First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) belongs to the Global Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with FICS. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to FICS
FICS charges 0.70% annually. There are 84 ETFs in the Global Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.05%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | 0.05% | 651.00B | Jan 2011 | FICS vs VXUS | |
| Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | 0.06% | 97.00B | Jun 2008 | FICS vs VT | |
| SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF | 0.09% | 1.71B | Feb 2012 | FICS vs SPGM | |
| Invesco MSCI Global Climate 500 ETF | 0.10% | 1.56B | Jun 2024 | FICS vs KLMT | |
| SPDR MSCI ACWI Climate Paris Aligned ETF | 0.12% | 190.17M | Nov 2014 | FICS vs NZAC |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FICS
FICS has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 38. There are 76 ETFs in the Global Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 95.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Foreign Shareholder Yield ETF | 95 | 711.35M | Dec 2013 | FICS vs FYLD | |
| Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF | 94 | 91.25M | Jan 2018 | FICS vs WLDR | |
| Altrius Global Dividend ETF | 93 | 16.88M | Sep 2022 | FICS vs DIVD | |
| Tweedy, Browne Insider + Value ETF | 93 | 314.33M | Dec 2024 | FICS vs COPY | |
| Avantis All Equity Markets Value ETF | 92 | 424.52M | Jun 2023 | FICS vs AVGV |
Top Performing FICS Alternatives (YTD)
FICS is at 8.72% YTD. There are 85 ETFs in the Global Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 44.44%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SonicShares Global Shipping ETF | 44.44% | 82.19M | Aug 2021 | FICS vs BOAT | |
| VistaShares Electrification Supercycle ETF | 38.98% | 65.23M | Oct 2025 | FICS vs POW | |
| Tema Electrification ETF | 33.52% | 743.97M | Dec 2024 | FICS vs VOLT | |
| Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF | 33.42% | 91.25M | Jan 2018 | FICS vs WLDR | |
| AB Disruptors ETF | 26.86% | 2.91B | Mar 2023 | FICS vs FWD |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FICS
FICS has 13.20% 1-year volatility. There are 34 ETFs in the Global Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.59%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procure Disaster Recovery Strategy ETF | 3.59% | 223.29M | May 2022 | FICS vs FIXT | |
| SPDR SSgA Income Allocation ETF | 6.03% | 74.44M | Apr 2012 | FICS vs INKM | |
| iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF | 8.07% | 3.32B | Oct 2011 | FICS vs ACWV | |
| iShares Disciplined Volatility Equity Active ETF | 9.50% | 1.73B | Sep 2025 | FICS vs BDVL | |
| Invesco International Dividend Achievers™ ETF | 9.74% | 925.89M | Sep 2005 | FICS vs PID |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FICS
FICS has a 1-year max drawdown of -10.32%. There are 49 ETFs in the Global Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -3.02%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procure Disaster Recovery Strategy ETF | -3.02% | 223.29M | May 2022 | FICS vs FIXT | |
| SPDR SSgA Income Allocation ETF | -4.55% | 74.44M | Apr 2012 | FICS vs INKM | |
| WBI BullBear Yield 3000 ETF | -5.06% | 31.79M | Aug 2014 | FICS vs WBIG | |
| Cambria Foreign Shareholder Yield ETF | -5.67% | 711.35M | Dec 2013 | FICS vs FYLD | |
| Pacer Cash Cows Fund of Funds ETF | -5.68% | 95.75M | May 2019 | FICS vs HERD |
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 FICS
Investors most often compare FICS with FIDZX, QINT, OAIM. These 20 comparison targets span 15 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare FICS with Any Fund or Stock
Compare FICS with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair FICS with funds that move differently
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to FICS.
Explore FICS Diversifiers