PSCU vs. FXU

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF (PSCU) and First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU).

PSCU and FXU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. PSCU is a passively managed fund by Invesco that tracks the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Capped Utilities & Communication Services Index. It was launched on Apr 7, 2010. 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 PSCU 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.

Performance

PSCU vs. FXU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF (PSCU) and First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

PSCU vs. FXU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PSCU Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF	4.93%	-1.93%	10.68%	2.12%	-19.73%	30.12%	3.80%	9.67%	-4.80%	12.42%
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund	10.69%	21.86%	22.50%	-2.12%	3.68%	17.67%	1.53%	11.67%	5.43%	0.98%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PSCU achieves a 4.93% return, which is significantly lower than FXU's 10.69% return. Over the past 10 years, PSCU has underperformed FXU with an annualized return of 5.27%, while FXU has yielded a comparatively higher 9.57% annualized return.

PSCU

• 1D: 1.93%
• 1M: 2.78%
• YTD: 4.93%
• 6M: 5.35%
• 1Y: 7.20%
• 3Y*: 3.78%
• 5Y*: 0.79%
• 10Y*: 5.27%

FXU

• 1D: 0.28%
• 1M: -2.31%
• YTD: 10.69%
• 6M: 10.47%
• 1Y: 23.77%
• 3Y*: 17.66%
• 5Y*: 13.39%
• 10Y*: 9.57%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PSCU vs. FXU - Expense Ratio Comparison

PSCU has a 0.29% expense ratio, which is lower than FXU's 0.62% expense ratio.

FXU

First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund

PSCU

Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF

Return for Risk

PSCU vs. FXU — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PSCU

PSCU Risk / Return Rank: 25
PSCU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 24
PSCU Sortino Ratio Rank: 24
PSCU Omega Ratio Rank: 22
PSCU Calmar Ratio Rank: 29
PSCU Martin Ratio Rank: 25

FXU

FXU Risk / Return Rank: 84
FXU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 83
FXU Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
FXU Omega Ratio Rank: 79
FXU Calmar Ratio Rank: 89
FXU Martin Ratio Rank: 85

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.

PSCU vs. FXU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF (PSCU) 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.

	PSCU	FXU	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.40	1.59	-1.19
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.70	2.10	-1.40
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.08	1.30	-0.21
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.68	2.87	-2.19
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1.94	9.49	-7.55
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PSCU vs. FXU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PSCU Sharpe Ratio is 0.40, which is lower than the FXU Sharpe Ratio of 1.59. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PSCU and FXU, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PSCU	FXU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.40	1.59	-1.19
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.04	0.82	-0.77
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.27	0.52	-0.25
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.46	0.43	+0.02

Correlation

The correlation between PSCU and FXU is 0.65, 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

PSCU vs. FXU - Dividend Comparison

PSCU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.06%, less than FXU's 2.11% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PSCU Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF	1.06%	1.10%	0.98%	1.60%	1.71%	2.69%	1.20%	2.47%	2.35%	1.84%	6.93%	2.94%
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund	2.11%	2.29%	2.41%	2.52%	2.03%	2.00%	3.97%	2.34%	2.40%	3.81%	2.62%	3.90%

Drawdowns

PSCU vs. FXU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PSCU drawdown since its inception was -29.97%, smaller than the maximum FXU drawdown of -49.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSCU and FXU.

Drawdown Indicators

	PSCU	FXU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-29.97%	-49.00%	+19.03%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.27%	-8.57%	-2.70%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-29.97%	-21.87%	-8.10%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-29.97%	-34.81%	+4.84%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.79%	-2.31%	-6.48%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.72%	-7.67%	-0.05%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.96%	2.59%	+1.37%

Volatility

PSCU vs. FXU - Volatility Comparison

Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Services ETF (PSCU) has a higher volatility of 5.20% compared to First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) at 4.52%. This indicates that PSCU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FXU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PSCU	FXU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.20%	4.52%	+0.68%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.36%	9.08%	+2.28%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.88%	14.98%	+2.90%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.32%	16.48%	+1.84%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.45%	18.29%	+1.16%