IWS vs. FTDS
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS).
IWS and FTDS are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IWS is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell Midcap Value Index. It was launched on Jul 17, 2001. FTDS is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Dividend Strength Index. It was launched on Dec 5, 2006. Both IWS and FTDS are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
IWS vs. FTDS - Performance Comparison
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IWS vs. FTDS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWS iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | 3.65% | 10.82% | 12.91% | 12.52% | -12.29% | 28.10% | 4.83% | 26.73% | -12.43% | 13.14% |
FTDS First Trust Dividend Strength ETF | 7.34% | 13.64% | 11.12% | 11.75% | -13.54% | 24.79% | 14.16% | 24.29% | -10.35% | 20.07% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWS achieves a 3.65% return, which is significantly lower than FTDS's 7.34% return. Over the past 10 years, IWS has underperformed FTDS with an annualized return of 9.51%, while FTDS has yielded a comparatively higher 11.06% annualized return.
IWS
- 1D
- 2.43%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- 3.65%
- 6M
- 5.15%
- 1Y
- 17.51%
- 3Y*
- 12.94%
- 5Y*
- 7.47%
- 10Y*
- 9.51%
FTDS
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- -2.93%
- YTD
- 7.34%
- 6M
- 9.57%
- 1Y
- 20.58%
- 3Y*
- 14.86%
- 5Y*
- 7.57%
- 10Y*
- 11.06%
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IWS vs. FTDS - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWS has a 0.23% expense ratio, which is lower than FTDS's 0.70% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
IWS vs. FTDS — Risk / Return Rank
IWS
FTDS
IWS vs. FTDS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS). 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.
| IWS | FTDS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.96 | 1.15 | -0.19 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.44 | 1.74 | -0.29 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.24 | -0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.37 | 1.66 | -0.29 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.34 | 7.46 | -1.13 |
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
| IWS | FTDS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.96 | 1.15 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 | 0.43 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.49 | 0.55 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.40 | 0.32 | +0.08 |
Correlation
The correlation between IWS and FTDS is 0.66, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
IWS vs. FTDS - Dividend Comparison
IWS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.48%, less than FTDS's 1.64% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWS iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | 1.48% | 1.53% | 1.50% | 1.76% | 1.93% | 1.39% | 1.87% | 1.97% | 2.53% | 1.96% | 2.10% | 2.14% |
FTDS First Trust Dividend Strength ETF | 1.64% | 1.59% | 2.05% | 2.15% | 2.31% | 0.72% | 0.99% | 1.13% | 1.14% | 0.79% | 1.24% | 0.95% |
Drawdowns
IWS vs. FTDS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWS drawdown since its inception was -62.40%, which is greater than FTDS's maximum drawdown of -56.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWS and FTDS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWS | FTDS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.40% | -56.53% | -5.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.33% | -12.98% | -0.35% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.23% | -23.35% | +2.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.83% | -42.47% | -1.36% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.29% | -3.74% | -1.55% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.07% | -9.92% | +1.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.89% | 2.89% | 0.00% |
Volatility
IWS vs. FTDS - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) has a higher volatility of 5.38% compared to First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS) at 2.94%. This indicates that IWS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FTDS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWS | FTDS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.38% | 2.94% | +2.44% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.14% | 9.68% | +0.46% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.29% | 17.99% | +0.30% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.33% | 17.65% | -0.32% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.35% | 20.14% | -0.79% |