FAD vs. FDL
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) and First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL).
FAD and FDL are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FAD is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Multi Cap Growth Index. It was launched on May 8, 2007. FDL is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index. It was launched on Mar 9, 2006. Both FAD and FDL 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
FAD vs. FDL - Performance Comparison
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FAD vs. FDL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAD First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund | -1.80% | 17.23% | 23.85% | 19.07% | -24.06% | 21.17% | 34.92% | 26.66% | -6.45% | 25.75% |
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 15.49% | 14.79% | 17.98% | 2.94% | 6.66% | 26.10% | -4.30% | 24.41% | -5.99% | 12.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FAD achieves a -1.80% return, which is significantly lower than FDL's 15.49% return. Over the past 10 years, FAD has outperformed FDL with an annualized return of 12.73%, while FDL has yielded a comparatively lower 11.60% annualized return.
FAD
- 1D
- 3.83%
- 1M
- -5.64%
- YTD
- -1.80%
- 6M
- -0.99%
- 1Y
- 22.98%
- 3Y*
- 17.93%
- 5Y*
- 8.03%
- 10Y*
- 12.73%
FDL
- 1D
- 0.43%
- 1M
- 0.01%
- YTD
- 15.49%
- 6M
- 19.42%
- 1Y
- 21.84%
- 3Y*
- 18.00%
- 5Y*
- 14.12%
- 10Y*
- 11.60%
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FAD vs. FDL - Expense Ratio Comparison
FAD has a 0.63% expense ratio, which is higher than FDL's 0.45% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FAD vs. FDL — Risk / Return Rank
FAD
FDL
FAD vs. FDL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) 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.
| FAD | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.05 | 1.47 | -0.42 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.55 | 2.06 | -0.51 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.29 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.78 | 1.96 | -0.18 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.13 | 7.63 | -0.50 |
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
| FAD | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.05 | 1.47 | -0.42 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.39 | 0.99 | -0.60 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.61 | 0.68 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.00 |
Correlation
The correlation between FAD and FDL is 0.58, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
FAD vs. FDL - Dividend Comparison
FAD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.11%, less than FDL's 3.61% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAD First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund | 0.11% | 0.09% | 0.59% | 0.51% | 0.60% | 0.09% | 0.32% | 0.48% | 0.20% | 0.22% | 0.64% | 0.41% |
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 3.61% | 4.04% | 4.96% | 4.58% | 3.58% | 4.59% | 4.48% | 3.75% | 3.97% | 3.18% | 2.93% | 3.65% |
Drawdowns
FAD vs. FDL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FAD drawdown since its inception was -54.33%, smaller than the maximum FDL drawdown of -65.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FAD and FDL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FAD | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.33% | -65.93% | +11.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.08% | -11.58% | -1.50% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.99% | -16.46% | -15.53% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.25% | -41.40% | +4.15% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.24% | -0.10% | -7.14% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.72% | -9.73% | +0.01% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.26% | 3.10% | +0.16% |
Volatility
FAD vs. FDL - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) has a higher volatility of 7.87% compared to First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) at 2.56%. This indicates that FAD'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.
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Volatility by Period
| FAD | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.87% | 2.56% | +5.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.67% | 8.16% | +6.51% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.90% | 14.96% | +6.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.50% | 14.31% | +6.19% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.07% | 17.09% | +3.98% |