FCG vs. AVSF
FCG (First Trust Natural Gas ETF) and AVSF (Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FCG is a Energy Equities fund tracking the ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index, while AVSF is a Short-Term Bond fund actively managed by Avantis. FCG is passively managed, while AVSF is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, FCG returned 14.01%/yr vs 1.86%/yr for AVSF. At a correlation of -0.06, they often move in opposite directions. FCG charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for AVSF.
Performance
FCG vs. AVSF - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FCG achieves a 15.32% return, which is significantly higher than AVSF's 0.61% return.
FCG
- 1D
- -0.85%
- 1M
- -6.66%
- 6M
- 16.87%
- YTD
- 15.32%
- 1Y
- 14.31%
- 3Y*
- 6.37%
- 5Y*
- 14.01%
- 10Y*
- 3.17%
AVSF
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- 0.02%
- 6M
- 0.60%
- YTD
- 0.61%
- 1Y
- 3.57%
- 3Y*
- 4.89%
- 5Y*
- 1.86%
- 10Y*
- —
FCG vs. AVSF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF | 15.32% | -2.28% | 4.16% | 2.55% | 47.24% | 98.49% | 36.87% |
AVSF Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF | 0.61% | 6.57% | 3.81% | 5.25% | -5.52% | -1.17% | 0.46% |
Correlation
The correlation between FCG and AVSF is -0.30, 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 | -0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.10 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 15, 2020 | -0.06 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between FCG and AVSF has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.06 to -0.30, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
FCG vs. AVSF — Risk / Return Rank
FCG
AVSF
FCG vs. AVSF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) and Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF (AVSF). 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.
| FCG | AVSF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.25 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.79 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.11 | 1.34 | -0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.78 | 2.46 | -1.68 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.09 | 8.88 | -6.78 |
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Drawdowns
FCG vs. AVSF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FCG drawdown since its inception was -97.20%, which is greater than AVSF's maximum drawdown of -8.85%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FCG and AVSF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FCG | AVSF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -97.20% | -8.85% | -88.35% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -19.67% | -1.42% | -18.25% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.44% | -1.42% | -28.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.33% | -8.85% | -24.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -85.04% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -76.75% | -0.37% | -76.38% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -65.42% | -2.17% | -63.25% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.29% | 0.39% | +6.90% |
Volatility
FCG vs. AVSF - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) has a higher volatility of 8.02% compared to Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF (AVSF) at 0.65%. This indicates that FCG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than AVSF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FCG | AVSF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.02% | 0.65% | +7.37% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.54% | 1.47% | +19.07% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.06% | 1.92% | +25.14% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 33.29% | 2.66% | +30.63% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 38.24% | 2.52% | +35.72% |
FCG vs. AVSF - Expense Ratio Comparison
FCG has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than AVSF's 0.15% expense ratio.
Dividends
FCG vs. AVSF - Dividend Comparison
FCG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.38%, less than AVSF's 4.37% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVSF Avantis Short-Term Fixed Income ETF | 4.37% | 4.31% | 4.34% | 3.93% | 1.78% | 0.48% | 0.10% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF | 2.38% | 2.86% | 2.76% | 3.25% | 3.04% | 1.73% | 3.82% | 2.87% | 1.46% | 1.56% | 1.70% | 4.79% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FCG and AVSF have a correlation of -0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FCG has higher volatility (8.02%) compared to AVSF (0.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FCG dropped -97.20% vs AVSF's -8.85%.
On 5-year performance, FCG leads with 14.01% vs 1.86% for AVSF. On fees, AVSF is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, AVSF has been the lower-risk option at 0.65%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, FCG has performed better with a 14.01% return vs 1.86%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
AVSF is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for FCG.
AVSF has the higher dividend yield at 4.37%, compared with 2.38% for FCG.
FCG is categorized as Energy Equities, while AVSF is Short-Term Bond. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and Avantis. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for FCG and 0.15% for AVSF.
AVSF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.82 vs 0.56), 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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