AFSM vs. ROBT
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) and First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF (ROBT).
AFSM and ROBT are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. AFSM is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Dec 3, 2019. ROBT is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq CTA Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Index. It was launched on Feb 21, 2018.
Performance
AFSM vs. ROBT - Performance Comparison
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AFSM vs. ROBT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AFSM First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF | 1.01% | 9.99% | 10.55% | 22.23% | -17.50% | 26.03% | 8.44% | 2.63% |
ROBT First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF | -9.80% | 15.16% | -0.41% | 27.77% | -34.94% | 9.91% | 46.18% | 3.55% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AFSM achieves a 1.01% return, which is significantly higher than ROBT's -9.80% return.
AFSM
- 1D
- 0.94%
- 1M
- -4.95%
- YTD
- 1.01%
- 6M
- 1.82%
- 1Y
- 19.34%
- 3Y*
- 13.42%
- 5Y*
- 6.33%
- 10Y*
- —
ROBT
- 1D
- 1.35%
- 1M
- -7.42%
- YTD
- -9.80%
- 6M
- -12.69%
- 1Y
- 14.39%
- 3Y*
- 3.45%
- 5Y*
- -2.21%
- 10Y*
- —
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AFSM vs. ROBT - Expense Ratio Comparison
AFSM has a 0.77% expense ratio, which is higher than ROBT's 0.65% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
AFSM vs. ROBT — Risk / Return Rank
AFSM
ROBT
AFSM vs. ROBT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) and First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF (ROBT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| AFSM | ROBT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.91 | 0.52 | +0.39 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.41 | 0.93 | +0.47 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.12 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.56 | 0.69 | +0.86 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.68 | 2.20 | +3.47 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| AFSM | ROBT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.91 | 0.52 | +0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 | -0.09 | +0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.36 | 0.23 | +0.12 |
Correlation
The correlation between AFSM and ROBT is 0.78, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
AFSM vs. ROBT - Dividend Comparison
AFSM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.54%, while ROBT has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AFSM First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF | 0.54% | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.92% | 1.28% | 0.35% | 0.53% | 0.32% | 0.00% |
ROBT First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.68% | 0.23% | 0.35% | 0.06% | 0.17% | 0.42% | 0.44% |
Drawdowns
AFSM vs. ROBT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AFSM drawdown since its inception was -43.54%, roughly equal to the maximum ROBT drawdown of -44.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AFSM and ROBT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AFSM | ROBT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.54% | -44.47% | +0.93% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.41% | -21.66% | +9.25% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.27% | -43.26% | +14.99% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.79% | -20.02% | +14.23% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.71% | -16.09% | +6.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.41% | 6.82% | -3.41% |
Volatility
AFSM vs. ROBT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) is 7.67%, while First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF (ROBT) has a volatility of 8.69%. This indicates that AFSM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ROBT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AFSM | ROBT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.67% | 8.69% | -1.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.47% | 18.27% | -4.80% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.42% | 27.73% | -6.31% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.85% | 24.99% | -4.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.56% | 25.50% | +0.06% |