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IEV vs. FDD
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IEV vs. FDD

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

IEV (iShares Europe ETF) and FDD (First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund) are both Europe Equities funds - IEV tracks the S&P Europe 350 Index while FDD tracks the STOXX Europe Select Dividend 30. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IEV returned 9.15%/yr vs 10.06%/yr for FDD. A 0.80 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IEV charges 0.59%/yr vs 0.58%/yr for FDD.

Performance

IEV vs. FDD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Europe ETF (IEV) and First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund (FDD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IEV achieves a 6.59% return, which is significantly lower than FDD's 12.85% return. Over the past 10 years, IEV has underperformed FDD with an annualized return of 9.15%, while FDD has yielded a comparatively higher 10.06% annualized return.

IEV

1D
1.15%
1M
2.48%
YTD
6.59%
6M
9.69%
1Y
18.09%
3Y*
16.65%
5Y*
8.80%
10Y*
9.15%

FDD

1D
1.18%
1M
3.09%
YTD
12.85%
6M
18.93%
1Y
34.33%
3Y*
26.63%
5Y*
11.30%
10Y*
10.06%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IEV vs. FDD - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
IEV
iShares Europe ETF		6.59%35.63%1.36%20.14%-14.24%16.73%4.07%24.03%-14.68%24.84%
FDD
First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund		12.85%62.50%0.28%14.16%-16.14%16.03%-3.80%23.79%-8.98%19.07%

Correlation

The correlation between IEV and FDD is 0.88, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.88

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.87

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.89

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.89

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 31, 2007

0.80

The correlation between IEV and FDD has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.80 to 0.89 - a consistent structural relationship.

IEV vs. FDD - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IEV
FDD

Financial Services

23.9%
52.2%

Industrials

19.3%
12.5%

Healthcare

13.1%

-

Technology

8.7%

-

Consumer Defensive

8.3%
3.7%

Consumer Cyclical

6.7%
12.3%

Basic Materials

5.7%
2.9%

Energy

5.6%
10.8%

Utilities

5.0%
6.0%

Communication Services

2.9%
2.1%

Real Estate

0.8%
3.5%

Financial Services

IEV
23.9%
FDD
52.2%

Industrials

IEV
19.3%
FDD
12.5%

Healthcare

IEV
13.1%
FDD

-

Technology

IEV
8.7%
FDD

-

Consumer Defensive

IEV
8.3%
FDD
3.7%

Consumer Cyclical

IEV
6.7%
FDD
12.3%

Basic Materials

IEV
5.7%
FDD
2.9%

Energy

IEV
5.6%
FDD
10.8%

Utilities

IEV
5.0%
FDD
6.0%

Communication Services

IEV
2.9%
FDD
2.1%

Real Estate

IEV
0.8%
FDD
3.5%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Europe ETF

First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund

Often compared with IEV:
IEV vs. VGKIEV vs. IEURIEV vs. SPYIEV vs. FEZIEV vs. EZUIEV vs. VOOIEV vs. SPEU
Often compared with FDD:
FDD vs. EUFNFDD vs. FLAXFDD vs. VTIFDD vs. RFEUFDD vs. IQDFFDD vs. DVYFDD vs. IEUR

Return for Risk

IEV vs. FDD — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
IEV
IEV Risk / Return Rank: 3333
Overall Rank
IEV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3333
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IEV Sortino Ratio Rank: 3333
Sortino Ratio Rank
IEV Omega Ratio Rank: 3232
Omega Ratio Rank
IEV Calmar Ratio Rank: 3131
Calmar Ratio Rank
IEV Martin Ratio Rank: 3636
Martin Ratio Rank
FDD
FDD Risk / Return Rank: 6969
Overall Rank
FDD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6969
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FDD Sortino Ratio Rank: 6868
Sortino Ratio Rank
FDD Omega Ratio Rank: 6565
Omega Ratio Rank
FDD Calmar Ratio Rank: 7474
Calmar Ratio Rank
FDD Martin Ratio Rank: 6868
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IEV vs. FDD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Europe ETF (IEV) and First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund (FDD). 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.

IEVFDDDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.16
2.24

-1.08

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
1.71
3.07

-1.37

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.21

1.38

-0.18

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.48

3.67

-2.19

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

5.40

12.33

-6.93

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

IEV vs. FDD - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IEV Sharpe Ratio is 1.16, which is lower than the FDD Sharpe Ratio of 2.24. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IEV and FDD, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

IEVFDDDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.16

2.24

-1.08

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.50

0.62

-0.11

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.49

0.50

-0.01

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.24

0.10

+0.14

Drawdowns

IEV vs. FDD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IEV drawdown since its inception was -63.27%, smaller than the maximum FDD drawdown of -74.77%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEV and FDD.

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Drawdown Indicators

IEVFDDDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-63.27%

-74.77%

+11.50%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-12.31%

-9.39%

-2.92%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.63%

-13.06%

-1.57%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-30.60%

-35.11%

+4.51%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-36.62%

-41.43%

+4.81%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-1.65%

-1.10%

-0.55%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-15.04%

-35.46%

+20.42%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.36%

2.79%

+0.57%

Volatility

IEV vs. FDD - Volatility Comparison

iShares Europe ETF (IEV) has a higher volatility of 5.56% compared to First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund (FDD) at 5.12%. This indicates that IEV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FDD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

IEVFDDDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.56%

5.12%

+0.44%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

12.99%

12.37%

+0.62%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

15.62%

15.40%

+0.22%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.58%

18.40%

-0.82%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.66%

20.16%

-1.50%

IEV vs. FDD - Expense Ratio Comparison

IEV has a 0.59% expense ratio, which is higher than FDD's 0.58% expense ratio.

Dividends

IEV vs. FDD - Dividend Comparison

IEV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.56%, less than FDD's 3.50% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
FDD
First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund		3.50%3.99%7.65%6.85%6.07%3.44%4.01%4.69%5.05%2.78%4.88%4.35%
IEV
iShares Europe ETF		2.56%2.73%3.10%2.77%3.06%2.81%1.76%3.06%3.43%2.39%3.08%2.81%

Frequently Asked Questions

IEV and FDD have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

IEV has higher volatility (5.56%) compared to FDD (5.12%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEV dropped -63.27% vs FDD's -74.77%.

On 10-year performance, FDD leads with 10.06% vs 9.15% for IEV. On fees, FDD is cheaper at 0.58% per year. On volatility, FDD has been the lower-risk option at 5.12%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, FDD has performed better with a 10.06% return vs 9.15%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

FDD is cheaper with a 0.58% expense ratio, compared with 0.59% for IEV.

FDD has the higher dividend yield at 3.50%, compared with 2.56% for IEV.

IEV tracks S&P Europe 350 Index, while FDD tracks STOXX Europe Select Dividend 30. They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.59% for IEV and 0.58% for FDD.

FDD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.24 vs 1.16), 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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