FDM vs. SGOV
FDM (First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund) and SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FDM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones Select Microcap Index, while SGOV is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FDM returned 9.37%/yr vs 3.58%/yr for SGOV. At a correlation of -0.05, they often move in opposite directions. FDM charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SGOV.
Performance
FDM vs. SGOV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FDM achieves a 13.86% return, which is significantly higher than SGOV's 1.71% return.
FDM
- 1D
- 0.76%
- 1M
- 4.64%
- YTD
- 13.86%
- 6M
- 12.43%
- 1Y
- 30.56%
- 3Y*
- 19.96%
- 5Y*
- 9.37%
- 10Y*
- 12.29%
SGOV
- 1D
- 0.01%
- 1M
- 0.28%
- YTD
- 1.71%
- 6M
- 1.80%
- 1Y
- 3.92%
- 3Y*
- 4.68%
- 5Y*
- 3.58%
- 10Y*
- —
FDM vs. SGOV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund | 13.86% | 18.64% | 13.00% | 12.76% | -11.61% | 35.08% | 23.25% |
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 1.71% | 4.24% | 5.27% | 5.12% | 1.58% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
Correlation
The correlation between FDM and SGOV is -0.16, 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 | -0.16 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.06 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 28, 2020 | -0.05 |
The correlation between FDM and SGOV shifts across timeframes, from -0.16 (1 year) to -0.04 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
FDM vs. SGOV — Risk / Return Rank
FDM
SGOV
FDM vs. SGOV - 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 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV). 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.
| FDM | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -18.69 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -271.18 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 194.05 | -192.77 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.30 | 395.07 | -391.77 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.96 | 4,426.92 | -4,416.96 |
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Drawdowns
FDM vs. SGOV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDM drawdown since its inception was -63.45%, which is greater than SGOV's maximum drawdown of -0.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDM and SGOV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FDM | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.45% | -0.03% | -63.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.30% | -0.01% | -9.29% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.47% | -0.01% | -23.46% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.74% | -0.03% | -23.71% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.76% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.32% | -0.00% | -11.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.08% | 0.00% | +3.08% |
Volatility
FDM vs. SGOV - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) has a higher volatility of 4.79% compared to iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) at 0.06%. This indicates that FDM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SGOV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FDM | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.79% | 0.06% | +4.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.23% | 0.13% | +13.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.84% | 0.19% | +18.65% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.40% | 0.24% | +21.16% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.36% | 0.24% | +23.12% |
FDM vs. SGOV - Expense Ratio Comparison
FDM has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than SGOV's 0.09% expense ratio.
Dividends
FDM vs. SGOV - Dividend Comparison
FDM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.21%, less than SGOV's 3.85% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund | 1.21% | 1.43% | 1.56% | 1.81% | 1.80% | 1.08% | 1.68% | 1.37% | 1.26% | 0.97% | 1.13% | 1.45% |
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 3.85% | 4.10% | 5.10% | 4.87% | 1.45% | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FDM and SGOV have a correlation of -0.16, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FDM has higher volatility (4.79%) compared to SGOV (0.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FDM dropped -63.45% vs SGOV's -0.03%.
On 5-year performance, FDM leads with 9.37% vs 3.58% for SGOV. On fees, SGOV is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, SGOV has been the lower-risk option at 0.06%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, FDM has performed better with a 9.37% return vs 3.58%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SGOV is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for FDM.
SGOV has the higher dividend yield at 3.85%, compared with 1.21% for FDM.
FDM is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while SGOV is Ultrashort Bond. FDM tracks Dow Jones Select Microcap Index, while SGOV tracks ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for FDM and 0.09% for SGOV.
SGOV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (20.32 vs 1.63), 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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