FSCS vs. PTMC
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF (FSCS) and Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF (PTMC).
FSCS and PTMC are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FSCS is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the SMID Capital Strength Index. It was launched on Jun 20, 2017. PTMC is a passively managed fund by Pacer that tracks the performance of the Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap Index. It was launched on Jun 11, 2015. Both FSCS and PTMC 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
FSCS vs. PTMC - Performance Comparison
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FSCS vs. PTMC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSCS First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF | -1.33% | 1.77% | 14.98% | 16.81% | -9.11% | 26.08% | 5.71% | 28.00% | -12.85% | 10.74% |
PTMC Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF | 2.52% | -1.55% | 13.22% | 7.29% | -13.99% | 12.42% | 6.58% | 1.04% | 0.02% | 10.91% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSCS achieves a -1.33% return, which is significantly lower than PTMC's 2.52% return.
FSCS
- 1D
- 1.22%
- 1M
- -5.61%
- YTD
- -1.33%
- 6M
- -3.50%
- 1Y
- 2.82%
- 3Y*
- 9.68%
- 5Y*
- 5.99%
- 10Y*
- —
PTMC
- 1D
- 2.87%
- 1M
- -5.41%
- YTD
- 2.52%
- 6M
- 3.98%
- 1Y
- 7.61%
- 3Y*
- 6.42%
- 5Y*
- 1.97%
- 10Y*
- 5.68%
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FSCS vs. PTMC - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both FSCS and PTMC have an expense ratio of 0.60%.
Return for Risk
FSCS vs. PTMC — Risk / Return Rank
FSCS
PTMC
FSCS vs. PTMC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF (FSCS) and Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF (PTMC). 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.
| FSCS | PTMC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.16 | 0.55 | -0.39 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.37 | 0.89 | -0.52 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.05 | 1.12 | -0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.25 | 0.86 | -0.61 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.87 | 3.40 | -2.53 |
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
| FSCS | PTMC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.16 | 0.55 | -0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.33 | 0.15 | +0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.44 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.44 | -0.04 |
Correlation
The correlation between FSCS and PTMC is 0.67, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
FSCS vs. PTMC - Dividend Comparison
FSCS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.91%, less than PTMC's 1.80% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSCS First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF | 0.91% | 0.75% | 1.12% | 1.47% | 1.71% | 1.21% | 1.33% | 1.68% | 1.67% | 0.67% | 0.00% |
PTMC Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF | 1.80% | 1.84% | 0.87% | 1.92% | 0.82% | 0.12% | 0.53% | 1.40% | 0.89% | 0.67% | 0.66% |
Drawdowns
FSCS vs. PTMC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSCS drawdown since its inception was -43.57%, which is greater than PTMC's maximum drawdown of -20.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSCS and PTMC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSCS | PTMC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.57% | -20.53% | -23.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.56% | -8.89% | -3.67% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.25% | -16.93% | -4.32% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -20.53% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.13% | -7.12% | -0.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.00% | -6.55% | +0.55% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.63% | 2.25% | +1.38% |
Volatility
FSCS vs. PTMC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF (FSCS) is 3.53%, while Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF (PTMC) has a volatility of 6.55%. This indicates that FSCS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PTMC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSCS | PTMC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.53% | 6.55% | -3.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.76% | 11.98% | -3.22% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.50% | 13.84% | +3.66% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.15% | 12.94% | +5.21% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.35% | 12.92% | +8.43% |