FAI vs. IBIC
FAI (First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FAI is a Technology Equities fund tracking the Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence Index, while IBIC is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, FAI returned 76.77% vs 4.54% for IBIC. At a correlation of -0.24, they often move in opposite directions. FAI charges 0.65%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
FAI vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FAI achieves a 39.08% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.37% return.
FAI
- 1D
- -1.21%
- 1M
- 21.45%
- YTD
- 39.08%
- 6M
- 37.64%
- 1Y
- 76.77%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IBIC
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.27%
- YTD
- 2.37%
- 6M
- 2.51%
- 1Y
- 4.54%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FAI vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
FAI First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF | 39.08% | 33.37% | 2.06% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.37% | 4.96% | 0.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between FAI and IBIC is -0.21, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.21 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 22, 2024 | -0.24 |
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Return for Risk
FAI vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
FAI
IBIC
FAI vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF (FAI) and iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC). 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.
| FAI | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.88 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -5.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.49 | 2.24 | -0.75 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.10 | 17.27 | -13.18 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.35 | 67.45 | -54.10 |
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
| FAI | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.16 | 5.05 | -1.88 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.76 | 3.49 | -1.73 |
Drawdowns
FAI vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FAI drawdown since its inception was -27.82%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FAI and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FAI | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -27.82% | -0.90% | -26.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -18.84% | -0.26% | -18.58% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.21% | -0.13% | -1.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.31% | -0.10% | -5.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.77% | 0.07% | +5.70% |
Volatility
FAI vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF (FAI) has a higher volatility of 8.24% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.33%. This indicates that FAI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IBIC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FAI | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.24% | 0.33% | +7.91% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.31% | 0.67% | +18.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.40% | 0.90% | +23.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 29.89% | 1.58% | +28.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.89% | 1.58% | +28.31% |
FAI vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
FAI has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is higher than IBIC's 0.10% expense ratio.
Dividends
FAI vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
FAI has not paid dividends to shareholders, while IBIC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.59%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FAI First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.00% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 3.59% | 4.43% | 4.65% | 0.83% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FAI and IBIC have a correlation of -0.21, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FAI has higher volatility (8.24%) compared to IBIC (0.33%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FAI dropped -27.82% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, FAI leads with 76.77% vs 4.54% for IBIC. On fees, IBIC is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, IBIC has been the lower-risk option at 0.33%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, FAI has performed better with a 76.77% return vs 4.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBIC is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.65% for FAI.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 0.00% for FAI.
FAI is categorized as Technology Equities, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. FAI tracks Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence Index, while IBIC tracks ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for FAI and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (5.05 vs 3.16), 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.
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