RND vs. AFOS

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

RND (First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF) and AFOS (ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds. A 0.79 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. RND charges 0.60%/yr vs 0.45%/yr for AFOS.

Performance

RND vs. AFOS - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF (RND) and ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF (AFOS). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, RND achieves a 1.67% return, which is significantly lower than AFOS's 31.60% return.

RND

• 1D: -1.59%
• 1M: -2.84%
• YTD: 1.67%
• 6M: 0.70%
• 1Y: 20.03%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

AFOS

• 1D: -3.79%
• 1M: 4.43%
• YTD: 31.60%
• 6M: 30.16%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

RND vs. AFOS - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
RND First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF	1.67%	16.04%
AFOS ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF	31.60%	37.10%

Correlation

The correlation between RND and AFOS is 0.79, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2025	0.79

Return for Risk

RND vs. AFOS — Risk / Return Rank

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

RND

RND Risk / Return Rank: 34
RND Sharpe Ratio Rank: 37
RND Sortino Ratio Rank: 35
RND Omega Ratio Rank: 35
RND Calmar Ratio Rank: 28
RND Martin Ratio Rank: 33

AFOS

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

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.

RND vs. AFOS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF (RND) and ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF (AFOS). 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.

	RND	AFOS	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.22	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.71	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.22	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.29	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	4.58	—	—

Drawdowns

RND vs. AFOS - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RND drawdown since its inception was -23.52%, which is greater than AFOS's maximum drawdown of -11.52%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RND and AFOS.

Drawdown Indicators

	RND	AFOS	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-23.52%	-11.52%	-12.00%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.56%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.30%	-3.79%	-1.51%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.71%	-1.42%	-2.29%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.39%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	RND	AFOS	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.27%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.84%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.55%	21.52%	-4.97%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.27%	21.52%	-0.25%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.27%	21.52%	-0.25%

RND vs. AFOS - Expense Ratio Comparison

RND has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is higher than AFOS's 0.45% expense ratio.

Dividends

RND vs. AFOS - Dividend Comparison

RND has not paid dividends to shareholders, while AFOS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.23%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024
AFOS ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF	0.23%	0.30%	0.00%
RND First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.04%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both RND and AFOS in my portfolio?

RND and AFOS have a correlation of 0.79, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, RND or AFOS?

On fees, AFOS is cheaper at 0.45% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, RND or AFOS?

AFOS is cheaper with a 0.45% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for RND.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, RND or AFOS?

AFOS has the higher dividend yield at 0.23%, compared with 0.00% for RND.

What is the main difference between RND and AFOS?

They also come from different issuers: First Trust and ARS Investment Partners. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for RND and 0.45% for AFOS.