RND vs. DFND

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

RND (First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF) and DFND (Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds - RND tracks the Bloomberg R&D Leaders Select Index while DFND tracks the Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, RND returned 26.80% vs 0.20% for DFND. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. RND charges 0.60%/yr vs 1.50%/yr for DFND.

Performance

RND vs. DFND - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF (RND) and Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender ETF (DFND). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

RND

• 1D: -0.70%
• 1M: 5.38%
• YTD: 6.61%
• 6M: 5.59%
• 1Y: 26.80%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

DFND

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: 0.00%
• YTD: 0.00%
• 6M: -1.09%
• 1Y: 0.20%
• 3Y*: 7.91%
• 5Y*: 4.54%
• 10Y*: 7.16%

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

RND vs. DFND - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
RND First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF	6.61%	22.38%	26.88%
DFND Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender ETF	0.00%	10.37%	0.59%

Correlation

The correlation between RND and DFND 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 (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 2, 2024	0.11

RND vs. DFND - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	RND	DFND
Technology	44.1%	24.8%
Consumer Cyclical	16.0%	3.5%
Communication Services	14.2%	0.8%
Healthcare	14.0%	10.7%
Industrials	8.5%	17.1%
Consumer Defensive	1.2%	4.2%
Financial Services	1.1%	18.2%
Basic Materials	0.9%	4.3%
Energy	-	1.7%
Real Estate	-	2.0%
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

RND vs. DFND — Risk / Return Rank

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

RND

RND Risk / Return Rank: 45
RND Sharpe Ratio Rank: 51
RND Sortino Ratio Rank: 49
RND Omega Ratio Rank: 48
RND Calmar Ratio Rank: 35
RND Martin Ratio Rank: 40

DFND

DFND Risk / Return Rank: 9
DFND Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9
DFND Sortino Ratio Rank: 8
DFND Omega Ratio Rank: 8
DFND Calmar Ratio Rank: 9
DFND Martin Ratio Rank: 9

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. DFND - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF (RND) and Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender ETF (DFND). 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.

	RND	DFND	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.72	0.02	+1.69
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.35	0.11	+2.24
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.02	+0.28
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.73	0.07	+1.66
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.26	0.13	+6.13
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

RND vs. DFND - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current RND Sharpe Ratio is 1.72, which is higher than the DFND Sharpe Ratio of 0.02. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of RND and DFND, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	RND	DFND	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.72	0.02	+1.69
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.21	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.38	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.30	0.36	+0.94

Drawdowns

RND vs. DFND - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum RND drawdown since its inception was -23.52%, roughly equal to the maximum DFND drawdown of -22.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RND and DFND.

Drawdown Indicators

	RND	DFND	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-23.52%	-22.65%	-0.87%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.56%	-3.44%	-12.12%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-12.56%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-22.65%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-22.65%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.70%	-3.69%	+2.99%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.72%	-5.70%	+1.98%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.29%	3.70%	+0.59%

Volatility

RND vs. DFND - Volatility Comparison

First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF (RND) has a higher volatility of 3.75% compared to Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender ETF (DFND) at 0.00%. This indicates that RND's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than DFND based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	RND	DFND	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.75%	0.00%	+3.75%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.78%	6.16%	+5.62%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.70%	10.92%	+4.78%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.15%	22.46%	-1.31%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.15%	19.09%	+2.06%

RND vs. DFND - Expense Ratio Comparison

RND has a 0.60% expense ratio, which is lower than DFND's 1.50% expense ratio.

Dividends

RND vs. DFND - Dividend Comparison

RND has not paid dividends to shareholders, while DFND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.62%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
DFND Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender ETF	0.62%	1.10%	1.64%	1.84%	0.29%	0.00%	0.00%	0.77%	0.53%	0.02%
RND First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.04%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both RND and DFND in my portfolio?

RND and DFND 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.

Which is riskier, RND or DFND?

RND has higher volatility (3.75%) compared to DFND (0.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RND dropped -23.52% vs DFND's -22.65%.

Which ETF is better, RND or DFND?

On 1-year performance, RND leads with 26.80% vs 0.20% for DFND. On fees, RND is cheaper at 0.60% per year. On volatility, DFND has been the lower-risk option at 0.00%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, RND or DFND?

Over the 1-year period, RND has performed better with a 26.80% return vs 0.20%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, RND or DFND?

RND is cheaper with a 0.60% expense ratio, compared with 1.50% for DFND.

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

DFND has the higher dividend yield at 0.62%, compared with 0.00% for RND.

What is the main difference between RND and DFND?

RND tracks Bloomberg R&D Leaders Select Index, while DFND tracks Siren DIVCON Dividend Defender Index. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and SRN Advisors. Their fees differ too: 0.60% for RND and 1.50% for DFND.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

RND currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.72 vs 0.02), 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.