FGM vs. IBIC
FGM (First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund) and IBIC (iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FGM is a Europe Equities fund tracking the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Germany Index, while IBIC is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, FGM returned 22.07% vs 4.38% for IBIC. At a correlation of -0.03, they often move in opposite directions. FGM charges 0.80%/yr vs 0.10%/yr for IBIC.
Performance
FGM vs. IBIC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FGM achieves a 4.31% return, which is significantly higher than IBIC's 2.39% return.
FGM
- 1D
- 0.62%
- 1M
- 0.45%
- YTD
- 4.31%
- 6M
- 5.32%
- 1Y
- 22.07%
- 3Y*
- 21.48%
- 5Y*
- 5.08%
- 10Y*
- 8.91%
IBIC
- 1D
- 0.06%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 2.39%
- 6M
- 2.49%
- 1Y
- 4.38%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FGM vs. IBIC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FGM First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund | 4.31% | 63.60% | 1.36% | 5.31% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 2.39% | 4.96% | 5.25% | 2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between FGM and IBIC is -0.24, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.24 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 15, 2023 | -0.03 |
Over the past year, the inverse relationship between FGM and IBIC has strengthened: their correlation has moved from -0.03 to -0.24, meaning they now move in opposite directions more often than their long-term average.
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Return for Risk
FGM vs. IBIC — Risk / Return Rank
FGM
IBIC
FGM vs. IBIC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (FGM) and iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC). 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.
| FGM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -3.88 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -7.32 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 2.21 | -1.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.25 | 16.41 | -15.17 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.75 | 58.11 | -54.36 |
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Drawdowns
FGM vs. IBIC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FGM drawdown since its inception was -51.58%, which is greater than IBIC's maximum drawdown of -0.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FGM and IBIC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FGM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.58% | -0.90% | -50.68% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.76% | -0.27% | -17.49% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.93% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -50.18% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -51.58% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.27% | -0.11% | -7.16% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.71% | -0.10% | -14.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.89% | 0.08% | +5.81% |
Volatility
FGM vs. IBIC - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (FGM) has a higher volatility of 5.79% compared to iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF (IBIC) at 0.16%. This indicates that FGM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IBIC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FGM | IBIC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.79% | 0.16% | +5.63% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.50% | 0.67% | +16.83% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.86% | 0.89% | +19.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.53% | 1.57% | +22.96% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.07% | 1.57% | +21.50% |
FGM vs. IBIC - Expense Ratio Comparison
FGM has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than IBIC's 0.10% expense ratio.
Dividends
FGM vs. IBIC - Dividend Comparison
FGM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.64%, less than IBIC's 3.59% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FGM First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund | 0.64% | 0.66% | 2.56% | 2.82% | 5.44% | 1.43% | 1.33% | 2.30% | 2.18% | 2.11% | 1.33% | 1.13% |
IBIC iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF | 3.59% | 4.43% | 4.65% | 0.83% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FGM and IBIC have a correlation of -0.24, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FGM has higher volatility (5.79%) compared to IBIC (0.16%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FGM dropped -51.58% vs IBIC's -0.90%.
On 1-year performance, FGM leads with 22.07% vs 4.38% for IBIC. On fees, IBIC is cheaper at 0.10% per year. On volatility, IBIC has been the lower-risk option at 0.16%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, FGM has performed better with a 22.07% return vs 4.38%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IBIC is cheaper with a 0.10% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for FGM.
IBIC has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 0.64% for FGM.
FGM is categorized as Europe Equities, while IBIC is Inflation-Protected Bonds. FGM tracks NASDAQ AlphaDEX Germany Index, while IBIC tracks ICE 2026 Maturity US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.80% for FGM and 0.10% for IBIC.
IBIC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.94 vs 1.06), 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.
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