FTSM vs. SCHO
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (FTSM) and Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO).
FTSM and SCHO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FTSM is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Aug 5, 2014. SCHO is a passively managed fund by Charles Schwab that tracks the performance of the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Index. It was launched on Aug 5, 2010.
Performance
FTSM vs. SCHO - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
FTSM vs. SCHO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSM First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF | 0.76% | 4.66% | 5.22% | 5.12% | 1.02% | -0.01% | 1.12% | 2.82% | 1.94% | 1.57% |
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 0.24% | 5.49% | 3.65% | 4.31% | -3.87% | -0.64% | 3.11% | 3.47% | 1.37% | 0.33% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FTSM achieves a 0.76% return, which is significantly higher than SCHO's 0.24% return. Over the past 10 years, FTSM has outperformed SCHO with an annualized return of 2.50%, while SCHO has yielded a comparatively lower 1.71% annualized return.
FTSM
- 1D
- 0.07%
- 1M
- 0.08%
- YTD
- 0.76%
- 6M
- 1.82%
- 1Y
- 4.19%
- 3Y*
- 4.86%
- 5Y*
- 3.33%
- 10Y*
- 2.50%
SCHO
- 1D
- 0.08%
- 1M
- -0.45%
- YTD
- 0.24%
- 6M
- 1.40%
- 1Y
- 3.77%
- 3Y*
- 3.99%
- 5Y*
- 1.79%
- 10Y*
- 1.71%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
FTSM vs. SCHO - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTSM has a 0.44% expense ratio, which is higher than SCHO's 0.03% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FTSM vs. SCHO — Risk / Return Rank
FTSM
SCHO
FTSM vs. SCHO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (FTSM) and Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO). 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.
| FTSM | SCHO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 8.29 | 2.49 | +5.80 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 17.39 | 4.00 | +13.38 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 3.96 | 1.51 | +2.45 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 28.25 | 4.44 | +23.81 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 139.10 | 17.55 | +121.55 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| FTSM | SCHO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.29 | 2.49 | +5.80 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 6.86 | 0.91 | +5.95 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 2.84 | 1.11 | +1.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 1.92 | 1.00 | +0.93 |
Correlation
The correlation between FTSM and SCHO is 0.33, 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.
Dividends
FTSM vs. SCHO - Dividend Comparison
FTSM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.22%, more than SCHO's 4.00% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSM First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF | 4.22% | 4.28% | 4.91% | 4.62% | 1.62% | 0.39% | 1.20% | 2.38% | 2.14% | 1.49% | 1.03% | 0.48% |
SCHO Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 4.00% | 4.06% | 4.29% | 3.76% | 1.34% | 0.41% | 1.27% | 2.27% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 0.82% | 0.68% |
Drawdowns
FTSM vs. SCHO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTSM drawdown since its inception was -4.12%, smaller than the maximum SCHO drawdown of -5.69%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTSM and SCHO.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| FTSM | SCHO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -4.12% | -5.69% | +1.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -0.15% | -0.86% | +0.71% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -0.65% | -5.69% | +5.04% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -4.12% | -5.69% | +1.57% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.45% | +0.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -0.22% | -0.61% | +0.39% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.03% | 0.22% | -0.19% |
Volatility
FTSM vs. SCHO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (FTSM) is 0.19%, while Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF (SCHO) has a volatility of 0.52%. This indicates that FTSM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SCHO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| FTSM | SCHO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.19% | 0.52% | -0.33% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 0.32% | 0.87% | -0.55% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.51% | 1.52% | -1.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 0.49% | 1.97% | -1.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 0.88% | 1.55% | -0.67% |