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FPA vs. EPP
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

FPA vs. EPP

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

FPA (First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund) and EPP (iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF) are both Asia Pacific Equities funds - FPA tracks the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Asia Pacific Ex-Japan Index while EPP tracks the MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, FPA returned 11.25%/yr vs 7.60%/yr for EPP. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. FPA charges 0.80%/yr vs 0.48%/yr for EPP.

Performance

FPA vs. EPP - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FPA) and iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF (EPP). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FPA achieves a 51.47% return, which is significantly higher than EPP's 9.57% return. Over the past 10 years, FPA has outperformed EPP with an annualized return of 11.25%, while EPP has yielded a comparatively lower 7.60% annualized return.

FPA

1D
-0.59%
1M
9.98%
YTD
51.47%
6M
51.19%
1Y
82.43%
3Y*
33.32%
5Y*
13.09%
10Y*
11.25%

EPP

1D
-1.07%
1M
1.12%
YTD
9.57%
6M
10.96%
1Y
17.40%
3Y*
13.26%
5Y*
4.65%
10Y*
7.60%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

FPA vs. EPP - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
FPA
First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund		51.47%43.16%3.95%9.97%-14.55%2.98%13.43%8.91%-21.91%35.81%
EPP
iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF		9.57%19.70%4.76%5.76%-6.59%4.26%6.04%18.30%-10.78%26.05%

Correlation

The correlation between FPA and EPP is 0.61, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.61

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.68

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.64

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.68

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 21, 2011

0.68

The correlation between FPA and EPP has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.61 to 0.68 - a consistent structural relationship.

FPA vs. EPP - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
FPA
EPP

Industrials

37.1%
8.6%

Technology

16.1%
1.1%

Financial Services

9.6%
46.0%

Consumer Cyclical

8.8%
6.0%

Real Estate

6.9%
7.8%

Energy

6.7%
2.9%

Utilities

5.7%
3.6%

Basic Materials

4.9%
14.6%

Consumer Defensive

3.2%
3.0%

Communication Services

2.6%
2.7%

Healthcare

1.0%
3.7%

Industrials

FPA
37.1%
EPP
8.6%

Technology

FPA
16.1%
EPP
1.1%

Financial Services

FPA
9.6%
EPP
46.0%

Consumer Cyclical

FPA
8.8%
EPP
6.0%

Real Estate

FPA
6.9%
EPP
7.8%

Energy

FPA
6.7%
EPP
2.9%

Utilities

FPA
5.7%
EPP
3.6%

Basic Materials

FPA
4.9%
EPP
14.6%

Consumer Defensive

FPA
3.2%
EPP
3.0%

Communication Services

FPA
2.6%
EPP
2.7%

Healthcare

FPA
1.0%
EPP
3.7%

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First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund

iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF

Often compared with FPA:
FPA vs. FSEAXFPA vs. VPLFPA vs. EWSFPA vs. ADIVFPA vs. EWYFPA vs. FICSFPA vs. FLKR
Often compared with EPP:
EPP vs. EWTEPP vs. AAXJEPP vs. BBAXEPP vs. EWHEPP vs. AIAEPP vs. EWYEPP vs. VPL

Return for Risk

FPA vs. EPP — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
FPA
FPA Risk / Return Rank: 8888
Overall Rank
FPA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9191
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FPA Sortino Ratio Rank: 8787
Sortino Ratio Rank
FPA Omega Ratio Rank: 8686
Omega Ratio Rank
FPA Calmar Ratio Rank: 8989
Calmar Ratio Rank
FPA Martin Ratio Rank: 8989
Martin Ratio Rank
EPP
EPP Risk / Return Rank: 3535
Overall Rank
EPP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3333
Sharpe Ratio Rank
EPP Sortino Ratio Rank: 3232
Sortino Ratio Rank
EPP Omega Ratio Rank: 3232
Omega Ratio Rank
EPP Calmar Ratio Rank: 4040
Calmar Ratio Rank
EPP Martin Ratio Rank: 3939
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

FPA vs. EPP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FPA) and iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF (EPP). 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.

FPAEPPDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
3.24
1.20

+2.04

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.94
1.74

+2.20

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.54

1.22

+0.32

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

5.39

1.99

+3.40

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

19.96

6.27

+13.69

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

FPA vs. EPP - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FPA Sharpe Ratio is 3.24, which is higher than the EPP Sharpe Ratio of 1.20. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FPA and EPP, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

FPAEPPDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

3.24

1.20

+2.04

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.55

0.27

+0.28

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.50

0.40

+0.11

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.33

0.39

-0.06

Drawdowns

FPA vs. EPP - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FPA drawdown since its inception was -52.91%, smaller than the maximum EPP drawdown of -66.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FPA and EPP.

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Drawdown Indicators

FPAEPPDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-52.91%

-66.01%

+13.10%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-15.37%

-8.79%

-6.58%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-20.66%

-19.29%

-1.37%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-35.21%

-26.31%

-8.90%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-52.91%

-39.30%

-13.61%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-4.12%

-2.79%

-1.33%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-13.49%

-10.62%

-2.87%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

4.14%

2.78%

+1.36%

Volatility

FPA vs. EPP - Volatility Comparison

First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FPA) has a higher volatility of 12.96% compared to iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF (EPP) at 4.65%. This indicates that FPA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than EPP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

FPAEPPDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

12.96%

4.65%

+8.31%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

21.92%

11.94%

+9.98%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

25.55%

14.51%

+11.04%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

23.98%

17.41%

+6.57%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

22.39%

19.11%

+3.28%

FPA vs. EPP - Expense Ratio Comparison

FPA has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than EPP's 0.48% expense ratio.

Dividends

FPA vs. EPP - Dividend Comparison

FPA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.52%, more than EPP's 3.44% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
EPP
iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF		3.44%3.77%3.81%4.10%4.37%4.58%2.28%3.89%5.00%4.15%3.96%4.90%
FPA
First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund		3.52%4.71%3.40%3.02%4.22%5.12%1.59%3.90%2.81%3.15%2.42%1.74%

Frequently Asked Questions

FPA and EPP have a correlation of 0.61, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

FPA has higher volatility (12.96%) compared to EPP (4.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FPA dropped -52.91% vs EPP's -66.01%.

On 10-year performance, FPA leads with 11.25% vs 7.60% for EPP. On fees, EPP is cheaper at 0.48% per year. On volatility, EPP has been the lower-risk option at 4.65%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, FPA has performed better with a 11.25% return vs 7.60%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

EPP is cheaper with a 0.48% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for FPA.

FPA has the higher dividend yield at 3.52%, compared with 3.44% for EPP.

FPA tracks NASDAQ AlphaDEX Asia Pacific Ex-Japan Index, while EPP tracks MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.80% for FPA and 0.48% for EPP.

FPA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.24 vs 1.20), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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