IDU vs. FXU
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU) and First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU).
IDU and FXU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. 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. Both IDU and FXU 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: IDU or FXU.
Key characteristics
| IDU | FXU | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 8.75% | 4.68% |
| 1Y Return | 5.19% | 3.45% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 4.11% | 4.65% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 6.05% | 5.76% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 8.11% | 6.79% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.26 | 0.10 |
| Daily Std Dev | 15.69% | 17.31% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.88% | -48.25% |
| Current Drawdown | -5.56% | -4.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between IDU and FXU 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
IDU vs. FXU - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, IDU achieves a 8.75% return, which is significantly higher than FXU's 4.68% return. Over the past 10 years, IDU has outperformed FXU with an annualized return of 8.11%, while FXU has yielded a comparatively lower 6.79% 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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IDU vs. FXU - Expense Ratio Comparison
IDU has a 0.42% expense ratio, which is lower than FXU's 0.62% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
IDU vs. FXU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU) and First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU). 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
IDU vs. FXU - Dividend Comparison
IDU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.49%, less than FXU's 2.52% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IDU iShares U.S. Utilities ETF | 2.49% | 2.79% | 2.39% | 2.39% | 2.94% | 2.71% | 2.80% | 2.62% | 3.18% | 4.22% | 2.88% | 3.36% |
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund | 2.52% | 2.52% | 2.03% | 2.00% | 3.97% | 2.34% | 2.40% | 3.81% | 2.62% | 3.90% | 2.14% | 4.14% |
Drawdowns
IDU vs. FXU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IDU drawdown since its inception was -53.88%, which is greater than FXU's maximum drawdown of -48.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IDU and FXU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
IDU vs. FXU - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU) is 4.12%, while First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) has a volatility of 4.83%. This indicates that IDU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FXU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.