FKU vs. VGK
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust United Kingdom AlphaDEX Fund (FKU) and Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK).
FKU and VGK are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FKU is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX United Kingdom Index. It was launched on Feb 14, 2012. VGK is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Developed Europe Index. It was launched on Mar 4, 2005. Both FKU and VGK 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
FKU vs. VGK - Performance Comparison
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FKU vs. VGK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FKU First Trust United Kingdom AlphaDEX Fund | -0.77% | 37.97% | 8.06% | 20.59% | -24.12% | 20.55% | -6.01% | 32.90% | -16.21% | 25.81% |
VGK Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | -0.95% | 35.83% | 1.88% | 20.19% | -15.98% | 16.89% | 5.43% | 24.85% | -14.89% | 26.98% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FKU achieves a -0.77% return, which is significantly higher than VGK's -0.95% return. Over the past 10 years, FKU has underperformed VGK with an annualized return of 6.74%, while VGK has yielded a comparatively higher 8.96% annualized return.
FKU
- 1D
- 3.56%
- 1M
- -9.63%
- YTD
- -0.77%
- 6M
- 5.20%
- 1Y
- 29.72%
- 3Y*
- 18.49%
- 5Y*
- 7.68%
- 10Y*
- 6.74%
VGK
- 1D
- 3.21%
- 1M
- -8.16%
- YTD
- -0.95%
- 6M
- 4.76%
- 1Y
- 21.14%
- 3Y*
- 14.29%
- 5Y*
- 8.68%
- 10Y*
- 8.96%
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FKU vs. VGK - Expense Ratio Comparison
FKU has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than VGK's 0.08% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FKU vs. VGK — Risk / Return Rank
FKU
VGK
FKU vs. VGK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust United Kingdom AlphaDEX Fund (FKU) and Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK). 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.
| FKU | VGK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.56 | 1.21 | +0.35 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.15 | 1.73 | +0.42 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.24 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.00 | 1.64 | +0.36 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.06 | 6.32 | +1.74 |
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
| FKU | VGK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.56 | 1.21 | +0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.49 | -0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 | 0.48 | -0.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 0.26 | +0.04 |
Correlation
The correlation between FKU and VGK is 0.75, 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
FKU vs. VGK - Dividend Comparison
FKU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.90%, less than VGK's 3.00% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FKU First Trust United Kingdom AlphaDEX Fund | 2.90% | 2.89% | 4.07% | 3.82% | 5.55% | 2.98% | 1.48% | 3.34% | 5.12% | 2.93% | 2.60% | 2.64% |
VGK Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF | 3.00% | 2.86% | 3.61% | 3.15% | 3.25% | 3.05% | 2.11% | 3.27% | 3.95% | 2.70% | 3.52% | 3.25% |
Drawdowns
FKU vs. VGK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FKU drawdown since its inception was -54.39%, smaller than the maximum VGK drawdown of -63.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FKU and VGK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FKU | VGK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.39% | -63.61% | +9.22% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.25% | -12.09% | -2.16% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -41.84% | -32.74% | -9.10% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -54.39% | -37.24% | -17.15% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.95% | -8.48% | -2.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.87% | -13.43% | +2.56% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.54% | 3.14% | +0.40% |
Volatility
FKU vs. VGK - Volatility Comparison
First Trust United Kingdom AlphaDEX Fund (FKU) and Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) have volatilities of 8.10% and 7.72%, 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
| FKU | VGK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.10% | 7.72% | +0.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.69% | 10.96% | +1.73% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.17% | 17.62% | +1.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.70% | 17.72% | +4.98% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.35% | 18.88% | +5.47% |