FSGS vs. SMMD
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF (FSGS) and iShares Russell 2500 ETF (SMMD).
FSGS and SMMD are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FSGS is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the SMID Growth Strength Index. It was launched on Jun 20, 2017. SMMD is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell 2500 Index. It was launched on Jul 6, 2017. Both FSGS and SMMD 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
FSGS vs. SMMD - Performance Comparison
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FSGS vs. SMMD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSGS First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF | -4.02% | 2.41% | 6.38% | 15.98% | -13.17% | 25.56% | 10.26% | 21.31% | -11.92% | 8.52% |
SMMD iShares Russell 2500 ETF | 2.10% | 11.72% | 11.87% | 17.71% | -18.53% | 18.30% | 19.98% | 28.01% | -10.58% | 10.82% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSGS achieves a -4.02% return, which is significantly lower than SMMD's 2.10% return.
FSGS
- 1D
- 2.68%
- 1M
- -4.80%
- YTD
- -4.02%
- 6M
- -6.45%
- 1Y
- 6.83%
- 3Y*
- 4.89%
- 5Y*
- 2.15%
- 10Y*
- —
SMMD
- 1D
- 3.53%
- 1M
- -5.15%
- YTD
- 2.10%
- 6M
- 4.19%
- 1Y
- 23.65%
- 3Y*
- 13.21%
- 5Y*
- 5.12%
- 10Y*
- —
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FSGS vs. SMMD - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSGS has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than SMMD's 0.15% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FSGS vs. SMMD — Risk / Return Rank
FSGS
SMMD
FSGS vs. SMMD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF (FSGS) and iShares Russell 2500 ETF (SMMD). 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.
| FSGS | SMMD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.34 | 1.08 | -0.73 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.66 | 1.62 | -0.96 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.08 | 1.22 | -0.14 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.57 | 1.67 | -1.10 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.72 | 7.05 | -5.32 |
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
| FSGS | SMMD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.34 | 1.08 | -0.73 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 | 0.25 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.28 | 0.42 | -0.14 |
Correlation
The correlation between FSGS and SMMD 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.
Dividends
FSGS vs. SMMD - Dividend Comparison
FSGS has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SMMD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.22%.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSGS First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 2.71% | 2.29% | 1.95% | 1.35% | 1.32% | 1.77% | 2.13% | 1.15% |
SMMD iShares Russell 2500 ETF | 1.22% | 1.28% | 1.27% | 1.44% | 1.79% | 1.12% | 1.31% | 1.50% | 2.45% | 0.68% |
Drawdowns
FSGS vs. SMMD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSGS drawdown since its inception was -43.26%, which is greater than SMMD's maximum drawdown of -41.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSGS and SMMD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSGS | SMMD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.26% | -41.06% | -2.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.84% | -14.02% | +2.18% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.08% | -28.26% | +4.18% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.71% | -6.47% | -3.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.08% | -8.52% | +0.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.89% | 3.32% | +0.57% |
Volatility
FSGS vs. SMMD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF (FSGS) is 5.40%, while iShares Russell 2500 ETF (SMMD) has a volatility of 7.30%. This indicates that FSGS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMMD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSGS | SMMD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.40% | 7.30% | -1.90% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.33% | 13.19% | -1.86% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.90% | 22.05% | -2.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.16% | 20.80% | -0.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.95% | 22.46% | +0.49% |