FTXR vs. PPA
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF (FTXR) and Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA).
FTXR and PPA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FTXR is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq U.S. Smart Transportation Index. It was launched on Sep 20, 2016. PPA is a passively managed fund by Invesco that tracks the performance of the SPADE Defense Index. It was launched on Oct 26, 2005. Both FTXR and PPA 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
FTXR vs. PPA - Performance Comparison
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FTXR vs. PPA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTXR First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF | -0.29% | 14.70% | 17.09% | 20.93% | -25.38% | 24.02% | 15.03% | 14.82% | -15.27% | 15.82% |
PPA Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 8.35% | 37.15% | 25.28% | 18.41% | 9.52% | 7.09% | 0.45% | 39.63% | -7.51% | 30.10% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FTXR achieves a -0.29% return, which is significantly lower than PPA's 8.35% return.
FTXR
- 1D
- 1.31%
- 1M
- -7.70%
- YTD
- -0.29%
- 6M
- 10.38%
- 1Y
- 31.37%
- 3Y*
- 14.30%
- 5Y*
- 4.91%
- 10Y*
- —
PPA
- 1D
- 2.39%
- 1M
- -8.56%
- YTD
- 8.35%
- 6M
- 8.97%
- 1Y
- 45.28%
- 3Y*
- 28.92%
- 5Y*
- 19.15%
- 10Y*
- 17.98%
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FTXR vs. PPA - Expense Ratio Comparison
FTXR has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is lower than PPA's 0.61% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FTXR vs. PPA — Risk / Return Rank
FTXR
PPA
FTXR vs. PPA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF (FTXR) and Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA). 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.
| FTXR | PPA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.15 | 2.09 | -0.94 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.78 | 2.80 | -1.02 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.39 | -0.16 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.08 | 3.37 | -1.29 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.01 | 13.40 | -6.39 |
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
| FTXR | PPA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.15 | 2.09 | -0.94 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.21 | 1.06 | -0.85 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.88 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.34 | 0.66 | -0.32 |
Correlation
The correlation between FTXR and PPA is 0.59, 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
FTXR vs. PPA - Dividend Comparison
FTXR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.31%, more than PPA's 0.39% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTXR First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF | 1.31% | 1.52% | 2.13% | 1.50% | 2.38% | 0.67% | 0.33% | 1.34% | 1.74% | 1.18% | 0.24% | 0.00% |
PPA Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.39% | 0.42% | 0.61% | 0.67% | 0.83% | 0.59% | 0.88% | 0.95% | 0.90% | 0.67% | 1.70% | 1.41% |
Drawdowns
FTXR vs. PPA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FTXR drawdown since its inception was -52.06%, smaller than the maximum PPA drawdown of -57.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FTXR and PPA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FTXR | PPA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -52.06% | -57.37% | +5.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.38% | -13.71% | -1.67% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.96% | -18.37% | -15.59% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -43.92% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.34% | -8.56% | -1.78% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.18% | -9.19% | -1.99% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.56% | 3.45% | +1.11% |
Volatility
FTXR vs. PPA - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF (FTXR) has a higher volatility of 8.26% compared to Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA) at 7.57%. This indicates that FTXR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PPA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FTXR | PPA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.26% | 7.57% | +0.69% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.76% | 15.14% | +0.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.31% | 21.75% | +5.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.61% | 18.22% | +5.39% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.76% | 20.48% | +4.28% |