FDM vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
FDM and SPY 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. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both FDM and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: FDM or SPY.
Key characteristics
| FDM | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -2.00% | 6.26% |
| 1Y Return | 21.92% | 26.32% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 1.80% | 8.03% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 7.28% | 13.23% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 8.37% | 12.44% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.05 | 2.21 |
| Daily Std Dev | 19.74% | 11.67% |
| Max Drawdown | -63.45% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -5.65% | -3.76% |
Correlation
The correlation between FDM and SPY is 0.76, 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.
Performance
FDM vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FDM achieves a -2.00% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 6.26% return. Over the past 10 years, FDM has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 8.37%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 12.44% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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FDM vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
FDM has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FDM vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
Dividends
FDM vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
FDM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.65%, more than SPY's 1.34% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund | 1.65% | 1.81% | 1.80% | 1.08% | 1.68% | 1.37% | 1.26% | 0.97% | 1.13% | 1.45% | 0.75% | 0.83% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.34% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
FDM vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDM drawdown since its inception was -63.45%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDM and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FDM vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) has a higher volatility of 4.94% compared to SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 3.55%. This indicates that FDM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.