BULD vs. FTXL

Last updated Apr 2, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF (BULD) and First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (FTXL).

BULD and FTXL are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. BULD is a passively managed fund by Pacer that tracks the performance of the BlueStar Robotics & 3D Printing Index. It was launched on May 4, 2022. FTXL is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq U.S. Smart Semiconductor Index. It was launched on Sep 20, 2016. Both BULD and FTXL are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

BULD vs. FTXL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF (BULD) and First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (FTXL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

BULD vs. FTXL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
BULD Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF	5.95%	23.20%	-3.93%	28.27%	-12.41%
FTXL First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	17.52%	48.94%	7.59%	54.41%	-13.56%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BULD achieves a 5.95% return, which is significantly lower than FTXL's 17.52% return.

BULD

• 1D: 1.85%
• 1M: -7.20%
• YTD: 5.95%
• 6M: 4.77%
• 1Y: 39.81%
• 3Y*: 10.65%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

FTXL

• 1D: 3.21%
• 1M: -2.91%
• YTD: 17.52%
• 6M: 32.85%
• 1Y: 101.16%
• 3Y*: 33.55%
• 5Y*: 18.43%
• 10Y*: —

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

BULD vs. FTXL - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both BULD and FTXL have an expense ratio of 0.60%.

BULD

Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF

FTXL

First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF

Return for Risk

BULD vs. FTXL — Risk / Return Rank

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

BULD

BULD Risk / Return Rank: 72
BULD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
BULD Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
BULD Omega Ratio Rank: 62
BULD Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
BULD Martin Ratio Rank: 70

FTXL

FTXL Risk / Return Rank: 95
FTXL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
FTXL Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
FTXL Omega Ratio Rank: 92
FTXL Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
FTXL Martin Ratio Rank: 97

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.

BULD vs. FTXL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF (BULD) and First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (FTXL). 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.

	BULD	FTXL	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.34	2.43	-1.09
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.01	2.95	-0.94
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.24	1.42	-0.18
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.58	5.50	-2.92
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	7.95	21.31	-13.36
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

BULD vs. FTXL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BULD Sharpe Ratio is 1.34, which is lower than the FTXL Sharpe Ratio of 2.43. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BULD and FTXL, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BULD	FTXL	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.34	2.43	-1.09
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.52	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.33	0.72	-0.39

Correlation

The correlation between BULD and FTXL is 0.80, 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

BULD vs. FTXL - Dividend Comparison

BULD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.17%, more than FTXL's 0.23% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
BULD Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF	1.17%	1.24%	0.18%	0.21%	0.08%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
FTXL First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	0.23%	0.28%	0.54%	0.60%	0.89%	0.25%	0.48%	0.92%	0.71%	0.47%	0.12%

Drawdowns

BULD vs. FTXL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BULD drawdown since its inception was -27.64%, smaller than the maximum FTXL drawdown of -43.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BULD and FTXL.

Drawdown Indicators

	BULD	FTXL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-27.64%	-43.87%	+16.23%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.48%	-18.57%	+3.09%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-43.87%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-9.76%	-6.58%	-3.18%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.57%	-10.72%	+2.15%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.02%	4.79%	+0.23%

Volatility

BULD vs. FTXL - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Pacer BlueStar Engineering the Future ETF (BULD) is 10.27%, while First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (FTXL) has a volatility of 13.48%. This indicates that BULD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FTXL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BULD	FTXL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.27%	13.48%	-3.21%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	22.23%	28.09%	-5.86%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	29.95%	41.94%	-11.99%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	27.62%	35.39%	-7.77%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	27.62%	33.99%	-6.37%