FEP vs. PTEU
FEP (First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund) and PTEU (Pacer Trendpilot European Index ETF) are both Europe Equities funds - FEP tracks the Defined Europe Index while PTEU tracks the Pacer Trendpilot European Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, FEP returned 11.19%/yr vs 5.37%/yr for PTEU. A 0.69 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. FEP charges 0.80%/yr vs 0.65%/yr for PTEU.
Performance
FEP vs. PTEU - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FEP achieves a 7.28% return, which is significantly higher than PTEU's 6.67% return. Over the past 10 years, FEP has outperformed PTEU with an annualized return of 11.19%, while PTEU has yielded a comparatively lower 5.37% annualized return.
FEP
- 1D
- -1.39%
- 1M
- -2.05%
- YTD
- 7.28%
- 6M
- 7.31%
- 1Y
- 27.23%
- 3Y*
- 23.84%
- 5Y*
- 9.54%
- 10Y*
- 11.19%
PTEU
- 1D
- -1.95%
- 1M
- 1.07%
- YTD
- 6.67%
- 6M
- 6.75%
- 1Y
- 19.59%
- 3Y*
- 10.88%
- 5Y*
- 7.49%
- 10Y*
- 5.37%
FEP vs. PTEU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FEP First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund | 7.28% | 55.72% | 3.38% | 16.85% | -22.97% | 17.03% | 4.12% | 24.83% | -19.00% | 36.27% |
PTEU Pacer Trendpilot European Index ETF | 6.67% | 30.80% | -0.50% | 12.45% | -7.46% | 13.43% | -19.41% | 13.50% | -16.87% | 28.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between FEP and PTEU is 0.86, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.71 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 4, 2016 | 0.69 |
The correlation between FEP and PTEU shifts across timeframes, from 0.69 (all time) to 0.86 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
FEP vs. PTEU — Risk / Return Rank
FEP
PTEU
FEP vs. PTEU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) and Pacer Trendpilot European Index ETF (PTEU). 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.
| FEP | PTEU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.54 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.21 | +0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.25 | 1.53 | +0.72 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.64 | 5.31 | +3.34 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
FEP vs. PTEU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FEP drawdown since its inception was -46.05%, which is greater than PTEU's maximum drawdown of -35.45%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FEP and PTEU.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| FEP | PTEU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.05% | -35.45% | -10.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.13% | -12.82% | +0.69% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.83% | -15.04% | -0.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.99% | -15.04% | -23.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.05% | -35.45% | -10.60% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.89% | -2.23% | -1.66% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.99% | -14.43% | +2.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.16% | 3.70% | -0.54% |
Volatility
FEP vs. PTEU - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) has a higher volatility of 5.32% compared to Pacer Trendpilot European Index ETF (PTEU) at 5.01%. This indicates that FEP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PTEU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| FEP | PTEU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.32% | 5.01% | +0.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.58% | 14.55% | +0.03% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.18% | 17.19% | -0.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.72% | 15.30% | +4.42% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.33% | 14.54% | +5.79% |
FEP vs. PTEU - Expense Ratio Comparison
FEP has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than PTEU's 0.65% expense ratio.
Dividends
FEP vs. PTEU - Dividend Comparison
FEP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.05%, more than PTEU's 1.80% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FEP First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund | 3.05% | 3.33% | 4.94% | 3.27% | 3.00% | 3.49% | 2.32% | 2.63% | 2.62% | 1.65% | 2.14% | 2.20% |
PTEU Pacer Trendpilot European Index ETF | 1.80% | 1.92% | 3.49% | 2.74% | 0.69% | 1.55% | 0.00% | 3.43% | 1.86% | 0.60% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FEP and PTEU have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FEP has higher volatility (5.32%) compared to PTEU (5.01%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FEP dropped -46.05% vs PTEU's -35.45%.
On 10-year performance, FEP leads with 11.19% vs 5.37% for PTEU. On fees, PTEU is cheaper at 0.65% per year. On volatility, PTEU has been the lower-risk option at 5.01%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, FEP has performed better with a 11.19% return vs 5.37%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
PTEU is cheaper with a 0.65% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for FEP.
FEP has the higher dividend yield at 3.05%, compared with 1.80% for PTEU.
FEP tracks Defined Europe Index, while PTEU tracks Pacer Trendpilot European Index. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and Pacer. Their fees differ too: 0.80% for FEP and 0.65% for PTEU.
FEP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.59 vs 1.15), 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.
Find the right allocation for FEP and PTEU
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer