FXN vs. BOIL
FXN (First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund) and BOIL (ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas) are both exchange-traded funds - FXN is a Energy Equities fund tracking the StrataQuant Energy Index, while BOIL is a Oil & Gas fund tracking the Bloomberg Natural Gas Subindex. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, FXN returned 6.54%/yr vs -59.03%/yr for BOIL. Their 0.19 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. FXN charges 0.64%/yr vs 1.31%/yr for BOIL.
Performance
FXN vs. BOIL - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FXN achieves a 34.12% return, which is significantly higher than BOIL's -54.83% return. Over the past 10 years, FXN has outperformed BOIL with an annualized return of 6.54%, while BOIL has yielded a comparatively lower -59.03% annualized return.
FXN
- 1D
- -0.77%
- 1M
- 8.88%
- 6M
- 23.33%
- YTD
- 34.12%
- 1Y
- 45.83%
- 3Y*
- 10.71%
- 5Y*
- 19.56%
- 10Y*
- 6.54%
- ALL TIME*
- 2.12%
BOIL
- 1D
- 0.83%
- 1M
- -21.75%
- 6M
- -48.58%
- YTD
- -54.83%
- 1Y
- -71.17%
- 3Y*
- -67.34%
- 5Y*
- -70.47%
- 10Y*
- -59.03%
- ALL TIME*
- -57.91%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $85.90M | $98.92M | $103.64M | |
| $7.82M | $9.25M | $37.23M |
FXN vs. BOIL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FXN First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund | 34.12% | 3.39% | 0.27% | 0.97% | 46.92% | 51.79% | -19.91% | -6.76% | -24.79% | -5.02% |
BOIL ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas | -54.83% | -58.98% | -60.75% | -92.00% | -31.85% | 23.84% | -74.74% | -67.70% | -20.55% | -65.72% |
Correlation
The correlation between FXN and BOIL is 0.27, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.27 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.23 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.26 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 6, 2011 | 0.19 |
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Return for Risk
FXN vs. BOIL — Risk / Return Rank
FXN
BOIL
FXN vs. BOIL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund (FXN) and ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas (BOIL). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| FXN | BOIL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.64 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 0.91 | +0.41 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.43 | -0.92 | +4.35 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.58 | -1.40 | +9.98 |
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Drawdowns
FXN vs. BOIL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FXN drawdown since its inception was -87.39%, smaller than the maximum BOIL drawdown of -100.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FXN and BOIL.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FXN | BOIL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -87.39% | -100.00% | +12.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.41% | -77.68% | +64.27% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -31.69% | -97.48% | +65.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.69% | -99.93% | +68.24% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -80.63% | -99.99% | +19.36% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.06% | -100.00% | +94.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -37.73% | -93.63% | +55.90% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.36% | 51.01% | -45.65% |
Volatility
FXN vs. BOIL - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund (FXN) is 6.21%, while ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas (BOIL) has a volatility of 18.98%. This indicates that FXN experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BOIL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FXN | BOIL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.21% | 18.98% | -12.77% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.24% | 88.59% | -71.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.15% | 110.74% | -87.59% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 28.71% | 118.94% | -90.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 34.80% | 101.64% | -66.84% |
FXN vs. BOIL - Expense Ratio Comparison
FXN has a 0.64% expense ratio, which is lower than BOIL's 1.31% expense ratio.
Dividends
FXN vs. BOIL - Dividend Comparison
FXN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.63%, while BOIL has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOIL ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
FXN First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund | 1.63% | 2.53% | 2.50% | 3.09% | 2.28% | 0.87% | 4.71% | 1.47% | 1.43% | 1.17% | 1.05% | 2.36% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FXN and BOIL have a correlation of 0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BOIL has higher volatility (18.98%) compared to FXN (6.21%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FXN dropped -87.39% vs BOIL's -100.00%.
On 10-year performance, FXN leads with 6.54% vs -59.03% for BOIL. On fees, FXN is cheaper at 0.64% per year. On volatility, FXN has been the lower-risk option at 6.21%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, FXN has performed better with a 6.54% return vs -59.03%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
FXN is cheaper with a 0.64% expense ratio, compared with 1.31% for BOIL.
FXN has the higher dividend yield at 1.63%, compared with 0.00% for BOIL.
FXN is categorized as Energy Equities, while BOIL is Oil & Gas. FXN tracks StrataQuant Energy Index, while BOIL tracks Bloomberg Natural Gas Subindex. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and ProShares. Their fees differ too: 0.64% for FXN and 1.31% for BOIL.
FXN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs -0.65), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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