FSCS vs. SPMD
FSCS (First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF) and SPMD (SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF) are both Mid Cap Blend Equities funds - FSCS tracks the SMID Capital Strength Index while SPMD tracks the S&P MidCap 400 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FSCS returned 4.93%/yr vs 8.28%/yr for SPMD. Their correlation of 0.87 suggests significant overlap in exposure. FSCS charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.05%/yr for SPMD.
Performance
FSCS vs. SPMD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSCS achieves a -1.53% return, which is significantly lower than SPMD's 14.54% return.
FSCS
- 1D
- -0.01%
- 1M
- -1.54%
- YTD
- -1.53%
- 6M
- -1.11%
- 1Y
- -1.10%
- 3Y*
- 9.79%
- 5Y*
- 4.93%
- 10Y*
- —
SPMD
- 1D
- 0.33%
- 1M
- 2.89%
- YTD
- 14.54%
- 6M
- 14.24%
- 1Y
- 26.21%
- 3Y*
- 16.67%
- 5Y*
- 8.28%
- 10Y*
- 11.39%
FSCS vs. SPMD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSCS First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF | -1.53% | 1.77% | 14.98% | 16.81% | -9.11% | 26.08% | 5.71% | 28.00% | -12.85% | 10.74% |
SPMD SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF | 14.54% | 7.44% | 13.91% | 16.48% | -13.13% | 24.76% | 13.46% | 25.19% | -10.34% | 11.15% |
Correlation
The correlation between FSCS and SPMD is 0.81, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 23, 2017 | 0.87 |
The correlation between FSCS and SPMD shifts across timeframes, from 0.81 (1 year) to 0.92 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
FSCS vs. SPMD — Risk / Return Rank
FSCS
SPMD
FSCS vs. SPMD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF (FSCS) and SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD). 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 | SPMD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.78 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.50 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.30 | -0.30 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.14 | 2.97 | -3.11 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.31 | 10.91 | -11.22 |
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 | SPMD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.09 | 1.70 | -1.78 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.27 | 0.42 | -0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.54 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.45 | -0.07 |
Drawdowns
FSCS vs. SPMD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSCS drawdown since its inception was -43.57%, smaller than the maximum SPMD drawdown of -57.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSCS and SPMD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSCS | SPMD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.57% | -57.62% | +14.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.81% | -8.86% | +1.05% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.55% | -24.08% | +4.53% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.25% | -24.08% | +2.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -41.86% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.32% | 0.00% | -7.32% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.99% | -8.12% | +2.13% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.60% | 2.41% | +1.19% |
Volatility
FSCS vs. SPMD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF (FSCS) is 3.07%, while SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF (SPMD) has a volatility of 4.23%. This indicates that FSCS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPMD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSCS | SPMD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.07% | 4.23% | -1.16% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.22% | 11.36% | -3.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.70% | 15.53% | -2.83% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.09% | 19.70% | -1.61% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.20% | 21.18% | +0.02% |
FSCS vs. SPMD - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSCS has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than SPMD's 0.05% expense ratio.
Dividends
FSCS vs. SPMD - Dividend Comparison
FSCS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.91%, less than SPMD's 1.22% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% | 0.00% |
SPMD SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF | 1.22% | 1.39% | 1.42% | 1.47% | 1.64% | 1.24% | 1.30% | 1.57% | 1.85% | 1.97% | 2.13% | 5.33% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FSCS and SPMD have a correlation of 0.81, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SPMD has higher volatility (4.23%) compared to FSCS (3.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FSCS dropped -43.57% vs SPMD's -57.62%.
On 5-year performance, SPMD leads with 8.28% vs 4.93% for FSCS. On fees, SPMD is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, FSCS has been the lower-risk option at 3.07%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, SPMD has performed better with a 8.28% return vs 4.93%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPMD is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for FSCS.
SPMD has the higher dividend yield at 1.22%, compared with 0.91% for FSCS.
FSCS tracks SMID Capital Strength Index, while SPMD tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for FSCS and 0.05% for SPMD.
SPMD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.70 vs -0.09), 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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