FSZ vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
FSZ and IAU 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. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005. Both FSZ and IAU are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: FSZ or IAU.
Performance
FSZ vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FSZ achieves a 0.49% return, which is significantly lower than IAU's 30.87% return. Over the past 10 years, FSZ has underperformed IAU with an annualized return of 7.24%, while IAU has yielded a comparatively higher 8.26% annualized return.
FSZ
0.49%
-4.79%
0.16%
8.76%
7.25%
7.24%
IAU
30.87%
-0.41%
15.78%
35.60%
12.92%
8.26%
Key characteristics
| FSZ | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.65 | 2.40 |
| Sortino Ratio | 0.99 | 3.17 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.11 | 1.41 |
| Calmar Ratio | 0.87 | 4.38 |
| Martin Ratio | 2.49 | 14.08 |
| Ulcer Index | 3.52% | 2.53% |
| Daily Std Dev | 13.56% | 14.86% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.97% | -45.14% |
| Current Drawdown | -9.78% | -2.98% |
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FSZ vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
FSZ has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio.
Correlation
The correlation between FSZ and IAU is 0.13, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FSZ vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). 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.
Dividends
FSZ vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
FSZ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.55%, while IAU has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FSZ First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund | 1.55% | 2.11% | 4.28% | 1.92% | 1.53% | 2.01% | 2.29% | 1.49% | 1.93% | 1.08% | 1.89% | 1.91% |
IAU iShares Gold Trust | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
FSZ vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FSZ drawdown since its inception was -33.97%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FSZ and IAU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FSZ vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) is 3.89%, while iShares Gold Trust (IAU) has a volatility of 5.75%. This indicates that FSZ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IAU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.