First Trust Core Investment Grade ETF (FTCB) belongs to the Intermediate Core Bond category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with FTCB. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to FTCB
FTCB charges 0.55% annually. There are 52 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Total Treasury ETF | 0.03% | 122.30M | Jul 2025 | FTCB vs VTG | |
| Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index ETF | 0.03% | 52.20B | Apr 2007 | FTCB vs BIV | |
| JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.03% | 1.03B | Dec 2018 | FTCB vs BBAG | |
| iShares iBonds Dec 2033 Term Treasury ETF | 0.07% | 469.02M | Jun 2023 | FTCB vs IBTO | |
| iShares iBonds Dec 2032 Term Treasury ETF | 0.07% | 549.87M | Jul 2022 | FTCB vs IBTM |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FTCB
FTCB has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 35. There are 17 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 95.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGI Enhanced Core ETF | 95 | 364.51M | Feb 2024 | FTCB vs USDX | |
| Aptus Enhanced Yield ETF | 77 | 217.59M | Oct 2022 | FTCB vs JUCY | |
| State Street My2029 Corporate Bond ETF | 65 | 34.53M | Sep 2024 | FTCB vs MYCI | |
| 3EDGE Dynamic Fixed Income ETF | 62 | 236.02M | Oct 2024 | FTCB vs EDGF | |
| Hartford Schroders Tax-Aware Bond ETF | 52 | 297.30M | Apr 2018 | FTCB vs HTAB |
Top Performing FTCB Alternatives (YTD)
FTCB is at 0.45% YTD. There are 25 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 2.55%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGI Enhanced Core ETF | 2.55% | 364.51M | Feb 2024 | FTCB vs USDX | |
| Aptus Enhanced Yield ETF | 2.53% | 217.59M | Oct 2022 | FTCB vs JUCY | |
| Defined Duration 5 ETF | 2.12% | — | Nov 2025 | FTCB vs DDV | |
| Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF | 2.07% | 33.20M | Sep 2019 | FTCB vs OVB | |
| Hartford Schroders Tax-Aware Bond ETF | 1.64% | 297.30M | Apr 2018 | FTCB vs HTAB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FTCB
FTCB has 4.00% 1-year volatility. There are 41 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.89%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3EDGE Dynamic Fixed Income ETF | 1.89% | 236.02M | Oct 2024 | FTCB vs EDGF | |
| SGI Enhanced Core ETF | 2.07% | 364.51M | Feb 2024 | FTCB vs USDX | |
| State Street My2029 Corporate Bond ETF | 2.18% | 34.53M | Sep 2024 | FTCB vs MYCI | |
| Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF | 2.34% | 43.77M | Dec 2024 | FTCB vs FCBD | |
| ClearShares Piton Intermediate Fixed Income ETF | 2.62% | 98.88M | Oct 2020 | FTCB vs PIFI |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FTCB
FTCB has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.04%. There are 36 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.64%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3EDGE Dynamic Fixed Income ETF | -0.64% | 236.02M | Oct 2024 | FTCB vs EDGF | |
| SGI Enhanced Core ETF | -0.94% | 364.51M | Feb 2024 | FTCB vs USDX | |
| Aptus Enhanced Yield ETF | -0.94% | 217.59M | Oct 2022 | FTCB vs JUCY | |
| Build Bond Innovation ETF | -0.99% | 10.78M | Feb 2022 | FTCB vs BFIX | |
| State Street My2029 Corporate Bond ETF | -1.56% | 34.53M | Sep 2024 | FTCB vs MYCI |
Other ETFs from First Trust
The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 13 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.
Often Compared With FTCB
Investors most often compare FTCB with LDSF, FPEI, SCHG. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare FTCB with Any Fund or Stock
Compare FTCB with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair FTCB with funds that move differently
First Trust Core Investment Grade ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to FTCB.
Explore FTCB Diversifiers