FXU vs. IDU
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) and iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU).
FXU and IDU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FXU is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the StrataQuant Utilities Index. It was launched on May 8, 2007. IDU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Utilities Index. It was launched on Jun 20, 2000. Both FXU and IDU 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: FXU or IDU.
Key characteristics
| FXU | IDU | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 11.22% | 15.99% |
| 1Y Return | 13.56% | 15.58% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 7.07% | 7.10% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 7.25% | 7.27% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 7.58% | 9.03% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.76 | 0.97 |
| Daily Std Dev | 17.07% | 15.56% |
| Max Drawdown | -48.25% | -53.88% |
| Current Drawdown | -0.14% | -0.13% |
Correlation
The correlation between FXU and IDU is 0.88, 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
FXU vs. IDU - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FXU achieves a 11.22% return, which is significantly lower than IDU's 15.99% return. Over the past 10 years, FXU has underperformed IDU with an annualized return of 7.58%, while IDU has yielded a comparatively higher 9.03% 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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FXU vs. IDU - Expense Ratio Comparison
FXU has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is higher than IDU's 0.42% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FXU vs. IDU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) and iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU). 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
FXU vs. IDU - Dividend Comparison
FXU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.37%, more than IDU's 2.34% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund | 2.37% | 2.52% | 2.03% | 2.00% | 3.97% | 2.34% | 2.40% | 3.81% | 2.62% | 3.90% | 2.14% | 4.14% |
IDU iShares U.S. Utilities ETF | 2.34% | 2.79% | 2.39% | 2.39% | 2.94% | 2.71% | 2.80% | 2.62% | 3.18% | 4.22% | 2.88% | 3.36% |
Drawdowns
FXU vs. IDU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FXU drawdown since its inception was -48.25%, smaller than the maximum IDU drawdown of -53.88%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FXU and IDU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FXU vs. IDU - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) and iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU) have volatilities of 3.12% and 3.04%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.