/yr vs 6.8%/yr over the last 5 years.
- FCAL pays every month; VTI pays every quarter.
- Over the last year VTI delivered the higher total return: +19.9% vs +3.7% (price change plus payouts).
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | FCAL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $47.87 | $377.60 |
| TTM yield | 3.51% | 1.03% |
| Forward yield | 3.51% | 1.11% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.679 | $4.176 |
| Payment frequency | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Sep 20, 2026 (est.) | Sep 25, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | — | 0.03% |
| 1-year payout growth | +7.8% | +5.1% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +8.2% | +6.8% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 4 years | 1 year |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 98/100 | 93/100 |
| 1-year total return | +3.7% | +19.9% |
| 1-year price return | +0.2% | +18.7% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | — | 2.3T |
| Years paying | 9.1 | 25.2 |
| Sector / category | — | Large Blend |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| FCAL | VTI | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 208.9 | 26.5 |
| Income per year | $351 | $111 |
| Income per month (avg) | $29 | $9 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model FCAL · Model VTI
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCAL Sep 20, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | $0.1399 | Est. |
| FCAL Oct 20, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 | $0.1399 | Est. |
| FCAL Nov 19, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 | $0.1399 | Est. |
| VTI Sep 25, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | $1.044 | Est. |
| VTI Dec 25, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | $1.044 | Est. |
| VTI Mar 26, 2027 | Apr 9, 2027 | $1.044 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
FCALVTI
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, FCAL or VTI?
FCAL currently has the higher trailing yield: FCAL yields 3.51% and VTI yields 1.03%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do FCAL and VTI pay?
FCAL pays every month and VTI pays every quarter. FCAL's next ex-date is Sep 20, 2026 and VTI's is Sep 25, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, FCAL or VTI?
FCAL has grown its payout faster: 8.2%/yr vs 6.8%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is FCAL or VTI better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. FCAL and VTI differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.