FSZ vs. EWG
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) and iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG).
FSZ and EWG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FSZ is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Switzerland Index. It was launched on Feb 14, 2012. EWG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Germany Index. It was launched on Mar 12, 1996. Both FSZ and EWG 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
FSZ vs. EWG - Performance Comparison
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FSZ vs. EWG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSZ First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund | -0.28% | 30.10% | -1.85% | 21.30% | -20.12% | 20.18% | 13.83% | 25.88% | -15.22% | 31.30% |
EWG iShares MSCI Germany ETF | -6.66% | 35.79% | 9.79% | 23.35% | -22.27% | 5.84% | 10.09% | 19.15% | -21.40% | 27.42% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSZ achieves a -0.28% return, which is significantly higher than EWG's -6.66% return. Over the past 10 years, FSZ has outperformed EWG with an annualized return of 9.39%, while EWG has yielded a comparatively lower 7.03% annualized return.
FSZ
- 1D
- 1.51%
- 1M
- -7.05%
- YTD
- -0.28%
- 6M
- 4.35%
- 1Y
- 20.25%
- 3Y*
- 11.56%
- 5Y*
- 7.17%
- 10Y*
- 9.39%
EWG
- 1D
- 3.39%
- 1M
- -10.53%
- YTD
- -6.66%
- 6M
- -4.66%
- 1Y
- 8.76%
- 3Y*
- 14.25%
- 5Y*
- 5.73%
- 10Y*
- 7.03%
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FSZ vs. EWG - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSZ has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than EWG's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FSZ vs. EWG — Risk / Return Rank
FSZ
EWG
FSZ vs. EWG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) and iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG). 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.
| FSZ | EWG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.29 | 0.44 | +0.85 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.78 | 0.77 | +1.01 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.10 | +0.15 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.72 | 0.54 | +1.18 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.84 | 1.76 | +3.08 |
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
| FSZ | EWG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.29 | 0.44 | +0.85 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 | 0.28 | +0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | 0.34 | +0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.51 | 0.24 | +0.27 |
Correlation
The correlation between FSZ and EWG is 0.72, 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
FSZ vs. EWG - Dividend Comparison
FSZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.44%, more than EWG's 1.71% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSZ First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund | 2.44% | 1.80% | 1.80% | 2.11% | 3.50% | 1.62% | 1.53% | 2.01% | 2.29% | 1.49% | 1.93% | 1.08% |
EWG iShares MSCI Germany ETF | 1.71% | 1.60% | 2.38% | 2.56% | 3.24% | 2.70% | 1.67% | 2.51% | 2.93% | 2.06% | 2.35% | 1.93% |
Drawdowns
FSZ vs. EWG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSZ drawdown since its inception was -33.97%, smaller than the maximum EWG drawdown of -67.57%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSZ and EWG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSZ | EWG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.97% | -67.57% | +33.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.39% | -14.54% | +4.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.96% | -43.44% | +9.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.97% | -46.80% | +12.83% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.26% | -10.97% | +3.71% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.02% | -19.28% | +12.26% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.70% | 4.46% | -0.76% |
Volatility
FSZ vs. EWG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) is 5.05%, while iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) has a volatility of 8.65%. This indicates that FSZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EWG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSZ | EWG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.05% | 8.65% | -3.60% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.14% | 12.39% | -3.25% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.87% | 19.80% | -3.93% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.33% | 20.30% | -0.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.88% | 21.03% | -2.15% |