CAS vs. FCA

Last updated Jul 12, 2026

CAS (Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF) and FCA (First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund) are both China Equities funds. CAS is actively managed, while FCA is passively managed. A 0.59 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. CAS charges 0.88%/yr vs 0.80%/yr for FCA.

Performance

CAS vs. FCA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF (CAS) and First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund (FCA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

CAS

• 1D: -0.94%
• 1M: 2.69%
• 6M: —
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

FCA

• 1D: 0.31%
• 1M: -11.52%
• 6M: -12.18%
• YTD: -4.17%
• 1Y: 12.94%
• 3Y*: 14.52%
• 5Y*: 1.52%
• 10Y*: 7.99%

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

CAS vs. FCA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
CAS Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF	-1.43%
FCA First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund	-13.31%

Correlation

The correlation between CAS and FCA 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 (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 28, 2026	0.59

CAS vs. FCA - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	CAS	FCA
Financial Services	40.5%	20.2%
Basic Materials	-	18.7%
Communication Services	-	2.7%
Consumer Cyclical	-	1.0%
Consumer Defensive	-	0.5%
Energy	-	14.4%
Healthcare	-	2.9%
Industrials	-	23.6%
Real Estate	-	1.2%
Technology	-	12.1%
Utilities	-	2.7%

Return for Risk

CAS vs. FCA — Risk / Return Rank

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

CAS

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

FCA

FCA Risk / Return Rank: 19
FCA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 20
FCA Sortino Ratio Rank: 18
FCA Omega Ratio Rank: 19
FCA Calmar Ratio Rank: 17
FCA Martin Ratio Rank: 21

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.

CAS vs. FCA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF (CAS) and First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund (FCA). 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.

	CAS	FCA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	—	0.54	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	—	0.86	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	—	1.11	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	—	0.56	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	—	1.91	—

Drawdowns

CAS vs. FCA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CAS drawdown since its inception was -7.26%, smaller than the maximum FCA drawdown of -45.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CAS and FCA.

Drawdown Indicators

	CAS	FCA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-7.26%	-45.56%	+38.30%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-22.69%	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-26.13%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-42.47%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-42.47%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.94%	-21.70%	+16.76%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.90%	-21.61%	+18.71%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	6.58%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	CAS	FCA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	8.52%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	17.94%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	30.04%	23.59%	+6.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	30.04%	27.79%	+2.25%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	30.04%	26.73%	+3.31%

CAS vs. FCA - Expense Ratio Comparison

CAS has a 0.88% expense ratio, which is higher than FCA's 0.80% expense ratio.

Dividends

CAS vs. FCA - Dividend Comparison

CAS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.36%, less than FCA's 2.95% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CAS Simplify China A Shares PLUS Income ETF	0.36%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
FCA First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund	2.95%	2.67%	5.17%	5.70%	6.00%	4.91%	4.12%	3.73%	3.10%	2.30%	2.51%	4.13%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CAS and FCA in my portfolio?

CAS and FCA 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.

Which ETF is better, CAS or FCA?

On fees, FCA is cheaper at 0.80% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, CAS or FCA?

FCA is cheaper with a 0.80% expense ratio, compared with 0.88% for CAS.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, CAS or FCA?

FCA has the higher dividend yield at 2.95%, compared with 0.36% for CAS.

What is the main difference between CAS and FCA?

They also come from different issuers: Simplify and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.88% for CAS and 0.80% for FCA.