FIW vs. AQWA
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Water ETF (FIW) and Global X Clean Water ETF (AQWA).
FIW and AQWA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FIW is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the ISE Clean Edge Water Index. It was launched on May 8, 2007. AQWA is a passively managed fund by Global X that tracks the performance of the Solactive Global Clean Water Industry Index. It was launched on Apr 8, 2021. Both FIW and AQWA 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
FIW vs. AQWA - Performance Comparison
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FIW vs. AQWA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FIW First Trust Water ETF | -3.98% | 7.20% | 8.38% | 20.35% | -15.70% | 18.18% |
AQWA Global X Clean Water ETF | 2.38% | 13.15% | 4.34% | 20.13% | -19.89% | 15.85% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FIW achieves a -3.98% return, which is significantly lower than AQWA's 2.38% return.
FIW
- 1D
- 0.96%
- 1M
- -7.88%
- YTD
- -3.98%
- 6M
- -7.06%
- 1Y
- 3.99%
- 3Y*
- 8.37%
- 5Y*
- 6.40%
- 10Y*
- 12.89%
AQWA
- 1D
- 1.25%
- 1M
- -7.26%
- YTD
- 2.38%
- 6M
- -0.13%
- 1Y
- 14.19%
- 3Y*
- 11.24%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
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FIW vs. AQWA - Expense Ratio Comparison
FIW has a 0.54% expense ratio, which is higher than AQWA's 0.50% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FIW vs. AQWA — Risk / Return Rank
FIW
AQWA
FIW vs. AQWA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Water ETF (FIW) and Global X Clean Water ETF (AQWA). 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.
| FIW | AQWA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.21 | 0.88 | -0.67 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.46 | 1.38 | -0.92 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.05 | 1.17 | -0.12 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.33 | 1.28 | -0.95 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.04 | 4.17 | -3.13 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FIW | AQWA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.21 | 0.88 | -0.67 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.35 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.65 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.43 | 0.37 | +0.06 |
Correlation
The correlation between FIW and AQWA is 0.90, 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
FIW vs. AQWA - Dividend Comparison
FIW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.79%, less than AQWA's 1.44% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FIW First Trust Water ETF | 0.79% | 0.69% | 0.69% | 0.68% | 0.67% | 0.37% | 0.56% | 0.55% | 0.73% | 1.13% | 0.51% | 0.76% |
AQWA Global X Clean Water ETF | 1.44% | 1.47% | 1.40% | 1.53% | 1.56% | 1.20% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
FIW vs. AQWA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FIW drawdown since its inception was -52.75%, which is greater than AQWA's maximum drawdown of -29.44%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FIW and AQWA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FIW | AQWA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -52.75% | -29.44% | -23.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.74% | -11.48% | -1.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.53% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.60% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.95% | -8.04% | -1.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.29% | -8.27% | -0.02% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.01% | 3.51% | +0.50% |
Volatility
FIW vs. AQWA - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Water ETF (FIW) and Global X Clean Water ETF (AQWA) have volatilities of 5.83% and 5.57%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FIW | AQWA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.83% | 5.57% | +0.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.03% | 10.03% | +1.00% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.65% | 16.19% | +2.46% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.30% | 16.67% | +1.63% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.88% | 16.67% | +3.21% |