FDM vs. IBIC
FDM (First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FDM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones Select Microcap 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, FDM returned 31.05% vs 4.49% for IBIC. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. FDM charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
FDM vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FDM achieves a 9.96% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.34% return.
FDM
- 1D
- 2.31%
- 1M
- -1.63%
- YTD
- 9.96%
- 6M
- 10.53%
- 1Y
- 31.05%
- 3Y*
- 19.54%
- 5Y*
- 8.86%
- 10Y*
- 11.53%
IBIC
- 1D
- -0.03%
- 1M
- 0.28%
- YTD
- 2.34%
- 6M
- 2.50%
- 1Y
- 4.49%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FDM vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund | 9.96% | 18.64% | 13.00% | 10.92% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.34% | 4.96% | 5.25% | 2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between FDM and IBIC is -0.22, 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 | -0.22 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 18, 2023 | -0.01 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between FDM and IBIC has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.01 to -0.22, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
FDM vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
FDM
IBIC
FDM vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) 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.
| FDM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.34 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -6.61 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 2.22 | -0.93 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.35 | 17.09 | -13.73 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.16 | 66.52 | -56.35 |
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
| FDM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.64 | 4.99 | -3.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.42 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.35 | 3.48 | -3.13 |
Drawdowns
FDM vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDM drawdown since its inception was -63.45%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDM and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FDM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.45% | -0.90% | -62.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.30% | -0.26% | -9.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.47% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.74% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.76% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.10% | -0.16% | -1.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.35% | -0.10% | -11.25% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.06% | 0.07% | +2.99% |
Volatility
FDM vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) has a higher volatility of 5.00% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.32%. This indicates that FDM'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
| FDM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.00% | 0.32% | +4.68% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.41% | 0.67% | +12.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.98% | 0.90% | +18.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.41% | 1.58% | +19.83% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.36% | 1.58% | +21.78% |
FDM vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
FDM has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than IBIC's 0.10% expense ratio.
Dividends
FDM vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
FDM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.25%, less than IBIC's 3.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund | 1.25% | 1.43% | 1.56% | 1.81% | 1.80% | 1.08% | 1.68% | 1.37% | 1.26% | 0.97% | 1.13% | 1.45% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 3.59% | 4.43% | 4.65% | 0.83% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FDM and IBIC have a correlation of -0.22, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FDM has higher volatility (5.00%) compared to IBIC (0.32%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FDM dropped -63.45% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, FDM leads with 31.05% vs 4.49% for IBIC. On fees, IBIC is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, IBIC has been the lower-risk option at 0.32%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, FDM has performed better with a 31.05% return vs 4.49%. 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 0.60% for FDM.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 1.25% for FDM.
FDM is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. FDM tracks Dow Jones Select Microcap 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: 0.60% for FDM and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.99 vs 1.64), 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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