HTUS vs. FTLS
HTUS (Hull Tactical US ETF) and FTLS (First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - HTUS is a Equity Hedged fund actively managed by Exchange Traded Concepts, while FTLS is a Long-Short fund actively managed by First Trust. Both are actively managed. Over the past 10 years, HTUS returned 12.61%/yr vs 9.44%/yr for FTLS. Their 0.61 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. HTUS charges 0.96%/yr vs 1.38%/yr for FTLS.
Performance
HTUS vs. FTLS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, HTUS achieves a 12.44% return, which is significantly higher than FTLS's 6.14% return. Over the past 10 years, HTUS has outperformed FTLS with an annualized return of 12.61%, while FTLS has yielded a comparatively lower 9.44% annualized return.
HTUS
- 1D
- 1.43%
- 1M
- 1.78%
- 6M
- 11.01%
- YTD
- 12.44%
- 1Y
- 24.41%
- 3Y*
- 21.06%
- 5Y*
- 14.95%
- 10Y*
- 12.61%
- ALL TIME*
- 11.67%
FTLS
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- 1.58%
- 6M
- 4.49%
- YTD
- 6.14%
- 1Y
- 14.52%
- 3Y*
- 13.17%
- 5Y*
- 10.08%
- 10Y*
- 9.44%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.00%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $8.46M | $8.04M | $9.00M | |
| $513.88K | $512.72K | $620.13K |
HTUS vs. FTLS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HTUS Hull Tactical US ETF | 12.44% | 16.57% | 25.02% | 30.11% | -13.00% | 24.29% | 13.21% | 20.27% | -10.04% | 14.19% |
FTLS First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | 6.14% | 9.09% | 18.80% | 16.94% | -5.56% | 19.65% | 2.56% | 16.16% | -4.81% | 14.41% |
Correlation
The correlation between HTUS and FTLS is 0.72, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.72 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.72 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.66 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.65 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 25, 2015 | 0.61 |
The correlation between HTUS and FTLS shifts across timeframes, from 0.61 (all time) to 0.72 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
HTUS vs. FTLS — Risk / Return Rank
HTUS
FTLS
HTUS vs. FTLS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Hull Tactical US ETF (HTUS) and First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS). 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.
| HTUS | FTLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.28 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.45 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.31 | +0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.82 | 3.85 | -1.03 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.42 | 11.71 | +1.71 |
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Drawdowns
HTUS vs. FTLS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum HTUS drawdown since its inception was -47.50%, which is greater than FTLS's maximum drawdown of -20.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HTUS and FTLS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| HTUS | FTLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -47.50% | -20.54% | -26.96% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.68% | -3.79% | -4.89% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.41% | -11.69% | -12.72% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.41% | -11.69% | -12.72% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.50% | -20.54% | -26.96% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.32% | +0.32% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.02% | -2.67% | -1.35% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.82% | 1.24% | +0.58% |
Volatility
HTUS vs. FTLS - Volatility Comparison
Hull Tactical US ETF (HTUS) has a higher volatility of 3.34% compared to First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) at 2.13%. This indicates that HTUS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FTLS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| HTUS | FTLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.34% | 2.13% | +1.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.33% | 5.85% | +4.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.28% | 8.50% | +3.78% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.11% | 10.53% | +8.58% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.52% | 11.23% | +10.29% |
HTUS vs. FTLS - Expense Ratio Comparison
HTUS has a 0.96% expense ratio, which is lower than FTLS's 1.38% expense ratio.
Dividends
HTUS vs. FTLS - Dividend Comparison
HTUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.58%, more than FTLS's 0.88% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTLS First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | 0.88% | 1.07% | 1.50% | 1.49% | 0.81% | 0.01% | 0.44% | 0.83% | 0.87% | 0.43% | 1.04% | 0.49% |
HTUS Hull Tactical US ETF | 10.58% | 11.89% | 17.80% | 1.18% | 5.63% | 7.20% | 3.77% | 0.92% | 8.69% | 8.29% | 3.02% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
HTUS and FTLS have a correlation of 0.72, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
HTUS has higher volatility (3.34%) compared to FTLS (2.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, HTUS dropped -47.50% vs FTLS's -20.54%.
On 10-year performance, HTUS leads with 12.61% vs 9.44% for FTLS. On fees, HTUS is cheaper at 0.96% per year. On volatility, FTLS has been the lower-risk option at 2.13%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, HTUS has performed better with a 12.61% return vs 9.44%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
HTUS is cheaper with a 0.96% expense ratio, compared with 1.38% for FTLS.
HTUS has the higher dividend yield at 10.58%, compared with 0.88% for FTLS.
HTUS is categorized as Equity Hedged, while FTLS is Long-Short. They also come from different issuers: Exchange Traded Concepts and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.96% for HTUS and 1.38% for FTLS.
HTUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.00 vs 1.72), 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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