First Trust Enhanced Stocks, Bonds & Gold ETF (ESBG) belongs to the Tactical Allocation category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with ESBG. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to ESBG
ESBG charges 0.95% annually. There are 24 ETFs in the Tactical Allocation category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.24%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elm Market Navigator ETF | 0.24% | 493.11M | Dec 2011 | ESBG vs ELM | |
| WisdomTree Efficient TIPS Plus Gold Fund | 0.30% | 10.49M | Jan 2026 | ESBG vs GDT | |
| WisdomTree U.S. Adaptive Moving Average Fund | 0.32% | 183.47M | Mar 2026 | ESBG vs WAMA | |
| Global X Adaptive U.S. Risk Management ETF | 0.39% | 144.06M | Jan 2021 | ESBG vs ONOF | |
| WisdomTree International Adaptive Moving Average F... | 0.42% | 64.69M | Mar 2026 | ESBG vs WIMA |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to ESBG
Among 23 ETFs in the Tactical Allocation category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 90.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH Tactical Rotation ETF | 90 | 17.21M | Sep 2012 | ESBG vs RHRX | |
| Pacer Cash COWZ 100-Nasdaq 100 Rotator ETF | 83 | — | May 2025 | ESBG vs QQWZ | |
| Alexis Practical Tactical ETF | 82 | 144.62M | Jun 2021 | ESBG vs LEXI | |
| Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF | 82 | 114.31M | Jul 2021 | ESBG vs CLSM | |
| Cambria Trinity ETF | 79 | 74.28M | Sep 2018 | ESBG vs TRTY |
Top Performing ESBG Alternatives (YTD)
ESBG is at 5.13% YTD. There are 26 ETFs in the Tactical Allocation category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 22.52%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtus AlphaSimplex Global Macro ETF | 22.52% | — | Aug 2025 | ESBG vs ASGM | |
| Horizon International Managed Risk ETF | 22.26% | 410.55M | Dec 2025 | ESBG vs SFTX | |
| RH Tactical Rotation ETF | 21.30% | 17.21M | Sep 2012 | ESBG vs RHRX | |
| Adaptive Alpha Opportunities ETF | 21.15% | 319.03M | Sep 2012 | ESBG vs AGOX | |
| Man Active Trend Enhanced ETF | 20.78% | — | Dec 2025 | ESBG vs MATE |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to ESBG
ESBG has 25.27% 1-year volatility. There are 40 ETFs in the Tactical Allocation category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 0.00%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabana Target Drawdown 5 ETF | 0.00% | 6.13M | Sep 2020 | ESBG vs TDSA | |
| Arrow DWA Tactical: Macro ETF | 0.00% | 3.35M | Oct 2014 | ESBG vs DWAT | |
| GammaRoad Market Navigation ETF | 5.32% | 5.87M | Sep 2024 | ESBG vs GMMA | |
| Liberty One Tactical Income ETF | 5.67% | 6.61M | Sep 2025 | ESBG vs LOTI | |
| Cabana Target Drawdown 7 ETF | 5.98% | 61.59M | Sep 2020 | ESBG vs TDSB |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to ESBG
Among 23 ETFs in the Tactical Allocation category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -3.39%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GammaRoad Market Navigation ETF | -3.39% | 5.87M | Sep 2024 | ESBG vs GMMA | |
| Cabana Target Drawdown 7 ETF | -4.64% | 61.59M | Sep 2020 | ESBG vs TDSB | |
| Cabana Target Drawdown 10 ETF | -5.35% | 127.07M | Sep 2020 | ESBG vs TDSC | |
| Cambria Trinity ETF | -5.49% | 74.28M | Sep 2018 | ESBG vs TRTY | |
| Fairlead Tactical Sector Fund | -5.85% | 274.27M | Mar 2022 | ESBG vs TACK |
Other ETFs from First Trust
The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.
Often Compared With ESBG
Investors most often compare ESBG with CTAP, XRLX, DBMF. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare ESBG with Any Fund or Stock
Compare ESBG with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair ESBG with funds that move differently
First Trust Enhanced Stocks, Bonds & Gold ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to ESBG.
Explore ESBG Diversifiers