BRK-B vs. FSZ

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while FSZ (First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund) is Europe Equities fund tracking the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Switzerland Index. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.14%/yr vs 9.55%/yr for FSZ. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

BRK-B vs. FSZ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -3.11% return, which is significantly lower than FSZ's 1.30% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has outperformed FSZ with an annualized return of 13.14%, while FSZ has yielded a comparatively lower 9.55% annualized return.

BRK-B

• 1D: -0.23%
• 1M: 2.32%
• YTD: -3.11%
• 6M: -2.06%
• 1Y: -1.32%
• 3Y*: 13.25%
• 5Y*: 11.03%
• 10Y*: 13.14%

FSZ

• 1D: -0.15%
• 1M: -2.23%
• YTD: 1.30%
• 6M: 5.47%
• 1Y: 7.85%
• 3Y*: 12.49%
• 5Y*: 5.64%
• 10Y*: 9.55%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BRK-B vs. FSZ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	-3.11%	10.89%	27.09%	15.46%	3.31%	28.95%	2.37%	10.93%	3.01%	21.62%
FSZ First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund	1.30%	30.10%	-1.85%	21.30%	-20.12%	20.18%	13.83%	25.88%	-15.22%	31.30%

Correlation

The correlation between BRK-B and FSZ is 0.19, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.19
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.27
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.36
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.41
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 16, 2012	0.41

Over the past year, the correlation between BRK-B and FSZ has dropped to 0.19 - well below their long-term average of 0.41, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

BRK-B vs. FSZ — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BRK-B

BRK-B Risk / Return Rank: 35
BRK-B Sharpe Ratio Rank: 38
BRK-B Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
BRK-B Omega Ratio Rank: 30
BRK-B Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
BRK-B Martin Ratio Rank: 37

FSZ

FSZ Risk / Return Rank: 19
FSZ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 19
FSZ Sortino Ratio Rank: 19
FSZ Omega Ratio Rank: 18
FSZ Calmar Ratio Rank: 20
FSZ Martin Ratio Rank: 19

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BRK-B vs. FSZ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ). 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.

	BRK-B	FSZ	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.09	0.55	-0.64
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-0.03	0.89	-0.91
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.00	1.10	-0.11
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.14	0.76	-0.90
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.30	1.88	-2.18
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

BRK-B vs. FSZ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BRK-B Sharpe Ratio is -0.09, which is lower than the FSZ Sharpe Ratio of 0.55. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BRK-B and FSZ, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BRK-B	FSZ	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.09	0.55	-0.64
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.65	0.29	+0.35
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.68	0.51	+0.17
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.48	0.51	-0.03

Drawdowns

BRK-B vs. FSZ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than FSZ's maximum drawdown of -33.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and FSZ.

Drawdown Indicators

	BRK-B	FSZ	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-53.86%	-33.97%	-19.89%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.42%	-10.39%	+0.97%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.95%	-13.93%	-1.02%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.58%	-33.96%	+7.38%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-29.57%	-33.97%	+4.40%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-9.78%	-5.80%	-3.98%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.07%	-6.99%	-4.08%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.49%	4.18%	+0.31%

Volatility

BRK-B vs. FSZ - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) is 3.98%, while First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) has a volatility of 4.27%. This indicates that BRK-B experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FSZ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BRK-B	FSZ	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.98%	4.27%	-0.29%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.87%	10.87%	0.00%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.38%	14.33%	+0.05%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.13%	19.35%	-2.22%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.44%	18.96%	+0.48%

Dividends

BRK-B vs. FSZ - Dividend Comparison

BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while FSZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.41%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
FSZ First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund	2.41%	1.80%	1.80%	2.11%	3.50%	1.62%	1.53%	2.01%	2.29%	1.49%	1.93%	1.08%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BRK-B and FSZ in my portfolio?

BRK-B and FSZ have a correlation of 0.19, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BRK-B or FSZ?

FSZ has higher volatility (4.27%) compared to BRK-B (3.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs FSZ's -33.97%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

FSZ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.55 vs -0.09), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.