FDT vs. VEA
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA).
FDT and VEA 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. VEA is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index. It was launched on Jul 20, 2007. Both FDT and VEA 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 VEA.
Key characteristics
| FDT | VEA | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 7.88% | 4.41% |
| 1Y Return | 14.25% | 12.40% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -0.43% | 0.86% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 3.66% | 5.70% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 3.96% | 5.31% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.11 | 1.18 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.52 | 1.70 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.20 | 1.21 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.00 | 1.56 |
| Martin Ratio | 6.69 | 6.25 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.58% | 2.47% |
| Daily Std Dev | 15.53% | 13.11% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.10% | -60.70% |
| Current Drawdown | -5.85% | -7.84% |
Correlation
The correlation between FDT and VEA is 0.92, 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
FDT vs. VEA - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FDT achieves a 7.88% return, which is significantly higher than VEA's 4.41% return. Over the past 10 years, FDT has underperformed VEA with an annualized return of 3.96%, while VEA has yielded a comparatively higher 5.31% 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. VEA - Expense Ratio Comparison
FDT has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than VEA's 0.05% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FDT vs. VEA - 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 Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA). 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. VEA - Dividend Comparison
FDT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.05%, more than VEA's 3.06% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDT First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund | 4.05% | 4.36% | 2.29% | 3.80% | 2.42% | 2.78% | 2.13% | 1.57% | 1.76% | 1.83% | 1.74% | 1.88% |
VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 3.06% | 3.16% | 2.91% | 3.16% | 2.04% | 3.04% | 3.35% | 2.77% | 3.05% | 2.92% | 3.68% | 2.60% |
Drawdowns
FDT vs. VEA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FDT drawdown since its inception was -46.10%, smaller than the maximum VEA drawdown of -60.70%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FDT and VEA. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FDT vs. VEA - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) have volatilities of 3.87% and 3.77%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.