FDM vs. IWM
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM).
FDM and IWM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FDM is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones Select Microcap Index. It was launched on Sep 27, 2005. IWM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Index. It was launched on May 22, 2000. Both FDM and IWM 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
FDM vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
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FDM vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund | 3.39% | 18.64% | 13.00% | 12.76% | -11.61% | 35.08% | -4.04% | 27.45% | -13.53% | 8.72% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.93% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 14.58% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FDM achieves a 3.39% return, which is significantly higher than IWM's 0.93% return. Over the past 10 years, FDM has outperformed IWM with an annualized return of 11.22%, while IWM has yielded a comparatively lower 9.76% annualized return.
FDM
- 1D
- 1.32%
- 1M
- -3.24%
- YTD
- 3.39%
- 6M
- 9.17%
- 1Y
- 33.86%
- 3Y*
- 17.23%
- 5Y*
- 7.95%
- 10Y*
- 11.22%
IWM
- 1D
- 3.50%
- 1M
- -4.96%
- YTD
- 0.93%
- 6M
- 3.02%
- 1Y
- 25.66%
- 3Y*
- 12.94%
- 5Y*
- 3.34%
- 10Y*
- 9.76%
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FDM vs. IWM - Expense Ratio Comparison
FDM has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than IWM's 0.19% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FDM vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
FDM
IWM
FDM vs. IWM - 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 Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). 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 | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.53 | 1.11 | +0.41 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.22 | 1.66 | +0.56 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.21 | +0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.78 | 1.82 | +0.95 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.61 | 6.76 | +2.84 |
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 | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.53 | 1.11 | +0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 | 0.15 | +0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.48 | 0.43 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.34 | 0.34 | -0.01 |
Correlation
The correlation between FDM and IWM is 0.90, 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
FDM vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
FDM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.33%, more than IWM's 1.02% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund | 1.33% | 1.43% | 1.56% | 1.81% | 1.80% | 1.08% | 1.68% | 1.37% | 1.26% | 0.97% | 1.13% | 1.45% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 1.02% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
Drawdowns
FDM vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDM drawdown since its inception was -63.45%, which is greater than IWM's maximum drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDM and IWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FDM | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.45% | -59.05% | -4.40% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.99% | -13.74% | +1.75% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.74% | -31.91% | +8.17% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.76% | -41.13% | -6.63% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.74% | -7.91% | +2.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.43% | -10.83% | -0.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.46% | 3.70% | -0.24% |
Volatility
FDM vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) is 6.37%, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a volatility of 7.47%. This indicates that FDM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FDM | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.37% | 7.47% | -1.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.17% | 14.47% | -0.30% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.29% | 23.18% | -0.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.53% | 22.55% | -1.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.33% | 22.99% | +0.34% |