CIBR vs. VGT

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT).

CIBR and VGT are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. CIBR is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index. It was launched on Jul 7, 2015. VGT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index. It was launched on Mar 25, 2004. Both CIBR and VGT 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

CIBR vs. VGT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

CIBR vs. VGT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
CIBR First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	-12.12%	13.06%	18.21%	39.71%	-26.46%	19.67%	50.53%	28.52%	1.47%	18.61%
VGT Vanguard Information Technology ETF	-7.34%	21.77%	29.30%	52.66%	-29.70%	30.45%	46.04%	48.62%	2.46%	37.08%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CIBR achieves a -12.12% return, which is significantly lower than VGT's -7.34% return. Over the past 10 years, CIBR has underperformed VGT with an annualized return of 14.52%, while VGT has yielded a comparatively higher 21.35% annualized return.

CIBR

• 1D: 3.11%
• 1M: -0.19%
• YTD: -12.12%
• 6M: -17.17%
• 1Y: 0.06%
• 3Y*: 14.11%
• 5Y*: 8.62%
• 10Y*: 14.52%

VGT

• 1D: 4.34%
• 1M: -3.89%
• YTD: -7.34%
• 6M: -6.36%
• 1Y: 29.19%
• 3Y*: 22.58%
• 5Y*: 14.54%
• 10Y*: 21.35%

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

CIBR vs. VGT - Expense Ratio Comparison

CIBR has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than VGT's 0.09% expense ratio.

CIBR

First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF

VGT

Vanguard Information Technology ETF

Return for Risk

CIBR vs. VGT — Risk / Return Rank

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

CIBR

CIBR Risk / Return Rank: 12
CIBR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 13
CIBR Sortino Ratio Rank: 13
CIBR Omega Ratio Rank: 13
CIBR Calmar Ratio Rank: 12
CIBR Martin Ratio Rank: 12

VGT

VGT Risk / Return Rank: 67
VGT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 65
VGT Sortino Ratio Rank: 69
VGT Omega Ratio Rank: 66
VGT Calmar Ratio Rank: 73
VGT Martin Ratio Rank: 61

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.

CIBR vs. VGT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT). 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.

	CIBR	VGT	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.00	1.08	-1.07
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.17	1.65	-1.47
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.02	1.23	-0.21
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.03	1.77	-1.79
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	-0.07	5.47	-5.54
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

CIBR vs. VGT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CIBR Sharpe Ratio is 0.00, which is lower than the VGT Sharpe Ratio of 1.08. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CIBR and VGT, 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

	CIBR	VGT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.00	1.08	-1.07
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.36	0.58	-0.23
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.63	0.88	-0.25
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.51	0.61	-0.09

Correlation

The correlation between CIBR and VGT 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

CIBR vs. VGT - Dividend Comparison

CIBR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.65%, more than VGT's 0.44% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CIBR First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	0.65%	0.42%	0.29%	0.42%	0.31%	0.59%	1.10%	0.23%	0.23%	0.10%	0.77%	0.58%
VGT Vanguard Information Technology ETF	0.44%	0.40%	0.60%	0.65%	0.91%	0.64%	0.82%	1.11%	1.29%	0.99%	1.31%	1.28%

Drawdowns

CIBR vs. VGT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CIBR drawdown since its inception was -33.89%, smaller than the maximum VGT drawdown of -54.63%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CIBR and VGT.

Drawdown Indicators

	CIBR	VGT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.89%	-54.63%	+20.74%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-21.96%	-16.40%	-5.56%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-33.89%	-35.07%	+1.18%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.89%	-35.07%	+1.18%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-19.50%	-12.77%	-6.73%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.66%	-8.00%	-0.66%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	8.02%	5.30%	+2.72%

Volatility

CIBR vs. VGT - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) is 7.04%, while Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) has a volatility of 7.99%. This indicates that CIBR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VGT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CIBR	VGT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	7.04%	7.99%	-0.95%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.45%	16.31%	+0.14%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	24.46%	27.24%	-2.78%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	24.21%	25.07%	-0.86%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.22%	24.48%	-1.26%