EDOW vs. IUS

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

EDOW (First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF) and IUS (Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds - EDOW tracks the Dow Jones Industrail Average Equal Weight TR while IUS tracks the Invesco Strategic US Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, EDOW returned 9.72%/yr vs 14.50%/yr for IUS. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. EDOW charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for IUS.

Performance

EDOW vs. IUS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW) and Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF (IUS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, EDOW achieves a 9.11% return, which is significantly lower than IUS's 18.56% return.

EDOW

• 1D: 0.86%
• 1M: 1.31%
• 6M: 6.50%
• YTD: 9.11%
• 1Y: 17.91%
• 3Y*: 16.14%
• 5Y*: 9.72%
• 10Y*: —

IUS

• 1D: 0.59%
• 1M: 2.39%
• 6M: 14.56%
• YTD: 18.56%
• 1Y: 32.11%
• 3Y*: 19.96%
• 5Y*: 14.50%
• 10Y*: —

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

EDOW vs. IUS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
EDOW First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	9.11%	15.46%	13.17%	15.47%	-7.45%	18.82%	6.64%	24.69%	-7.81%
IUS Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF	18.56%	16.94%	16.51%	20.79%	-8.34%	32.17%	15.09%	29.34%	-12.28%

Correlation

The correlation between EDOW and IUS is 0.82, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.82
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.87
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.91
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 12, 2018	0.86

The correlation between EDOW and IUS has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.82 to 0.91 - a consistent structural relationship.

EDOW vs. IUS - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	EDOW	IUS
Technology	22.7%	21.6%
Financial Services	16.9%	9.3%
Industrials	13.6%	9.1%
Healthcare	13.2%	15.2%
Consumer Cyclical	12.2%	11.5%
Consumer Defensive	9.2%	7.6%
Communication Services	6.2%	11.7%
Energy	3.0%	7.5%
Basic Materials	3.0%	3.0%
Real Estate	-	0.6%
Utilities	-	1.4%

Return for Risk

EDOW vs. IUS — Risk / Return Rank

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

EDOW

EDOW Risk / Return Rank: 60
EDOW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 64
EDOW Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
EDOW Omega Ratio Rank: 61
EDOW Calmar Ratio Rank: 51
EDOW Martin Ratio Rank: 55

IUS

IUS Risk / Return Rank: 95
IUS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
IUS Sortino Ratio Rank: 95
IUS Omega Ratio Rank: 94
IUS Calmar Ratio Rank: 94
IUS Martin Ratio Rank: 95

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.

EDOW vs. IUS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW) and Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF (IUS). 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.

	EDOW	IUS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.69	3.06	-1.37
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.49	4.16	-1.68
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.56	-0.27
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.06	5.25	-3.19
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.65	21.84	-14.19

EDOW vs. IUS - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current EDOW Sharpe Ratio is 1.69, which is lower than the IUS Sharpe Ratio of 3.06. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of EDOW and IUS, 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

EDOW vs. IUS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EDOW drawdown since its inception was -33.72%, roughly equal to the maximum IUS drawdown of -34.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EDOW and IUS.

Drawdown Indicators

	EDOW	IUS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.72%	-34.67%	+0.95%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.73%	-6.15%	-2.58%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-15.51%	-15.61%	+0.10%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-21.98%	-18.72%	-3.26%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.57%	0.00%	-0.57%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.03%	-3.82%	-0.21%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.35%	1.47%	+0.88%

Volatility

EDOW vs. IUS - Volatility Comparison

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW) has a higher volatility of 3.10% compared to Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF (IUS) at 2.49%. This indicates that EDOW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IUS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	EDOW	IUS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.10%	2.49%	+0.61%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	8.34%	7.95%	+0.39%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.68%	10.56%	+0.12%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.23%	15.01%	-0.78%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.67%	17.96%	-0.29%

EDOW vs. IUS - Expense Ratio Comparison

EDOW has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than IUS's 0.19% expense ratio.

Dividends

EDOW vs. IUS - Dividend Comparison

EDOW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.25%, which matches IUS's 1.25% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
EDOW First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	1.25%	1.31%	1.65%	1.93%	1.91%	1.52%	1.84%	1.88%	1.82%	0.75%
IUS Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF	1.25%	1.48%	1.52%	1.72%	1.78%	1.46%	1.74%	1.77%	0.73%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both EDOW and IUS in my portfolio?

EDOW and IUS have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, EDOW or IUS?

EDOW has higher volatility (3.10%) compared to IUS (2.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, EDOW dropped -33.72% vs IUS's -34.67%.

Which ETF is better, EDOW or IUS?

On 5-year performance, IUS leads with 14.50% vs 9.72% for EDOW. On fees, IUS is cheaper at 0.19% per year. On volatility, IUS has been the lower-risk option at 2.49%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, EDOW or IUS?

Over the 5-year period, IUS has performed better with a 14.50% return vs 9.72%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, EDOW or IUS?

IUS is cheaper with a 0.19% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for EDOW.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, EDOW or IUS?

EDOW and IUS have nearly identical dividend yields, around 1.25%.

What is the main difference between EDOW and IUS?

EDOW tracks Dow Jones Industrail Average Equal Weight TR, while IUS tracks Invesco Strategic US Index. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for EDOW and 0.19% for IUS.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

IUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.06 vs 1.69), 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.