FXU vs. NVDY
FXU (First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund) and NVDY (YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - FXU is a Utilities Equities fund tracking the StrataQuant Utilities Index, while NVDY is a Derivative Income fund actively managed by YieldMax. FXU is passively managed, while NVDY is actively managed. Over the past 3 years, FXU returned 17.63%/yr vs 55.07%/yr for NVDY. At a correlation of -0.03, they often move in opposite directions. FXU charges 0.62%/yr vs 0.99%/yr for NVDY.
Performance
FXU vs. NVDY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FXU achieves a 6.79% return, which is significantly lower than NVDY's 14.49% return.
FXU
- 1D
- 0.59%
- 1M
- -2.33%
- YTD
- 6.79%
- 6M
- 6.17%
- 1Y
- 16.12%
- 3Y*
- 17.63%
- 5Y*
- 11.81%
- 10Y*
- 9.27%
NVDY
- 1D
- 1.27%
- 1M
- 7.84%
- YTD
- 14.49%
- 6M
- 17.01%
- 1Y
- 47.85%
- 3Y*
- 55.07%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FXU vs. NVDY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund | 6.79% | 21.86% | 22.50% | -1.05% |
NVDY YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF | 14.49% | 27.38% | 114.23% | 42.02% |
Correlation
The correlation between FXU and NVDY is -0.11, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.11 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 12, 2023 | -0.03 |
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Return for Risk
FXU vs. NVDY — Risk / Return Rank
FXU
NVDY
FXU vs. NVDY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) and YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NVDY). 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.
| FXU | NVDY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.52 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.60 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.29 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.88 | 3.75 | -1.88 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.26 | 9.22 | -3.95 |
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
| FXU | NVDY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.24 | 1.76 | -0.52 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 1.65 | -1.23 |
Drawdowns
FXU vs. NVDY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FXU drawdown since its inception was -49.00%, which is greater than NVDY's maximum drawdown of -34.08%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FXU and NVDY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FXU | NVDY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.00% | -34.08% | -14.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.63% | -12.81% | +4.18% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.46% | -34.08% | +16.62% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.87% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.81% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.80% | -5.47% | -1.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.64% | -6.15% | -1.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.07% | 5.21% | -2.14% |
Volatility
FXU vs. NVDY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) is 4.71%, while YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NVDY) has a volatility of 9.43%. This indicates that FXU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NVDY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FXU | NVDY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.71% | 9.43% | -4.72% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.07% | 20.71% | -10.64% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.18% | 27.33% | -14.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.58% | 38.22% | -21.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.32% | 38.22% | -19.90% |
FXU vs. NVDY - Expense Ratio Comparison
FXU has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is lower than NVDY's 0.99% expense ratio.
Dividends
FXU vs. NVDY - Dividend Comparison
FXU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.19%, less than NVDY's 62.14% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund | 2.19% | 2.29% | 2.41% | 2.52% | 2.03% | 2.00% | 3.97% | 2.34% | 2.40% | 3.81% | 2.62% | 3.90% |
NVDY YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF | 62.14% | 83.10% | 83.65% | 22.32% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
FXU and NVDY have a correlation of -0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NVDY has higher volatility (9.43%) compared to FXU (4.71%). In terms of maximum drawdown, FXU dropped -49.00% vs NVDY's -34.08%.
On 3-year performance, NVDY leads with 55.07% vs 17.63% for FXU. On fees, FXU is cheaper at 0.62% per year. On volatility, FXU has been the lower-risk option at 4.71%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, NVDY has performed better with a 55.07% return vs 17.63%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
FXU is cheaper with a 0.62% expense ratio, compared with 0.99% for NVDY.
NVDY has the higher dividend yield at 62.14%, compared with 2.19% for FXU.
FXU is categorized as Utilities Equities, while NVDY is Derivative Income. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and YieldMax. Their fees differ too: 0.62% for FXU and 0.99% for NVDY.
NVDY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.76 vs 1.24), 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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