MBSD vs. FTSD
MBSD (FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund) and FTSD (Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF) are both Mortgage Backed Securities funds. MBSD is passively managed, while FTSD is actively managed. Over the past 10 years, MBSD returned 1.37%/yr vs 2.05%/yr for FTSD. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. MBSD charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for FTSD.
Performance
MBSD vs. FTSD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MBSD achieves a 0.42% return, which is significantly lower than FTSD's 0.80% return. Over the past 10 years, MBSD has underperformed FTSD with an annualized return of 1.37%, while FTSD has yielded a comparatively higher 2.05% annualized return.
MBSD
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- 0.16%
- YTD
- 0.42%
- 6M
- 0.52%
- 1Y
- 5.26%
- 3Y*
- 4.31%
- 5Y*
- 0.62%
- 10Y*
- 1.37%
FTSD
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- 0.17%
- YTD
- 0.80%
- 6M
- 1.30%
- 1Y
- 4.31%
- 3Y*
- 4.98%
- 5Y*
- 2.46%
- 10Y*
- 2.05%
MBSD vs. FTSD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MBSD FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund | 0.42% | 7.12% | 2.30% | 4.46% | -9.49% | -1.40% | 5.43% | 6.05% | 0.32% | 0.86% |
FTSD Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 0.80% | 5.66% | 5.20% | 4.84% | -3.13% | -0.90% | 3.13% | 2.40% | 1.64% | 0.63% |
Correlation
The correlation between MBSD and FTSD is 0.37, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.37 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.53 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 5, 2014 | 0.36 |
The correlation between MBSD and FTSD shifts across timeframes, from 0.36 (all time) to 0.57 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
MBSD vs. FTSD — Risk / Return Rank
MBSD
FTSD
MBSD vs. FTSD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund (MBSD) and Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF (FTSD). 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.
| MBSD | FTSD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.80 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.05 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.69 | -0.42 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.43 | 9.59 | -7.17 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.71 | 38.36 | -30.65 |
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
| MBSD | FTSD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.50 | 3.30 | -1.80 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.12 | 1.33 | -1.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 | 1.15 | -0.82 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.38 | 1.04 | -0.67 |
Drawdowns
MBSD vs. FTSD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MBSD drawdown since its inception was -14.36%, which is greater than FTSD's maximum drawdown of -5.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MBSD and FTSD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MBSD | FTSD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -14.36% | -5.32% | -9.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.17% | -0.45% | -1.72% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.68% | -0.93% | -3.75% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -14.10% | -5.04% | -9.06% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -14.36% | -5.32% | -9.04% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.19% | -0.12% | -1.07% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.81% | -0.60% | -2.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.68% | 0.11% | +0.57% |
Volatility
MBSD vs. FTSD - Volatility Comparison
FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund (MBSD) has a higher volatility of 1.15% compared to Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF (FTSD) at 0.51%. This indicates that MBSD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FTSD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MBSD | FTSD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.15% | 0.51% | +0.64% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.47% | 1.03% | +1.44% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.53% | 1.31% | +2.22% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 5.15% | 1.85% | +3.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.26% | 1.79% | +2.47% |
MBSD vs. FTSD - Expense Ratio Comparison
MBSD has a 0.20% expense ratio, which is lower than FTSD's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
MBSD vs. FTSD - Dividend Comparison
MBSD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.19%, less than FTSD's 4.50% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTSD Franklin Short Duration U.S. Government ETF | 4.50% | 4.67% | 4.75% | 4.14% | 1.73% | 1.01% | 1.54% | 2.90% | 2.63% | 2.24% | 1.92% | 1.52% |
MBSD FlexShares Disciplined Duration MBS Index Fund | 4.19% | 4.23% | 3.91% | 3.39% | 3.03% | 2.41% | 2.78% | 3.42% | 3.22% | 3.30% | 3.02% | 3.46% |
Frequently Asked Questions
MBSD and FTSD have a correlation of 0.37, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MBSD has higher volatility (1.15%) compared to FTSD (0.51%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MBSD dropped -14.36% vs FTSD's -5.32%.
On 10-year performance, FTSD leads with 2.05% vs 1.37% for MBSD. On fees, MBSD is cheaper at 0.20% per year. On volatility, FTSD has been the lower-risk option at 0.51%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, FTSD has performed better with a 2.05% return vs 1.37%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
MBSD is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for FTSD.
FTSD has the higher dividend yield at 4.50%, compared with 4.19% for MBSD.
They also come from different issuers: Northern Trust and Franklin Templeton. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for MBSD and 0.25% for FTSD.
FTSD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.30 vs 1.50), 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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