FTLS vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
FTLS and SPY 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. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: FTLS or SPY.
Key characteristics
| FTLS | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 6.37% | 6.26% |
| 1Y Return | 19.26% | 26.32% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 9.15% | 8.03% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 9.26% | 13.23% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.03 | 2.21 |
| Daily Std Dev | 9.36% | 11.67% |
| Max Drawdown | -20.53% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -3.15% | -3.76% |
Correlation
The correlation between FTLS and SPY is 0.81, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
FTLS vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with FTLS having a 6.37% return and SPY slightly lower at 6.26%. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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FTLS vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTLS has a 1.60% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FTLS vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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
FTLS vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
FTLS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.40%, more than SPY's 1.34% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTLS First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | 1.40% | 1.49% | 0.81% | 0.01% | 0.44% | 0.83% | 0.87% | 0.43% | 1.04% | 0.49% | 0.51% | 0.00% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.34% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
FTLS vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTLS drawdown since its inception was -20.53%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTLS and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FTLS vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) is 3.11%, while SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 3.55%. This indicates that FTLS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.