FDM vs. PSC
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) and Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC).
FDM and PSC 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. PSC is a passively managed fund by Principal that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq US Small Cap Select Leaders TR Index. It was launched on Sep 21, 2016. Both FDM and PSC 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. PSC - Performance Comparison
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FDM vs. PSC - 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% |
PSC Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF | -0.70% | 13.41% | 12.38% | 18.51% | -15.91% | 32.56% | 13.30% | 18.99% | -11.35% | 15.93% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FDM achieves a 3.39% return, which is significantly higher than PSC's -0.70% 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%
PSC
- 1D
- 2.99%
- 1M
- -4.85%
- YTD
- -0.70%
- 6M
- 0.91%
- 1Y
- 18.90%
- 3Y*
- 13.51%
- 5Y*
- 6.49%
- 10Y*
- —
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FDM vs. PSC - Expense Ratio Comparison
FDM has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than PSC's 0.38% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FDM vs. PSC — Risk / Return Rank
FDM
PSC
FDM vs. PSC - 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 Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC). 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 | PSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.53 | 0.85 | +0.68 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.22 | 1.32 | +0.89 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.17 | +0.12 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.78 | 1.56 | +1.21 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.61 | 5.81 | +3.79 |
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 | PSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.53 | 0.85 | +0.68 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 | 0.31 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.48 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.34 | 0.44 | -0.10 |
Correlation
The correlation between FDM and PSC is 0.82, 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. PSC - Dividend Comparison
FDM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.33%, more than PSC's 0.67% 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% |
PSC Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF | 0.67% | 0.67% | 0.75% | 0.73% | 1.92% | 1.45% | 1.25% | 1.47% | 1.30% | 0.95% | 0.35% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
FDM vs. PSC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDM drawdown since its inception was -63.45%, which is greater than PSC's maximum drawdown of -46.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDM and PSC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FDM | PSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.45% | -46.69% | -16.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.99% | -12.63% | +0.64% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.74% | -25.86% | +2.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.76% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.74% | -7.26% | +1.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.43% | -8.40% | -3.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.46% | 3.40% | +0.06% |
Volatility
FDM vs. PSC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) is 6.37%, while Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) has a volatility of 6.85%. This indicates that FDM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PSC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FDM | PSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.37% | 6.85% | -0.48% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.17% | 14.18% | -0.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.29% | 22.46% | -0.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.53% | 21.06% | +0.47% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.33% | 23.40% | -0.07% |