FEP vs. VGK
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) and Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK).
FEP and VGK are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FEP is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Defined Europe Index. It was launched on Apr 26, 2011. VGK is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Developed Europe Index. It was launched on Mar 4, 2005. Both FEP and VGK are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
FEP vs. VGK - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
FEP vs. VGK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FEP First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund | 1.73% | 55.72% | 3.38% | 16.85% | -22.97% | 17.03% | 4.12% | 24.83% | -19.00% | 36.27% |
VGK Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | -0.95% | 35.83% | 1.88% | 20.19% | -15.98% | 16.89% | 5.43% | 24.85% | -14.89% | 26.98% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FEP achieves a 1.73% return, which is significantly higher than VGK's -0.95% return. Over the past 10 years, FEP has outperformed VGK with an annualized return of 9.77%, while VGK has yielded a comparatively lower 8.96% annualized return.
FEP
- 1D
- 4.18%
- 1M
- -7.37%
- YTD
- 1.73%
- 6M
- 7.95%
- 1Y
- 38.59%
- 3Y*
- 20.97%
- 5Y*
- 9.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.77%
VGK
- 1D
- 3.21%
- 1M
- -8.16%
- YTD
- -0.95%
- 6M
- 4.76%
- 1Y
- 21.14%
- 3Y*
- 14.29%
- 5Y*
- 8.68%
- 10Y*
- 8.96%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
FEP vs. VGK - Expense Ratio Comparison
FEP has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than VGK's 0.08% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FEP vs. VGK — Risk / Return Rank
FEP
VGK
FEP vs. VGK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) and Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK). 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.
| FEP | VGK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 2.00 | 1.21 | +0.79 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.57 | 1.73 | +0.84 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.24 | +0.15 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.98 | 1.64 | +1.35 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.45 | 6.32 | +5.13 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FEP | VGK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.00 | 1.21 | +0.79 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 | 0.48 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 0.26 | +0.05 |
Correlation
The correlation between FEP and VGK is 0.86, 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.
Dividends
FEP vs. VGK - Dividend Comparison
FEP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.21%, more than VGK's 3.00% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FEP First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund | 3.21% | 3.33% | 4.94% | 3.27% | 3.00% | 3.49% | 2.32% | 2.63% | 2.62% | 1.65% | 2.14% | 2.20% |
VGK Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | 3.00% | 2.86% | 3.61% | 3.15% | 3.25% | 3.05% | 2.11% | 3.27% | 3.95% | 2.70% | 3.52% | 3.25% |
Drawdowns
FEP vs. VGK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FEP drawdown since its inception was -46.05%, smaller than the maximum VGK drawdown of -63.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FEP and VGK.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| FEP | VGK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.05% | -63.61% | +17.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.31% | -12.09% | -0.22% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.99% | -32.74% | -6.25% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.05% | -37.24% | -8.81% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.79% | -8.48% | +0.69% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.14% | -13.43% | +1.29% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.21% | 3.14% | +0.07% |
Volatility
FEP vs. VGK - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) has a higher volatility of 9.11% compared to Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) at 7.72%. This indicates that FEP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VGK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| FEP | VGK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.11% | 7.72% | +1.39% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.56% | 10.96% | +1.60% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.48% | 17.62% | +1.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.58% | 17.72% | +1.86% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.65% | 18.88% | +1.77% |