First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (FEX) belongs to the Large Cap Blend Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with FEX. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to FEX
FEX charges 0.57% annually. There are 166 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.02%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Equity ETF | 0.02% | 8.89B | Mar 2019 | FEX vs BBUS | |
| Global X U.S. 500 ETF | 0.02% | 4.50M | Sep 2025 | FEX vs GXLC | |
| Franklin U.S. Equity Index ETF | 0.03% | 2.00B | Jun 2016 | FEX vs USPX | |
| Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | 0.03% | 71.82B | Nov 2009 | FEX vs SCHX | |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | 2.30T | May 2001 | FEX vs VTI |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FEX
FEX has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 84. There are 30 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF | 96 | 927.09M | Sep 2018 | FEX vs IUS | |
| Avantis Inflation Focused Equity ETF | 96 | 12.36M | Sep 2022 | FEX vs AVIE | |
| ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF | 94 | 293.98M | Jun 2025 | FEX vs AFOS | |
| PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF | 94 | 160.47M | Dec 2019 | FEX vs RAFE | |
| Essential 40 Stock ETF | 94 | 180.66M | Jun 2014 | FEX vs ESN |
Top Performing FEX Alternatives (YTD)
FEX is at 16.59% YTD. There are 28 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 35.88%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection E... | 35.88% | 33.11M | Nov 2023 | FEX vs NRSH | |
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 30.52% | — | May 2024 | FEX vs RSSY | |
| ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF | 30.16% | 293.98M | Jun 2025 | FEX vs AFOS | |
| Mohr Company Nav ETF | 26.09% | — | Sep 2024 | FEX vs CNAV | |
| First Trust Bloomberg Inflation Sensitive Equity E... | 23.66% | 5.62M | Mar 2023 | FEX vs FTIF |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FEX
FEX has 13.28% 1-year volatility. There are 126 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 7.38%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azoria 500 Meritocracy ETF | 7.38% | — | Jul 2025 | FEX vs SPXM | |
| 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF | 9.02% | 402.23M | May 2020 | FEX vs SIXA | |
| State Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF | 9.22% | 1.53B | Apr 2015 | FEX vs QUS | |
| Liberty One Spectrum ETF | 9.36% | 65.78M | Sep 2025 | FEX vs SPCT | |
| ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF | 9.47% | 744.97M | Jul 2009 | FEX vs EQL |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FEX
FEX has a 1-year max drawdown of -6.23%. There are 5 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -4.97%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avantis Inflation Focused Equity ETF | -4.97% | 12.36M | Sep 2022 | FEX vs AVIE | |
| Azoria 500 Meritocracy ETF | -5.08% | — | Jul 2025 | FEX vs SPXM | |
| 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF | -5.59% | 402.23M | May 2020 | FEX vs SIXA | |
| Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF | -6.15% | 927.09M | Sep 2018 | FEX vs IUS | |
| ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF | -6.19% | 744.97M | Jul 2009 | FEX vs EQL |
Other ETFs from First Trust
The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 16 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $25B.
Often Compared With FEX
Investors most often compare FEX with FCNTX, CAIBX, VOO. These 20 comparison targets span 17 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare FEX with Any Fund or Stock
Compare FEX with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair FEX with funds that move differently
First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to FEX.
Explore FEX Diversifiers