First Trust Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund (MDIV) belongs to the Diversified Portfolio category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with MDIV. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to MDIV
MDIV charges 0.73% annually. There are 35 ETFs in the Diversified Portfolio category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.10%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplify US Equity PLUS Managed Futures Strategy E... | 0.10% | 172.95M | Dec 2025 | MDIV vs CTAP | |
| iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF | 0.15% | 3.20B | Nov 2008 | MDIV vs AOA | |
| iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF | 0.15% | 3.67B | Nov 2008 | MDIV vs AOR | |
| iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF | 0.15% | 813.86M | Nov 2008 | MDIV vs AOK | |
| PIMCO U.S. Stocks PLUS Active Bond ETF | 0.18% | 55.77M | Jan 2026 | MDIV vs SPLS |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to MDIV
MDIV has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 69. There are 10 ETFs in the Diversified Portfolio category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 89.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Income Focus ETF | 89 | 1.60B | Jun 2023 | MDIV vs INCM | |
| Avantis Moderate Allocation ETF | 84 | 66.74M | Jun 2023 | MDIV vs AVMA | |
| Brookstone Yield ETF | 81 | 44.81M | Sep 2023 | MDIV vs BAMY | |
| Adaptive Core ETF | 79 | 16.56M | Nov 2021 | MDIV vs RULE | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Efficient Core Fund | 78 | 59.26M | May 2021 | MDIV vs NTSE |
Top Performing MDIV Alternatives (YTD)
MDIV is at 8.52% YTD. There are 16 ETFs in the Diversified Portfolio category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 46.56%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Core ETF | 46.56% | 16.56M | Nov 2021 | MDIV vs RULE | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Efficient Core Fund | 28.91% | 59.26M | May 2021 | MDIV vs NTSE | |
| Pacer Trendpilot International ETF | 16.65% | 185.06M | May 2019 | MDIV vs PTIN | |
| Cabana Target Leading Sector Moderate ETF | 16.42% | 114.31M | Jul 2021 | MDIV vs CLSM | |
| Myriad Dynamic Asset Allocation ETF | 16.41% | — | Oct 2025 | MDIV vs MDAA |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to MDIV
MDIV has 6.80% 1-year volatility. There are 16 ETFs in the Diversified Portfolio category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 0.00%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlexShares Real Assets Allocation Index Fund | 0.00% | 7.49M | Nov 2015 | MDIV vs ASET | |
| Prospera Income ETF | 2.94% | 2.20M | Sep 2025 | MDIV vs THRV | |
| First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF | 3.35% | 97.82M | Aug 2014 | MDIV vs HISF | |
| Mindful Conservative ETF | 4.22% | 26.13M | Nov 2021 | MDIV vs MFUL | |
| Brookstone Yield ETF | 4.50% | 44.81M | Sep 2023 | MDIV vs BAMY |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to MDIV
MDIV has a 1-year max drawdown of -3.39%. There are 5 ETFs in the Diversified Portfolio category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -2.48%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookstone Yield ETF | -2.48% | 44.81M | Sep 2023 | MDIV vs BAMY | |
| First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF | -2.90% | 97.82M | Aug 2014 | MDIV vs HISF | |
| Franklin Income Focus ETF | -3.19% | 1.60B | Jun 2023 | MDIV vs INCM | |
| Alpha Architect High Inflation And Deflation ETF | -3.31% | 100.05M | Nov 2022 | MDIV vs HIDE | |
| Mindful Conservative ETF | -3.36% | 26.13M | Nov 2021 | MDIV vs MFUL |
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 MDIV
Investors most often compare MDIV with HNDL, IYLD, GAA. These 20 comparison targets span 4 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare MDIV with Any Fund or Stock
Compare MDIV with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair MDIV with funds that move differently
First Trust Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to MDIV.
Explore MDIV Diversifiers