FTDS vs. IWS
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS) and iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS).
FTDS and IWS are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FTDS is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Dividend Strength Index. It was launched on Dec 5, 2006. IWS is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell Midcap Value Index. It was launched on Jul 17, 2001. Both FTDS and IWS 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
FTDS vs. IWS - Performance Comparison
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FTDS vs. IWS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTDS First Trust Dividend Strength ETF | 7.34% | 13.64% | 11.12% | 11.75% | -13.54% | 24.79% | 14.16% | 24.29% | -10.35% | 20.07% |
IWS iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | 3.65% | 10.82% | 12.91% | 12.52% | -12.29% | 28.10% | 4.83% | 26.73% | -12.43% | 13.14% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FTDS achieves a 7.34% return, which is significantly higher than IWS's 3.65% return. Over the past 10 years, FTDS has outperformed IWS with an annualized return of 11.06%, while IWS has yielded a comparatively lower 9.51% annualized return.
FTDS
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- -2.93%
- YTD
- 7.34%
- 6M
- 9.57%
- 1Y
- 20.58%
- 3Y*
- 14.86%
- 5Y*
- 7.57%
- 10Y*
- 11.06%
IWS
- 1D
- 2.43%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- 3.65%
- 6M
- 5.15%
- 1Y
- 17.51%
- 3Y*
- 12.94%
- 5Y*
- 7.47%
- 10Y*
- 9.51%
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FTDS vs. IWS - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTDS has a 0.70% expense ratio, which is higher than IWS's 0.23% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FTDS vs. IWS — Risk / Return Rank
FTDS
IWS
FTDS vs. IWS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS) and iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS). 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.
| FTDS | IWS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.15 | 0.96 | +0.19 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.74 | 1.44 | +0.29 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.20 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.66 | 1.37 | +0.29 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.46 | 6.34 | +1.13 |
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
| FTDS | IWS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.15 | 0.96 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 | 0.43 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.55 | 0.49 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.32 | 0.40 | -0.08 |
Correlation
The correlation between FTDS and IWS is 0.66, 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
FTDS vs. IWS - Dividend Comparison
FTDS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.64%, more than IWS's 1.48% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTDS First Trust Dividend Strength ETF | 1.64% | 1.59% | 2.05% | 2.15% | 2.31% | 0.72% | 0.99% | 1.13% | 1.14% | 0.79% | 1.24% | 0.95% |
IWS iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | 1.48% | 1.53% | 1.50% | 1.76% | 1.93% | 1.39% | 1.87% | 1.97% | 2.53% | 1.96% | 2.10% | 2.14% |
Drawdowns
FTDS vs. IWS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTDS drawdown since its inception was -56.53%, smaller than the maximum IWS drawdown of -62.40%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTDS and IWS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FTDS | IWS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.53% | -62.40% | +5.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.98% | -13.33% | +0.35% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.35% | -21.23% | -2.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.47% | -43.83% | +1.36% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.74% | -5.29% | +1.55% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.92% | -8.07% | -1.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.89% | 2.89% | 0.00% |
Volatility
FTDS vs. IWS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS) is 2.94%, while iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) has a volatility of 5.38%. This indicates that FTDS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FTDS | IWS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.94% | 5.38% | -2.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.68% | 10.14% | -0.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.99% | 18.29% | -0.30% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.65% | 17.33% | +0.32% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.14% | 19.35% | +0.79% |