FDL vs. FIW
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) and First Trust Water ETF (FIW).
FDL and FIW are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. FIW is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the ISE Clean Edge Water Index. It was launched on May 8, 2007. Both FDL and FIW 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
FDL vs. FIW - Performance Comparison
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FDL vs. FIW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
FIW First Trust Water ETF | -4.90% | 7.20% | 8.38% | 20.35% | -15.70% | 32.00% | 21.15% | 37.37% | -9.23% | 24.69% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FDL achieves a 15.49% return, which is significantly higher than FIW's -4.90% return. Over the past 10 years, FDL has underperformed FIW with an annualized return of 11.60%, while FIW has yielded a comparatively higher 12.78% annualized return.
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%
FIW
- 1D
- 2.21%
- 1M
- -9.31%
- YTD
- -4.90%
- 6M
- -7.85%
- 1Y
- 3.18%
- 3Y*
- 8.02%
- 5Y*
- 6.20%
- 10Y*
- 12.78%
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FDL vs. FIW - Expense Ratio Comparison
FDL has a 0.45% expense ratio, which is lower than FIW's 0.54% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FDL vs. FIW — Risk / Return Rank
FDL
FIW
FDL vs. FIW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) and First Trust Water ETF (FIW). 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.
| FDL | FIW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.47 | 0.17 | +1.30 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.06 | 0.39 | +1.66 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.05 | +0.24 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.96 | 0.29 | +1.67 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.63 | 0.94 | +6.70 |
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
| FDL | FIW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.47 | 0.17 | +1.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.99 | 0.34 | +0.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 | 0.65 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.46 | 0.43 | +0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between FDL and FIW is 0.70, 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
FDL vs. FIW - Dividend Comparison
FDL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.61%, more than FIW's 0.80% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
FIW First Trust Water ETF | 0.80% | 0.69% | 0.69% | 0.68% | 0.67% | 0.37% | 0.56% | 0.55% | 0.73% | 1.13% | 0.51% | 0.76% |
Drawdowns
FDL vs. FIW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDL drawdown since its inception was -65.93%, which is greater than FIW's maximum drawdown of -52.75%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDL and FIW.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FDL | FIW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -65.93% | -52.75% | -13.18% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.58% | -12.74% | +1.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -16.46% | -28.53% | +12.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.40% | -36.60% | -4.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.10% | -10.81% | +10.71% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.73% | -8.29% | -1.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.10% | 3.97% | -0.87% |
Volatility
FDL vs. FIW - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) is 2.56%, while First Trust Water ETF (FIW) has a volatility of 5.68%. This indicates that FDL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FIW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FDL | FIW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.56% | 5.68% | -3.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.16% | 11.04% | -2.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.96% | 18.63% | -3.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.31% | 18.30% | -3.99% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.09% | 19.88% | -2.79% |