RFEU vs. IGLD
RFEU (First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF) and IGLD (FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - RFEU is a Europe Equities fund actively managed by First Trust, while IGLD is a Precious Metals fund actively managed by First Trust. Both are actively managed. Over the past 5 years, RFEU returned 3.74%/yr vs 13.02%/yr for IGLD. At a 0.20 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. RFEU charges 0.83%/yr vs 0.85%/yr for IGLD.
Performance
RFEU vs. IGLD - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RFEU achieves a 1.50% return, which is significantly lower than IGLD's 1.69% return.
RFEU
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.00%
- YTD
- 1.50%
- 6M
- 4.04%
- 1Y
- 13.97%
- 3Y*
- 12.44%
- 5Y*
- 3.74%
- 10Y*
- 7.29%
IGLD
- 1D
- -0.81%
- 1M
- -1.33%
- YTD
- 1.69%
- 6M
- 4.44%
- 1Y
- 24.53%
- 3Y*
- 23.01%
- 5Y*
- 13.02%
- 10Y*
- —
RFEU vs. IGLD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RFEU First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF | 1.50% | 30.78% | -1.78% | 16.19% | -24.17% | 19.89% |
IGLD FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF | 1.69% | 47.46% | 19.36% | 9.24% | -2.34% | 4.30% |
Correlation
The correlation between RFEU and IGLD is 0.13, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.13 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 4, 2021 | 0.20 |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
RFEU vs. IGLD — Risk / Return Rank
RFEU
IGLD
RFEU vs. IGLD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF (RFEU) and FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF (IGLD). 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.
| RFEU | IGLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.71 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.10 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.22 | +0.17 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.99 | 1.40 | +1.59 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.93 | 3.82 | +7.11 |
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 charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| RFEU | IGLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.77 | 1.06 | +0.71 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.23 | 0.86 | -0.63 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.41 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.41 | 0.94 | -0.52 |
Drawdowns
RFEU vs. IGLD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RFEU drawdown since its inception was -39.74%, which is greater than IGLD's maximum drawdown of -18.59%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RFEU and IGLD.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| RFEU | IGLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -39.74% | -18.59% | -21.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.15% | -17.56% | +12.41% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.48% | -17.56% | +4.08% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.92% | -18.59% | -17.33% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.74% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.11% | -15.16% | +15.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.62% | -5.24% | -4.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.35% | 6.43% | -5.08% |
Volatility
RFEU vs. IGLD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Europe ETF (RFEU) is 0.00%, while FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF (IGLD) has a volatility of 5.12%. This indicates that RFEU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IGLD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| RFEU | IGLD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.00% | 5.12% | -5.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 4.43% | 21.01% | -16.58% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 8.73% | 23.24% | -14.51% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.77% | 15.17% | +1.60% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.86% | 15.00% | +2.86% |
RFEU vs. IGLD - Expense Ratio Comparison
RFEU has a 0.83% expense ratio, which is lower than IGLD's 0.85% expense ratio.
Dividends
RFEU vs. IGLD - Dividend Comparison
RFEU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.83%, less than IGLD's 17.92% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IGLD FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF | 17.92% | 9.91% | 20.81% | 7.85% | 4.45% | 2.24% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 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 IGLD have a correlation of 0.13, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IGLD has higher volatility (5.12%) compared to RFEU (0.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RFEU dropped -39.74% vs IGLD's -18.59%.
On 5-year performance, IGLD leads with 13.02% vs 3.74% for RFEU. On fees, RFEU is cheaper at 0.83% 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, IGLD has performed better with a 13.02% return vs 3.74%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
RFEU is cheaper with a 0.83% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for IGLD.
IGLD has the higher dividend yield at 17.92%, compared with 2.83% for RFEU.
RFEU is categorized as Europe Equities, while IGLD is Precious Metals. Their fees differ too: 0.83% for RFEU and 0.85% for IGLD.
RFEU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.77 vs 1.06), 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.
Find the right allocation for RFEU and IGLD
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer