FXL vs. SMH
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (FXL) and VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH).
FXL and SMH are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FXL is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the StrataQuant Technology Index. It was launched on May 8, 2007. SMH is a passively managed fund by VanEck that tracks the performance of the MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. It was launched on Dec 20, 2011. Both FXL and SMH are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: FXL or SMH.
Key characteristics
| FXL | SMH | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 18.47% | 48.30% |
| 1Y Return | 38.16% | 72.60% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 3.41% | 21.36% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 17.56% | 34.34% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 16.89% | 29.34% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.79 | 2.10 |
| Sortino Ratio | 2.40 | 2.59 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.31 | 1.35 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.83 | 2.91 |
| Martin Ratio | 8.26 | 8.05 |
| Ulcer Index | 4.43% | 8.98% |
| Daily Std Dev | 20.44% | 34.46% |
| Max Drawdown | -61.41% | -95.73% |
| Current Drawdown | 0.00% | -7.80% |
Correlation
The correlation between FXL and SMH is 0.84, 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
FXL vs. SMH - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FXL achieves a 18.47% return, which is significantly lower than SMH's 48.30% return. Over the past 10 years, FXL has underperformed SMH with an annualized return of 16.89%, while SMH has yielded a comparatively higher 29.34% annualized return. 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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FXL vs. SMH - Expense Ratio Comparison
FXL has a 0.61% expense ratio, which is higher than SMH's 0.35% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FXL vs. SMH - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (FXL) and VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH). 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
FXL vs. SMH - Dividend Comparison
FXL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.34%, less than SMH's 0.40% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FXL First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund | 0.34% | 0.41% | 0.34% | 0.11% | 0.04% | 0.37% | 0.32% | 0.27% | 1.13% | 0.36% | 0.63% | 0.32% |
SMH VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF | 0.40% | 0.60% | 2.37% | 1.02% | 1.38% | 6.00% | 3.75% | 2.85% | 1.61% | 4.28% | 2.31% | 3.11% |
Drawdowns
FXL vs. SMH - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FXL drawdown since its inception was -61.41%, smaller than the maximum SMH drawdown of -95.73%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FXL and SMH. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FXL vs. SMH - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (FXL) is 5.95%, while VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has a volatility of 9.32%. This indicates that FXL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMH based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.