BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L
BLOK.L (First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process UCITS ETF) and SHLD.L (iShares Digital Security UCITS ETF USD (Dist)) are both Technology Equities funds - BLOK.L tracks the MSCI World/Information Tech NR USD while SHLD.L tracks the STOXX Global Digital Security Open Net Index in USD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BLOK.L returned 11.85%/yr vs 9.59%/yr for SHLD.L. A 0.72 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. BLOK.L charges 0.65%/yr vs 0.40%/yr for SHLD.L.
Performance
BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L - Performance Comparison
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Different Trading Currencies
BLOK.L is traded in GBp, while SHLD.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the SHLD.L values have been converted to GBp using the latest available exchange rates.
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BLOK.L achieves a 7.87% return, which is significantly lower than SHLD.L's 16.73% return.
BLOK.L
- 1D
- -0.54%
- 1M
- -3.88%
- 6M
- 4.81%
- YTD
- 7.87%
- 1Y
- 20.14%
- 3Y*
- 18.94%
- 5Y*
- 11.85%
- 10Y*
- —
SHLD.L
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- 2.12%
- 6M
- 16.00%
- YTD
- 16.73%
- 1Y
- 21.48%
- 3Y*
- 17.87%
- 5Y*
- 9.59%
- 10Y*
- —
BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLOK.L First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process UCITS ETF | 7.87% | 22.34% | 18.56% | 14.77% | -8.98% | 19.08% | 15.05% | 22.59% | -4.01% |
SHLD.L iShares Digital Security UCITS ETF USD (Dist) | 16.73% | 3.57% | 18.59% | 27.22% | -20.68% | 17.61% | 23.48% | 23.39% | -2.16% |
Correlation
The correlation between BLOK.L and SHLD.L is 0.59, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.59 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.66 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 30, 2018 | 0.72 |
The correlation between BLOK.L and SHLD.L shifts across timeframes, from 0.59 (1 year) to 0.72 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L — Risk / Return Rank
BLOK.L
SHLD.L
BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process UCITS ETF (BLOK.L) and iShares Digital Security UCITS ETF USD (Dist) (SHLD.L). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| BLOK.L | SHLD.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.53 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.60 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.18 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.75 | 1.69 | +1.06 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.58 | 3.64 | +4.94 |
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Drawdowns
BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BLOK.L drawdown since its inception was -31.83%, which is greater than SHLD.L's maximum drawdown of -27.24%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BLOK.L and SHLD.L.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BLOK.L | SHLD.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -31.83% | -27.24% | -4.59% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.28% | -12.66% | +5.38% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.06% | -24.26% | +4.20% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.06% | -27.24% | +7.18% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.17% | -5.27% | +0.10% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.50% | -7.84% | -1.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.34% | 5.90% | -3.56% |
Volatility
BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process UCITS ETF (BLOK.L) is 3.56%, while iShares Digital Security UCITS ETF USD (Dist) (SHLD.L) has a volatility of 7.09%. This indicates that BLOK.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SHLD.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BLOK.L | SHLD.L | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.56% | 7.09% | -3.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.00% | 17.91% | -7.91% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.14% | 21.43% | -8.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.65% | 20.33% | -0.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.95% | 20.35% | +1.60% |
BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L - Expense Ratio Comparison
BLOK.L has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than SHLD.L's 0.40% expense ratio.
Dividends
BLOK.L vs. SHLD.L - Dividend Comparison
BLOK.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SHLD.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.35%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLOK.L First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process UCITS ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SHLD.L iShares Digital Security UCITS ETF USD (Dist) | 0.35% | 0.39% | 0.48% | 0.43% | 0.63% | 0.66% | 0.84% | 1.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BLOK.L and SHLD.L have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, SHLD.L is cheaper at 0.40% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
SHLD.L is cheaper with a 0.40% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for BLOK.L.
BLOK.L tracks MSCI World/Information Tech NR USD, while SHLD.L tracks STOXX Global Digital Security Open Net Index in USD. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for BLOK.L and 0.40% for SHLD.L.
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