FIW vs. FDL
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Water ETF (FIW) and First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL).
FIW and FDL 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. FDL is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index. It was launched on Mar 9, 2006. Both FIW and FDL 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. FDL - Performance Comparison
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FIW vs. FDL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FIW First Trust Water ETF | -4.90% | 7.20% | 8.38% | 20.35% | -15.70% | 32.00% | 21.15% | 37.37% | -9.23% | 24.69% |
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 15.49% | 14.79% | 17.98% | 2.94% | 6.66% | 26.10% | -4.30% | 24.41% | -5.99% | 12.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FIW achieves a -4.90% return, which is significantly lower than FDL's 15.49% return. Over the past 10 years, FIW has outperformed FDL with an annualized return of 12.78%, while FDL has yielded a comparatively lower 11.60% annualized return.
FIW
- 1D
- 2.21%
- 1M
- -9.31%
- YTD
- -4.90%
- 6M
- -7.85%
- 1Y
- 3.18%
- 3Y*
- 8.02%
- 5Y*
- 6.20%
- 10Y*
- 12.78%
FDL
- 1D
- 0.43%
- 1M
- 0.01%
- YTD
- 15.49%
- 6M
- 19.42%
- 1Y
- 21.84%
- 3Y*
- 18.00%
- 5Y*
- 14.12%
- 10Y*
- 11.60%
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FIW vs. FDL - Expense Ratio Comparison
FIW has a 0.54% expense ratio, which is higher than FDL's 0.45% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FIW vs. FDL — Risk / Return Rank
FIW
FDL
FIW vs. FDL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Water ETF (FIW) and First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL). 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 | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.17 | 1.47 | -1.30 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.39 | 2.06 | -1.66 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.05 | 1.29 | -0.24 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.29 | 1.96 | -1.67 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.94 | 7.63 | -6.70 |
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 | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.17 | 1.47 | -1.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.99 | -0.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.65 | 0.68 | -0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.43 | 0.46 | -0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between FIW and FDL is 0.70, 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. FDL - Dividend Comparison
FIW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.80%, less than FDL's 3.61% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FIW First Trust Water ETF | 0.80% | 0.69% | 0.69% | 0.68% | 0.67% | 0.37% | 0.56% | 0.55% | 0.73% | 1.13% | 0.51% | 0.76% |
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 3.61% | 4.04% | 4.96% | 4.58% | 3.58% | 4.59% | 4.48% | 3.75% | 3.97% | 3.18% | 2.93% | 3.65% |
Drawdowns
FIW vs. FDL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FIW drawdown since its inception was -52.75%, smaller than the maximum FDL drawdown of -65.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FIW and FDL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FIW | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -52.75% | -65.93% | +13.18% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.74% | -11.58% | -1.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.53% | -16.46% | -12.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.60% | -41.40% | +4.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.81% | -0.10% | -10.71% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.29% | -9.73% | +1.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.97% | 3.10% | +0.87% |
Volatility
FIW vs. FDL - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Water ETF (FIW) has a higher volatility of 5.68% compared to First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) at 2.56%. This indicates that FIW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FDL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FIW | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.68% | 2.56% | +3.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.04% | 8.16% | +2.88% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.63% | 14.96% | +3.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.30% | 14.31% | +3.99% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.88% | 17.09% | +2.79% |