FTA vs. ^GSPC
FTA (First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund) is Large Cap Value Equities fund tracking the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Large Cap Value Index, while ^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index. Over the past 10 years, FTA returned 11.64%/yr vs 13.71%/yr for ^GSPC. Their correlation of 0.80 suggests significant overlap in exposure.
Performance
FTA vs. ^GSPC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FTA achieves a 12.09% return, which is significantly higher than ^GSPC's 7.60% return. Over the past 10 years, FTA has underperformed ^GSPC with an annualized return of 11.64%, while ^GSPC has yielded a comparatively higher 13.71% annualized return.
FTA
- 1D
- 0.75%
- 1M
- 1.31%
- YTD
- 12.09%
- 6M
- 11.69%
- 1Y
- 25.97%
- 3Y*
- 16.39%
- 5Y*
- 10.15%
- 10Y*
- 11.64%
^GSPC
- 1D
- -1.44%
- 1M
- -1.45%
- YTD
- 7.60%
- 6M
- 6.59%
- 1Y
- 22.24%
- 3Y*
- 19.20%
- 5Y*
- 11.54%
- 10Y*
- 13.71%
FTA vs. ^GSPC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTA First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund | 12.09% | 14.94% | 10.13% | 10.08% | -3.73% | 29.32% | -0.38% | 24.73% | -13.63% | 18.47% |
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 7.60% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between FTA and ^GSPC is 0.46, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.59 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 11, 2007 | 0.80 |
Over the past year, the correlation between FTA and ^GSPC has dropped to 0.46 - well below their long-term average of 0.80, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
FTA vs. ^GSPC — Risk / Return Rank
FTA
^GSPC
FTA vs. ^GSPC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (FTA) and S&P 500 Index (^GSPC). 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.
| FTA | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.44 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.83 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.32 | +0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.08 | 2.46 | +2.62 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.98 | 10.92 | +5.07 |
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Drawdowns
FTA vs. ^GSPC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTA drawdown since its inception was -62.45%, which is greater than ^GSPC's maximum drawdown of -56.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTA and ^GSPC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FTA | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.45% | -56.78% | -5.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.13% | -9.10% | +3.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.73% | -18.90% | +0.17% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.80% | -25.43% | +5.63% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.97% | -33.92% | -11.05% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.27% | -3.21% | +1.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.01% | -10.71% | +1.70% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.63% | 2.04% | -0.41% |
Volatility
FTA vs. ^GSPC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (FTA) is 3.39%, while S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) has a volatility of 4.89%. This indicates that FTA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ^GSPC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FTA | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.39% | 4.89% | -1.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 7.68% | 9.93% | -2.25% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.74% | 12.57% | -0.83% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.26% | 17.00% | -0.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.91% | 18.08% | +1.83% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FTA and ^GSPC have a correlation of 0.46, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
^GSPC has higher volatility (4.89%) compared to FTA (3.39%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FTA dropped -62.45% vs ^GSPC's -56.78%.
FTA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.22 vs 1.78), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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