FICS vs. GSWO
FICS (First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF) and GSWO (Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF) are both Global Equities funds - FICS tracks the The International Developed Capital Strength Index while GSWO tracks the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity Index - Benchmark TR Net. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, FICS returned 9.67%/yr vs 18.70%/yr for GSWO. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. FICS charges 0.70%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for GSWO.
Performance
FICS vs. GSWO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FICS achieves a 0.83% return, which is significantly lower than GSWO's 11.00% return.
FICS
- 1D
- -0.83%
- 1M
- 1.05%
- YTD
- 0.83%
- 6M
- 3.51%
- 1Y
- 3.46%
- 3Y*
- 9.67%
- 5Y*
- 4.92%
- 10Y*
- —
GSWO
- 1D
- -0.71%
- 1M
- 4.81%
- YTD
- 11.00%
- 6M
- 11.56%
- 1Y
- 20.17%
- 3Y*
- 18.70%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FICS vs. GSWO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FICS First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF | 0.83% | 20.44% | 2.59% | 18.07% | -10.64% |
GSWO Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF | 11.00% | 18.97% | 15.29% | 16.28% | -6.15% |
Correlation
The correlation between FICS and GSWO is 0.76, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 18, 2022 | 0.77 |
The correlation between FICS and GSWO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.76 to 0.77 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
FICS vs. GSWO — Risk / Return Rank
FICS
GSWO
FICS vs. GSWO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) and Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF (GSWO). 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.
| FICS | GSWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.62 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.30 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.06 | 1.35 | -0.29 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.34 | 2.27 | -1.93 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.97 | 10.87 | -9.90 |
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
| FICS | GSWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.26 | 1.88 | -1.62 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.29 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.99 | -0.58 |
Drawdowns
FICS vs. GSWO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FICS drawdown since its inception was -29.16%, which is greater than GSWO's maximum drawdown of -17.77%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FICS and GSWO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FICS | GSWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -29.16% | -17.77% | -11.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.32% | -8.93% | -1.39% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -11.66% | -9.97% | -1.69% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.16% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.79% | -0.71% | -4.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.21% | -3.25% | -3.96% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.60% | 1.86% | +1.74% |
Volatility
FICS vs. GSWO - Volatility Comparison
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) has a higher volatility of 4.53% compared to Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF (GSWO) at 3.22%. This indicates that FICS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than GSWO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FICS | GSWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.53% | 3.22% | +1.31% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.73% | 9.02% | +1.71% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.26% | 10.75% | +2.51% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.20% | 12.96% | +4.24% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.94% | 12.96% | +3.98% |
FICS vs. GSWO - Expense Ratio Comparison
FICS has a 0.70% expense ratio, which is higher than GSWO's 0.25% expense ratio.
Dividends
FICS vs. GSWO - Dividend Comparison
FICS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.96%, more than GSWO's 1.61% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FICS First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF | 1.96% | 1.85% | 2.01% | 1.02% | 1.89% | 1.26% |
GSWO Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF | 1.61% | 1.74% | 1.75% | 2.06% | 1.73% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FICS and GSWO have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FICS has higher volatility (4.53%) compared to GSWO (3.22%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FICS dropped -29.16% vs GSWO's -17.77%.
On 3-year performance, GSWO leads with 18.70% vs 9.67% for FICS. On fees, GSWO is cheaper at 0.25% per year. On volatility, GSWO has been the lower-risk option at 3.22%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, GSWO has performed better with a 18.70% return vs 9.67%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
GSWO is cheaper with a 0.25% expense ratio, compared with 0.70% for FICS.
FICS has the higher dividend yield at 1.96%, compared with 1.61% for GSWO.
FICS tracks The International Developed Capital Strength Index, while GSWO tracks Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity Index - Benchmark TR Net. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and Goldman Sachs. Their fees differ too: 0.70% for FICS and 0.25% for GSWO.
GSWO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs 0.26), 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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