FDT vs. SDY
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) and SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY).
FDT and SDY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FDT is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX DM Ex-US Index. It was launched on Apr 18, 2011. SDY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. It was launched on Nov 15, 2005. Both FDT and SDY 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: FDT or SDY.
Key characteristics
| FDT | SDY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 11.45% | 14.56% |
| 1Y Return | 22.75% | 26.29% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 0.60% | 6.47% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 4.26% | 8.78% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 4.36% | 9.65% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.38 | 2.48 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.85 | 3.51 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.25 | 1.45 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.08 | 2.06 |
| Martin Ratio | 8.51 | 14.93 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.51% | 1.73% |
| Daily Std Dev | 15.43% | 10.45% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.10% | -54.75% |
| Current Drawdown | -2.74% | -2.12% |
Correlation
The correlation between FDT and SDY is 0.69, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Performance
FDT vs. SDY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FDT achieves a 11.45% return, which is significantly lower than SDY's 14.56% return. Over the past 10 years, FDT has underperformed SDY with an annualized return of 4.36%, while SDY has yielded a comparatively higher 9.65% 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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FDT vs. SDY - Expense Ratio Comparison
FDT has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than SDY's 0.35% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FDT vs. SDY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) and SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY). 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
FDT vs. SDY - Dividend Comparison
FDT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.92%, more than SDY's 2.37% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDT First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund | 3.92% | 4.36% | 2.29% | 3.80% | 2.42% | 2.78% | 2.13% | 1.57% | 1.76% | 1.83% | 1.74% | 1.88% |
SDY SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | 2.37% | 2.64% | 2.55% | 2.63% | 2.85% | 2.45% | 2.73% | 4.69% | 3.30% | 6.20% | 4.74% | 3.95% |
Drawdowns
FDT vs. SDY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDT drawdown since its inception was -46.10%, smaller than the maximum SDY drawdown of -54.75%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDT and SDY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FDT vs. SDY - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) has a higher volatility of 3.47% compared to SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) at 2.84%. This indicates that FDT's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SDY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.