FSZ vs. EWK
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) and iShares MSCI Belgium ETF (EWK).
FSZ and EWK 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. EWK is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Belgium Investable Market Index. It was launched on Mar 12, 1996. Both FSZ and EWK 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. EWK - Performance Comparison
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FSZ vs. EWK - 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% |
EWK iShares MSCI Belgium ETF | 0.04% | 35.38% | 0.14% | 7.47% | -13.98% | 12.84% | 0.04% | 25.92% | -20.40% | 23.70% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSZ achieves a -0.28% return, which is significantly lower than EWK's 0.04% return. Over the past 10 years, FSZ has outperformed EWK with an annualized return of 9.39%, while EWK has yielded a comparatively lower 5.83% 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%
EWK
- 1D
- 3.36%
- 1M
- -8.47%
- YTD
- 0.04%
- 6M
- 5.37%
- 1Y
- 25.60%
- 3Y*
- 11.34%
- 5Y*
- 5.98%
- 10Y*
- 5.83%
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FSZ vs. EWK - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSZ has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than EWK's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FSZ vs. EWK — Risk / Return Rank
FSZ
EWK
FSZ vs. EWK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) and iShares MSCI Belgium ETF (EWK). 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 | EWK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.29 | 1.61 | -0.32 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.78 | 2.19 | -0.40 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.31 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.72 | 1.58 | +0.14 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.84 | 6.54 | -1.70 |
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 | EWK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.29 | 1.61 | -0.32 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 | 0.34 | +0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | 0.31 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.51 | 0.25 | +0.27 |
Correlation
The correlation between FSZ and EWK is 0.68, 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
FSZ vs. EWK - Dividend Comparison
FSZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.44%, more than EWK's 1.73% 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% |
EWK iShares MSCI Belgium ETF | 1.73% | 1.73% | 3.25% | 2.09% | 2.58% | 3.64% | 1.66% | 2.77% | 2.78% | 2.91% | 1.75% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
FSZ vs. EWK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSZ drawdown since its inception was -33.97%, smaller than the maximum EWK drawdown of -74.10%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSZ and EWK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FSZ | EWK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.97% | -74.10% | +40.13% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.39% | -15.47% | +5.08% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.96% | -35.22% | +1.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.97% | -42.80% | +8.83% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.26% | -11.53% | +4.27% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.02% | -21.63% | +14.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.70% | 3.75% | -0.05% |
Volatility
FSZ vs. EWK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) is 5.05%, while iShares MSCI Belgium ETF (EWK) has a volatility of 7.65%. This indicates that FSZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EWK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FSZ | EWK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.05% | 7.65% | -2.60% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.14% | 10.79% | -1.65% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.87% | 15.99% | -0.12% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.33% | 17.68% | +1.65% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.88% | 18.95% | -0.07% |