FGM vs. EWG
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (FGM) and iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG).
FGM and EWG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FGM is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Germany Index. It was launched on Feb 14, 2012. EWG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Germany Index. It was launched on Mar 12, 1996. Both FGM and EWG 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
FGM vs. EWG - Performance Comparison
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FGM vs. EWG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FGM First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund | -1.81% | 63.60% | 1.36% | 13.28% | -30.46% | 6.10% | 17.26% | 20.77% | -25.14% | 44.28% |
EWG iShares MSCI Germany ETF | -5.41% | 35.79% | 9.79% | 23.35% | -22.27% | 5.84% | 10.09% | 19.15% | -21.40% | 27.42% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FGM achieves a -1.81% return, which is significantly higher than EWG's -5.41% return. Over the past 10 years, FGM has outperformed EWG with an annualized return of 7.67%, while EWG has yielded a comparatively lower 7.17% annualized return.
FGM
- 1D
- 2.03%
- 1M
- -8.60%
- YTD
- -1.81%
- 6M
- 2.78%
- 1Y
- 33.05%
- 3Y*
- 19.41%
- 5Y*
- 4.93%
- 10Y*
- 7.67%
EWG
- 1D
- 1.34%
- 1M
- -6.32%
- YTD
- -5.41%
- 6M
- -4.58%
- 1Y
- 9.60%
- 3Y*
- 14.76%
- 5Y*
- 6.01%
- 10Y*
- 7.17%
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FGM vs. EWG - Expense Ratio Comparison
FGM has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than EWG's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FGM vs. EWG — Risk / Return Rank
FGM
EWG
FGM vs. EWG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (FGM) and iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG). 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.
| FGM | EWG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.46 | 0.49 | +0.98 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.07 | 0.83 | +1.24 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.11 | +0.18 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.94 | 0.70 | +1.23 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.32 | 2.27 | +5.05 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FGM | EWG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.46 | 0.49 | +0.98 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 | 0.30 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.34 | 0.34 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.33 | 0.24 | +0.09 |
Correlation
The correlation between FGM and EWG is 0.84, 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
FGM vs. EWG - Dividend Comparison
FGM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.68%, less than EWG's 1.69% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FGM First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund | 0.68% | 0.66% | 2.56% | 2.82% | 5.44% | 1.43% | 1.33% | 2.30% | 2.18% | 2.11% | 1.33% | 1.13% |
EWG iShares MSCI Germany ETF | 1.69% | 1.60% | 2.38% | 2.56% | 3.24% | 2.70% | 1.67% | 2.51% | 2.93% | 2.06% | 2.35% | 1.93% |
Drawdowns
FGM vs. EWG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FGM drawdown since its inception was -51.58%, smaller than the maximum EWG drawdown of -67.57%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FGM and EWG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FGM | EWG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.58% | -67.57% | +15.99% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.76% | -14.54% | -3.22% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -51.07% | -43.44% | -7.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -51.58% | -46.80% | -4.78% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.71% | -9.78% | -2.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.82% | -19.28% | +4.46% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.70% | 4.50% | +0.20% |
Volatility
FGM vs. EWG - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (FGM) has a higher volatility of 9.39% compared to iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) at 8.28%. This indicates that FGM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than EWG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FGM | EWG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.39% | 8.28% | +1.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.97% | 12.45% | +2.52% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.69% | 19.83% | +2.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.24% | 20.30% | +3.94% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.95% | 21.03% | +1.92% |