IXG vs. FXO
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) and First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund (FXO).
IXG and FXO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IXG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P Global Financials Sector Index. It was launched on Nov 12, 2001. FXO is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the StrataQuant Financials Index. It was launched on May 8, 2007. Both IXG and FXO 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
IXG vs. FXO - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
IXG vs. FXO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXG iShares Global Financials ETF | -5.62% | 28.54% | 25.69% | 14.97% | -8.97% | 25.07% | -2.99% | 24.60% | -16.33% | 23.78% |
FXO First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund | -6.11% | 13.59% | 27.72% | 9.28% | -9.24% | 37.76% | 5.95% | 26.31% | -11.72% | 17.88% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IXG achieves a -5.62% return, which is significantly higher than FXO's -6.11% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IXG having a 11.63% annualized return and FXO not far ahead at 12.05%.
IXG
- 1D
- 2.87%
- 1M
- -4.83%
- YTD
- -5.62%
- 6M
- -1.42%
- 1Y
- 13.11%
- 3Y*
- 21.31%
- 5Y*
- 11.87%
- 10Y*
- 11.63%
FXO
- 1D
- 2.29%
- 1M
- -3.88%
- YTD
- -6.11%
- 6M
- -4.03%
- 1Y
- 8.41%
- 3Y*
- 17.53%
- 5Y*
- 8.60%
- 10Y*
- 12.05%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
IXG vs. FXO - Expense Ratio Comparison
IXG has a 0.46% expense ratio, which is lower than FXO's 0.62% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
IXG vs. FXO — Risk / Return Rank
IXG
FXO
IXG vs. FXO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) and First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund (FXO). 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.
| IXG | FXO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.73 | 0.40 | +0.33 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.09 | 0.67 | +0.41 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.10 | +0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.07 | 0.63 | +0.44 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.96 | 2.14 | +1.83 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IXG | FXO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.73 | 0.40 | +0.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.69 | 0.39 | +0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.58 | 0.50 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.23 | 0.30 | -0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between IXG and FXO is 0.85, 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.
Dividends
IXG vs. FXO - Dividend Comparison
IXG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.16%, less than FXO's 2.30% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXG iShares Global Financials ETF | 2.16% | 2.04% | 2.64% | 2.62% | 3.71% | 1.69% | 2.13% | 2.87% | 3.14% | 2.12% | 2.21% | 2.79% |
FXO First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund | 2.30% | 1.78% | 1.97% | 2.98% | 2.49% | 1.91% | 2.60% | 1.72% | 2.60% | 1.62% | 1.35% | 1.51% |
Drawdowns
IXG vs. FXO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IXG drawdown since its inception was -78.42%, which is greater than FXO's maximum drawdown of -71.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IXG and FXO.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| IXG | FXO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -78.42% | -71.30% | -7.12% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.79% | -14.67% | +1.88% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.20% | -28.80% | +1.60% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.47% | -48.55% | +5.08% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.13% | -8.92% | +0.79% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.88% | -13.20% | -6.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.44% | 4.31% | -0.87% |
Volatility
IXG vs. FXO - Volatility Comparison
iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) has a higher volatility of 5.96% compared to First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund (FXO) at 4.99%. This indicates that IXG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FXO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| IXG | FXO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.96% | 4.99% | +0.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.50% | 12.11% | -1.61% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.12% | 21.32% | -3.20% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.30% | 22.03% | -4.73% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.15% | 24.13% | -3.98% |