DIVY vs. FDL

Last updated Aug 6, 2026

DIVY (Sound Equity Dividend Income ETF) and FDL (First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - DIVY is a Dividend fund actively managed by Sound Income Strategies, while FDL is a Large Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index. DIVY is actively managed, while FDL is passively managed. Over the past year, DIVY returned 25.81% vs 26.71% for FDL. Their 0.80 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. DIVY charges 0.45%/yr vs 0.43%/yr for FDL.

Performance

DIVY vs. FDL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Sound Equity Dividend Income ETF (DIVY) and First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with DIVY having a 18.65% return and FDL slightly lower at 18.60%.

DIVY

• 1D: -0.14%
• 1M: 4.18%
• 6M: 9.72%
• YTD: 18.65%
• 1Y: 25.81%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 13.93%

FDL

• 1D: -0.54%
• 1M: 4.47%
• 6M: 5.75%
• YTD: 18.60%
• 1Y: 26.71%
• 3Y*: 19.02%
• 5Y*: 13.96%
• 10Y*: 11.08%
• ALL TIME*: 8.95%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
DIVY Sound Equity Dividend Income ETF	$55.43K	$84.71K	$74.40K
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	$48.97M	$49.30M	$42.41M

DIVY vs. FDL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
DIVY Sound Equity Dividend Income ETF	18.65%	7.38%	3.51%
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	18.60%	14.79%	9.97%

Correlation

The correlation between DIVY and FDL is 0.71, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.71
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 21, 2024	0.80

The correlation between DIVY and FDL has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.71 to 0.80 - a consistent structural relationship.

DIVY vs. FDL - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	DIVY	FDL
Financial Services	23.4%	13.7%
Consumer Cyclical	12.7%	4.4%
Healthcare	12.3%	11.7%
Energy	10.7%	11.1%
Consumer Defensive	9.4%	24.3%
Technology	8.9%	4.3%
Utilities	6.7%	15.4%
Communication Services	6.6%	11.2%
Industrials	6.0%	3.6%
Basic Materials	3.2%	0.4%
Real Estate	-	-

Return for Risk

DIVY vs. FDL — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

DIVY

DIVY Risk / Return Rank: 75
DIVY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
DIVY Sortino Ratio Rank: 80
DIVY Omega Ratio Rank: 75
DIVY Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
DIVY Martin Ratio Rank: 68

FDL

FDL Risk / Return Rank: 89
FDL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 87
FDL Sortino Ratio Rank: 90
FDL Omega Ratio Rank: 83
FDL Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
FDL Martin Ratio Rank: 88

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

DIVY vs. FDL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Sound Equity Dividend Income ETF (DIVY) and First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL). 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.

	DIVY	FDL	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.01	2.26	-0.25
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.91	3.41	-0.51
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.39	-0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.86	6.28	-3.42
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.44	14.78	-5.35

DIVY vs. FDL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DIVY Sharpe Ratio is 2.01, which is comparable to the FDL Sharpe Ratio of 2.26. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DIVY and FDL, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

DIVY vs. FDL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DIVY drawdown since its inception was -18.35%, smaller than the maximum FDL drawdown of -65.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DIVY and FDL.

Drawdown Indicators

	DIVY	FDL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-18.35%	-65.93%	+47.58%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.06%	-4.27%	-4.79%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-12.24%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-16.46%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-41.40%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.30%	-1.60%	+1.30%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.13%	-9.59%	+6.46%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.74%	1.81%	+0.93%

Volatility

DIVY vs. FDL - Volatility Comparison

Sound Equity Dividend Income ETF (DIVY) has a higher volatility of 5.40% compared to First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) at 4.48%. This indicates that DIVY's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FDL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	DIVY	FDL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.40%	4.48%	+0.92%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.99%	8.63%	+1.36%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.91%	11.88%	+1.03%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.67%	14.43%	+1.24%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	15.67%	17.16%	-1.49%

DIVY vs. FDL - Expense Ratio Comparison

DIVY has a 0.45% expense ratio, which is higher than FDL's 0.43% expense ratio.

Dividends

DIVY vs. FDL - Dividend Comparison

DIVY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.87%, less than FDL's 3.58% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
DIVY Sound Equity Dividend Income ETF	2.87%	3.68%	2.94%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	3.58%	4.04%	4.96%	4.58%	3.58%	4.59%	4.48%	3.75%	3.97%	3.18%	2.93%	3.65%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both DIVY and FDL in my portfolio?

DIVY and FDL have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, DIVY or FDL?

DIVY has higher volatility (5.40%) compared to FDL (4.48%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DIVY dropped -18.35% vs FDL's -65.93%.

Which ETF is better, DIVY or FDL?

On 1-year performance, FDL leads with 26.71% vs 25.81% for DIVY. On fees, FDL is cheaper at 0.43% per year. On volatility, FDL has been the lower-risk option at 4.48%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, DIVY or FDL?

Over the 1-year period, FDL has performed better with a 26.71% return vs 25.81%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, DIVY or FDL?

FDL is cheaper with a 0.43% expense ratio, compared with 0.45% for DIVY.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, DIVY or FDL?

FDL has the higher dividend yield at 3.58%, compared with 2.87% for DIVY.

What is the main difference between DIVY and FDL?

DIVY is categorized as Dividend, while FDL is Large Cap Value Equities. They also come from different issuers: Sound Income Strategies and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.45% for DIVY and 0.43% for FDL.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

FDL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.26 vs 2.01), 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.