FICS vs. VYMI
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI).
FICS and VYMI are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FICS is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the The International Developed Capital Strength Index. It was launched on Dec 15, 2020. VYMI is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index. It was launched on Feb 25, 2016. Both FICS and VYMI 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
FICS vs. VYMI - Performance Comparison
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FICS vs. VYMI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FICS First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF | -2.19% | 20.44% | 2.59% | 18.07% | -19.47% | 19.78% | 2.20% |
VYMI Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF | 5.51% | 38.05% | 7.06% | 17.07% | -7.02% | 15.39% | -0.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FICS achieves a -2.19% return, which is significantly lower than VYMI's 5.51% return.
FICS
- 1D
- 2.28%
- 1M
- -7.64%
- YTD
- -2.19%
- 6M
- 2.94%
- 1Y
- 8.73%
- 3Y*
- 9.35%
- 5Y*
- 5.84%
- 10Y*
- —
VYMI
- 1D
- 2.75%
- 1M
- -6.07%
- YTD
- 5.51%
- 6M
- 13.32%
- 1Y
- 33.11%
- 3Y*
- 20.42%
- 5Y*
- 12.44%
- 10Y*
- 10.21%
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FICS vs. VYMI - Expense Ratio Comparison
FICS has a 0.70% expense ratio, which is higher than VYMI's 0.07% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FICS vs. VYMI — Risk / Return Rank
FICS
VYMI
FICS vs. VYMI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI). 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 | VYMI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.57 | 2.09 | -1.52 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.87 | 2.77 | -1.90 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.44 | -0.31 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.76 | 2.94 | -2.18 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.39 | 12.19 | -9.79 |
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 | VYMI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.57 | 2.09 | -1.52 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.35 | 0.85 | -0.50 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.61 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.40 | 0.62 | -0.23 |
Correlation
The correlation between FICS and VYMI is 0.77, 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
FICS vs. VYMI - Dividend Comparison
FICS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.02%, less than VYMI's 3.63% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FICS First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF | 2.02% | 1.85% | 2.01% | 1.02% | 1.89% | 1.26% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VYMI Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF | 3.63% | 3.68% | 4.84% | 4.58% | 4.70% | 4.30% | 3.22% | 4.20% | 4.29% | 3.21% | 2.39% |
Drawdowns
FICS vs. VYMI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FICS drawdown since its inception was -29.16%, smaller than the maximum VYMI drawdown of -40.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FICS and VYMI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FICS | VYMI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -29.16% | -40.00% | +10.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.32% | -11.08% | +0.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.16% | -24.05% | -5.11% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -40.00% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.64% | -6.54% | -1.10% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.31% | -6.39% | -0.92% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.29% | 2.67% | +0.62% |
Volatility
FICS vs. VYMI - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) is 5.96%, while Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) has a volatility of 7.02%. This indicates that FICS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VYMI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FICS | VYMI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.96% | 7.02% | -1.06% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.79% | 9.88% | -1.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.27% | 15.90% | -0.63% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.00% | 14.75% | +2.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.89% | 16.89% | 0.00% |