DAX vs. FEP
Compare and contrast key facts about Global X DAX Germany ETF (DAX) and First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP).
DAX and FEP are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. DAX is a passively managed fund by Global X that tracks the performance of the DAX Index. It was launched on Oct 22, 2014. FEP is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Defined Europe Index. It was launched on Apr 26, 2011. Both DAX and FEP 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
DAX vs. FEP - Performance Comparison
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DAX vs. FEP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DAX Global X DAX Germany ETF | -6.25% | 39.00% | 10.55% | 23.62% | -18.47% | 7.73% | 12.27% | 22.11% | -22.92% | 28.23% |
FEP First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund | 3.30% | 55.72% | 3.38% | 16.85% | -22.97% | 17.03% | 4.12% | 24.83% | -19.00% | 36.27% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DAX achieves a -6.25% return, which is significantly lower than FEP's 3.30% return. Over the past 10 years, DAX has underperformed FEP with an annualized return of 8.48%, while FEP has yielded a comparatively higher 9.94% annualized return.
DAX
- 1D
- 1.45%
- 1M
- -6.35%
- YTD
- -6.25%
- 6M
- -5.30%
- 1Y
- 10.17%
- 3Y*
- 15.81%
- 5Y*
- 7.90%
- 10Y*
- 8.48%
FEP
- 1D
- 1.54%
- 1M
- -4.13%
- YTD
- 3.30%
- 6M
- 8.62%
- 1Y
- 40.34%
- 3Y*
- 21.59%
- 5Y*
- 9.91%
- 10Y*
- 9.94%
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DAX vs. FEP - Expense Ratio Comparison
DAX has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is lower than FEP's 0.80% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
DAX vs. FEP — Risk / Return Rank
DAX
FEP
DAX vs. FEP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Global X DAX Germany ETF (DAX) and First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP). 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.
| DAX | FEP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.51 | 2.08 | -1.58 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.85 | 2.66 | -1.81 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.41 | -0.30 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.75 | 3.31 | -2.56 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.61 | 12.59 | -9.98 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| DAX | FEP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.51 | 2.08 | -1.58 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.39 | 0.51 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.40 | 0.48 | -0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.33 | 0.32 | +0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between DAX and FEP is 0.84, 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
DAX vs. FEP - Dividend Comparison
DAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.57%, less than FEP's 3.17% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DAX Global X DAX Germany ETF | 1.57% | 1.47% | 2.24% | 2.48% | 2.80% | 2.65% | 2.25% | 2.47% | 3.33% | 1.73% | 1.78% | 1.41% |
FEP First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund | 3.17% | 3.33% | 4.94% | 3.27% | 3.00% | 3.49% | 2.32% | 2.63% | 2.62% | 1.65% | 2.14% | 2.20% |
Drawdowns
DAX vs. FEP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DAX drawdown since its inception was -45.58%, roughly equal to the maximum FEP drawdown of -46.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DAX and FEP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DAX | FEP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.58% | -46.05% | +0.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.82% | -12.31% | -2.51% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.96% | -38.99% | -0.97% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.58% | -46.05% | +0.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.00% | -6.38% | -3.62% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.58% | -12.14% | +1.56% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.23% | 3.23% | +1.00% |
Volatility
DAX vs. FEP - Volatility Comparison
Global X DAX Germany ETF (DAX) and First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) have volatilities of 8.46% and 8.46%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DAX | FEP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.46% | 8.46% | 0.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.77% | 12.63% | +0.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.20% | 19.48% | +0.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.20% | 19.57% | +0.63% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.21% | 20.65% | +0.56% |