FTLS vs. FDL
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) and First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL).
FTLS and FDL are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FTLS is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Sep 9, 2014. FDL is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index. It was launched on Mar 9, 2006.
Performance
FTLS vs. FDL - Performance Comparison
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FTLS vs. FDL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTLS First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | -0.44% | 9.09% | 18.80% | 16.94% | -5.56% | 19.65% | 2.56% | 16.16% | -4.81% | 14.41% |
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 14.21% | 14.79% | 17.98% | 2.94% | 6.66% | 26.10% | -4.30% | 24.41% | -5.99% | 12.02% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FTLS achieves a -0.44% return, which is significantly lower than FDL's 14.21% return. Over the past 10 years, FTLS has underperformed FDL with an annualized return of 9.14%, while FDL has yielded a comparatively higher 11.48% annualized return.
FTLS
- 1D
- 0.36%
- 1M
- -0.62%
- YTD
- -0.44%
- 6M
- 1.04%
- 1Y
- 11.40%
- 3Y*
- 13.12%
- 5Y*
- 10.02%
- 10Y*
- 9.14%
FDL
- 1D
- -1.10%
- 1M
- -1.21%
- YTD
- 14.21%
- 6M
- 16.89%
- 1Y
- 21.28%
- 3Y*
- 17.56%
- 5Y*
- 13.87%
- 10Y*
- 11.48%
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FTLS vs. FDL - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTLS has a 1.60% expense ratio, which is higher than FDL's 0.45% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FTLS vs. FDL — Risk / Return Rank
FTLS
FDL
FTLS vs. FDL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) and First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL). 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.
| FTLS | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.09 | 1.43 | -0.34 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.62 | 2.00 | -0.38 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.28 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.83 | 1.77 | +0.06 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.62 | 7.07 | +0.55 |
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
| FTLS | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.09 | 1.43 | -0.34 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.95 | 0.97 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.81 | 0.67 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.77 | 0.46 | +0.31 |
Correlation
The correlation between FTLS and FDL is 0.58, 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
FTLS vs. FDL - Dividend Comparison
FTLS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.95%, less than FDL's 3.65% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTLS First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | 0.95% | 1.07% | 1.50% | 1.49% | 0.81% | 0.01% | 0.44% | 0.83% | 0.87% | 0.43% | 1.04% | 0.49% |
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 3.65% | 4.04% | 4.96% | 4.58% | 3.58% | 4.59% | 4.48% | 3.75% | 3.97% | 3.18% | 2.93% | 3.65% |
Drawdowns
FTLS vs. FDL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTLS drawdown since its inception was -20.54%, smaller than the maximum FDL drawdown of -65.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTLS and FDL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FTLS | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -20.54% | -65.93% | +45.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.17% | -11.58% | +5.41% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -11.69% | -16.46% | +4.77% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -20.54% | -41.40% | +20.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.99% | -1.21% | -0.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.73% | -9.72% | +6.99% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.48% | 2.90% | -1.42% |
Volatility
FTLS vs. FDL - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) has a higher volatility of 2.91% compared to First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL) at 2.71%. This indicates that FTLS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FDL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FTLS | FDL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.91% | 2.71% | +0.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.54% | 8.23% | -1.69% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.46% | 14.94% | -4.48% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 10.63% | 14.32% | -3.69% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 11.30% | 17.09% | -5.79% |