RFEU vs. GSST
RFEU (First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF) and GSST (Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - RFEU is a Europe Equities fund actively managed by First Trust, while GSST is a Ultrashort Bond fund actively managed by Goldman Sachs. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, RFEU returned 3.77%/yr vs 3.78%/yr for GSST. At a 0.02 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. RFEU charges 0.83%/yr vs 0.16%/yr for GSST.
Performance
RFEU vs. GSST - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RFEU achieves a 1.50% return, which is significantly lower than GSST's 1.74% return.
RFEU
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.00%
- YTD
- 1.50%
- 6M
- 1.83%
- 1Y
- 13.93%
- 3Y*
- 12.26%
- 5Y*
- 3.77%
- 10Y*
- 8.10%
GSST
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- 0.32%
- YTD
- 1.74%
- 6M
- 1.83%
- 1Y
- 4.51%
- 3Y*
- 5.48%
- 5Y*
- 3.78%
- 10Y*
- —
RFEU vs. GSST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RFEU First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF | 1.50% | 30.78% | -1.78% | 16.19% | -24.17% | 22.83% | 6.25% | 6.11% |
GSST Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF | 1.74% | 5.20% | 6.01% | 6.08% | 0.13% | 0.05% | 1.74% | 2.64% |
Correlation
The correlation between RFEU and GSST is -0.05, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.05 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 17, 2019 | 0.02 |
The correlation between RFEU and GSST shifts across timeframes, from -0.05 (1 year) to 0.09 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
RFEU vs. GSST — Risk / Return Rank
RFEU
GSST
RFEU vs. GSST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF (RFEU) and Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF (GSST). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| RFEU | GSST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -5.88 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -13.29 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.43 | 3.77 | -2.35 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.98 | 29.31 | -26.33 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.26 | 180.23 | -168.96 |
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Drawdowns
RFEU vs. GSST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RFEU drawdown since its inception was -39.74%, which is greater than GSST's maximum drawdown of -3.51%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RFEU and GSST.
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Drawdown Indicators
| RFEU | GSST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -39.74% | -3.51% | -36.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.15% | -0.15% | -5.00% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.48% | -0.25% | -13.23% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.92% | -1.19% | -34.73% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.74% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.11% | 0.00% | -0.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.57% | -0.16% | -9.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.35% | 0.03% | +1.32% |
Volatility
RFEU vs. GSST - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF (RFEU) is 0.00%, while Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF (GSST) has a volatility of 0.14%. This indicates that RFEU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than GSST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| RFEU | GSST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.00% | 0.14% | -0.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.51% | 0.41% | +3.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.39% | 0.59% | +7.80% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.76% | 0.63% | +16.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.53% | 0.86% | +16.67% |
RFEU vs. GSST - Expense Ratio Comparison
RFEU has a 0.83% expense ratio, which is higher than GSST's 0.16% expense ratio.
Dividends
RFEU vs. GSST - Dividend Comparison
RFEU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.83%, less than GSST's 4.31% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GSST Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF | 4.31% | 4.56% | 5.45% | 4.98% | 1.97% | 0.71% | 1.12% | 1.66% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
RFEU First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF | 2.83% | 2.87% | 5.45% | 3.37% | 4.98% | 1.82% | 2.32% | 3.08% | 2.84% | 1.35% | 3.16% |
Frequently Asked Questions
RFEU and GSST have a correlation of -0.05, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
GSST has higher volatility (0.14%) compared to RFEU (0.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RFEU dropped -39.74% vs GSST's -3.51%.
On 5-year performance, GSST leads with 3.78% vs 3.77% for RFEU. On fees, GSST is cheaper at 0.16% per year. On volatility, RFEU has been the lower-risk option at 0.00%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, GSST has performed better with a 3.78% return vs 3.77%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
GSST is cheaper with a 0.16% expense ratio, compared with 0.83% for RFEU.
GSST has the higher dividend yield at 4.31%, compared with 2.83% for RFEU.
RFEU is categorized as Europe Equities, while GSST is Ultrashort Bond. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and Goldman Sachs. Their fees differ too: 0.83% for RFEU and 0.16% for GSST.
GSST currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (7.72 vs 1.84), 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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