FBT vs. BBP
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index (FBT) and Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF (BBP).
FBT and BBP are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FBT is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index. It was launched on Jun 23, 2006. BBP is a passively managed fund by Virtus Investment Partners that tracks the performance of the LifeSci Biotechnology Products Index. It was launched on Dec 17, 2014. Both FBT and BBP 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
FBT vs. BBP - Performance Comparison
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FBT vs. BBP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FBT First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index | -2.76% | 24.25% | 5.88% | 2.55% | -4.83% | -2.26% | 12.96% | 19.74% | -0.30% | 37.07% |
BBP Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF | 3.94% | 33.15% | 3.32% | 17.88% | 0.85% | -8.17% | 22.24% | 24.73% | -13.95% | 24.07% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FBT achieves a -2.76% return, which is significantly lower than BBP's 3.94% return. Over the past 10 years, FBT has underperformed BBP with an annualized return of 8.59%, while BBP has yielded a comparatively higher 12.76% annualized return.
FBT
- 1D
- 4.05%
- 1M
- -3.77%
- YTD
- -2.76%
- 6M
- 12.01%
- 1Y
- 18.05%
- 3Y*
- 9.26%
- 5Y*
- 4.70%
- 10Y*
- 8.59%
BBP
- 1D
- 5.93%
- 1M
- -2.16%
- YTD
- 3.94%
- 6M
- 18.71%
- 1Y
- 41.70%
- 3Y*
- 19.01%
- 5Y*
- 9.37%
- 10Y*
- 12.76%
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FBT vs. BBP - Expense Ratio Comparison
FBT has a 0.57% expense ratio, which is lower than BBP's 0.79% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FBT vs. BBP — Risk / Return Rank
FBT
BBP
FBT vs. BBP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index (FBT) and Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF (BBP). 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.
| FBT | BBP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.73 | 1.55 | -0.82 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.17 | 2.18 | -1.01 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.15 | 1.27 | -0.12 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.52 | 2.69 | -1.17 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.09 | 10.18 | -6.09 |
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
| FBT | BBP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.73 | 1.55 | -0.82 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 | 0.36 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.36 | 0.47 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.39 | +0.10 |
Correlation
The correlation between FBT and BBP is 0.87, 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
FBT vs. BBP - Dividend Comparison
Neither FBT nor BBP has paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FBT First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.71% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.37% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.12% |
BBP Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.18% | 0.00% | 1.29% |
Drawdowns
FBT vs. BBP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FBT drawdown since its inception was -40.51%, smaller than the maximum BBP drawdown of -44.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FBT and BBP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FBT | BBP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.51% | -44.32% | +3.81% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.26% | -13.38% | -0.88% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.05% | -38.28% | +9.23% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.37% | -44.32% | +11.95% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.48% | -3.90% | -5.58% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.22% | -12.16% | +0.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.33% | 3.72% | +1.61% |
Volatility
FBT vs. BBP - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index (FBT) is 8.93%, while Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF (BBP) has a volatility of 11.21%. This indicates that FBT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BBP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FBT | BBP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.93% | 11.21% | -2.28% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.57% | 18.03% | -2.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 24.96% | 27.16% | -2.20% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.72% | 26.23% | -4.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.06% | 27.51% | -3.45% |