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FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO

Last updated Jul 16, 2026
Documentation

FST.TO (First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF) and FHQ.TO (First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FST.TO is a Canada Equities fund actively managed by First Trust, while FHQ.TO is a Technology Equities fund tracking the StrataQuant Technology Index. FST.TO is actively managed, while FHQ.TO is passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FST.TO returned 16.91%/yr vs 13.16%/yr for FHQ.TO. At a 0.34 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a CA$10,000 investment in First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF (FST.TO) and First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF (FHQ.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FST.TO achieves a 9.32% return, which is significantly lower than FHQ.TO's 24.19% return.

FST.TO

1D
0.37%
1M
-0.03%
6M
5.45%
YTD
9.32%
1Y
26.44%
3Y*
23.27%
5Y*
16.91%
10Y*
—

FHQ.TO

1D
0.39%
1M
-4.66%
6M
18.60%
YTD
24.19%
1Y
33.63%
3Y*
22.48%
5Y*
13.16%
10Y*
19.80%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
FST.TO
First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF		9.32%29.77%26.23%12.01%2.26%19.40%2.56%16.10%-8.27%14.81%
FHQ.TO
First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF		24.19%8.42%25.83%36.49%-28.18%21.01%47.20%35.74%-0.09%23.66%

Correlation

The correlation between FST.TO and FHQ.TO is 0.37, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

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

0.37

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

0.39

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

0.36

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2016

0.34

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF

First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF

Often compared with FST.TO:
FST.TO vs. BLCK.TOFST.TO vs. CLSA.TOFST.TO vs. HXH.TOFST.TO vs. DMEC.TOFST.TO vs. TLV.TOFST.TO vs. ZDV.TOFST.TO vs. CDZ.TO

Return for Risk

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
FST.TO
FST.TO Risk / Return Rank: 8484
Overall Rank
FST.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8181
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FST.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 8383
Sortino Ratio Rank
FST.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 8181
Omega Ratio Rank
FST.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 8585
Calmar Ratio Rank
FST.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 8989
Martin Ratio Rank
FHQ.TO
FHQ.TO Risk / Return Rank: 5050
Overall Rank
FHQ.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4747
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FHQ.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 4545
Sortino Ratio Rank
FHQ.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 4848
Omega Ratio Rank
FHQ.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 6060
Calmar Ratio Rank
FHQ.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 4949
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.

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF (FST.TO) and First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF (FHQ.TO). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

FST.TOFHQ.TODifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.08
1.37

+0.71

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.97
1.92

+1.05

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.38

1.25

+0.13

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.79

2.44

+1.35

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

15.77

6.72

+9.04

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FST.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.08, which is higher than the FHQ.TO Sharpe Ratio of 1.37. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FST.TO and FHQ.TO, 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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Drawdowns

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FST.TO drawdown since its inception was -38.15%, which is greater than FHQ.TO's maximum drawdown of -32.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FST.TO and FHQ.TO.

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Drawdown Indicators

FST.TOFHQ.TODifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-38.15%

-32.05%

-6.10%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.01%

-14.13%

+7.12%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-12.33%

-27.64%

+15.31%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-14.73%

-32.05%

+17.32%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-32.05%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.47%

-6.70%

+6.23%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-3.25%

-7.63%

+4.38%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.68%

5.11%

-3.43%

Volatility

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF (FST.TO) is 2.57%, while First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF (FHQ.TO) has a volatility of 10.35%. This indicates that FST.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FHQ.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

FST.TOFHQ.TODifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

2.57%

10.35%

-7.78%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.09%

20.95%

-10.86%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.81%

25.24%

-12.43%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

14.14%

23.62%

-9.48%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

15.28%

23.37%

-8.09%

Dividends

FST.TO vs. FHQ.TO - Dividend Comparison

FST.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.92%, while FHQ.TO has not paid dividends to shareholders.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
FHQ.TO
First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF		0.00%0.00%0.02%0.00%0.00%1.18%0.43%0.50%0.80%0.83%1.20%0.43%
FST.TO
First Trust Canadian Capital Strength ETF		0.92%1.01%1.16%1.63%2.03%1.87%1.85%1.91%1.12%0.67%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

FST.TO and FHQ.TO have a correlation of 0.37, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

FST.TO is categorized as Canada Equities, while FHQ.TO is Technology Equities.

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