FIW vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Water ETF (FIW) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
FIW and SPY 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. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both FIW and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: FIW or SPY.
Key characteristics
| FIW | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 3.72% | 5.46% |
| 1Y Return | 19.45% | 22.99% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 6.45% | 7.85% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 14.25% | 13.16% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 12.24% | 12.40% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.33 | 1.97 |
| Daily Std Dev | 15.19% | 11.75% |
| Max Drawdown | -52.75% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -3.77% | -4.48% |
Correlation
The correlation between FIW and SPY is 0.83, 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.
Performance
FIW vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FIW achieves a 3.72% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 5.46% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with FIW having a 12.24% annualized return and SPY not far ahead at 12.40%. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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FIW vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
FIW has a 0.54% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FIW vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Water ETF (FIW) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
Dividends
FIW vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
FIW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.66%, less than SPY's 1.35% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FIW First Trust Water ETF | 0.66% | 0.68% | 0.67% | 0.37% | 0.56% | 0.55% | 0.73% | 1.13% | 0.51% | 0.76% | 0.75% | 0.62% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.35% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
FIW vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FIW drawdown since its inception was -52.75%, roughly equal to the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FIW and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FIW vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Water ETF (FIW) has a higher volatility of 3.75% compared to SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 3.26%. This indicates that FIW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.