SAEF vs. FTGC
SAEF (Schwab Ariel ESG ETF) and FTGC (First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - SAEF is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund actively managed by Charles Schwab, while FTGC is a Commodities fund actively managed by First Trust. Both are actively managed. Over the past 3 years, SAEF returned 14.01%/yr vs 13.63%/yr for FTGC. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SAEF charges 0.59%/yr vs 0.95%/yr for FTGC.
Performance
SAEF vs. FTGC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SAEF achieves a 13.47% return, which is significantly lower than FTGC's 16.89% return.
SAEF
- 1D
- 0.96%
- 1M
- 5.87%
- YTD
- 13.47%
- 6M
- 11.57%
- 1Y
- 22.50%
- 3Y*
- 14.01%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FTGC
- 1D
- -1.65%
- 1M
- -8.90%
- YTD
- 16.89%
- 6M
- 15.85%
- 1Y
- 28.35%
- 3Y*
- 13.63%
- 5Y*
- 11.70%
- 10Y*
- 6.98%
SAEF vs. FTGC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAEF Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | 13.47% | 2.31% | 16.14% | 17.87% | -18.29% | -2.31% |
FTGC First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund | 16.89% | 14.61% | 9.96% | -5.36% | 17.36% | -1.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between SAEF and FTGC is -0.10, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.10 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 16, 2021 | 0.13 |
The correlation between SAEF and FTGC shifts across timeframes, from -0.10 (1 year) to 0.13 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SAEF vs. FTGC — Risk / Return Rank
SAEF
FTGC
SAEF vs. FTGC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab Ariel ESG ETF (SAEF) and First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC). 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.
| SAEF | FTGC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.63 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.67 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.33 | -0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.76 | 2.31 | -0.54 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.77 | 9.40 | -4.62 |
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Drawdowns
SAEF vs. FTGC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SAEF drawdown since its inception was -28.05%, smaller than the maximum FTGC drawdown of -59.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SAEF and FTGC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SAEF | FTGC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -28.05% | -59.47% | +31.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.81% | -12.34% | -0.47% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.40% | -12.34% | -15.06% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -22.64% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -35.91% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.09% | -12.34% | +12.25% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.26% | -27.33% | +17.07% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.72% | 3.02% | +1.70% |
Volatility
SAEF vs. FTGC - Volatility Comparison
Schwab Ariel ESG ETF (SAEF) has a higher volatility of 5.06% compared to First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund (FTGC) at 3.33%. This indicates that SAEF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FTGC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SAEF | FTGC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.06% | 3.33% | +1.73% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.32% | 13.32% | +1.00% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.84% | 15.64% | +3.20% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.37% | 15.89% | +5.48% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.37% | 14.72% | +6.65% |
SAEF vs. FTGC - Expense Ratio Comparison
SAEF has a 0.59% expense ratio, which is lower than FTGC's 0.95% expense ratio.
Dividends
SAEF vs. FTGC - Dividend Comparison
SAEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.44%, less than FTGC's 16.40% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FTGC First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund | 16.40% | 17.74% | 3.05% | 3.34% | 10.35% | 7.21% | 0.00% | 0.81% | 0.80% | 1.21% |
SAEF Schwab Ariel ESG ETF | 0.44% | 0.38% | 0.46% | 0.46% | 0.61% | 0.09% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SAEF and FTGC have a correlation of -0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SAEF has higher volatility (5.06%) compared to FTGC (3.33%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SAEF dropped -28.05% vs FTGC's -59.47%.
On 3-year performance, SAEF leads with 14.01% vs 13.63% for FTGC. On fees, SAEF is cheaper at 0.59% per year. On volatility, FTGC has been the lower-risk option at 3.33%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, SAEF has performed better with a 14.01% return vs 13.63%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SAEF is cheaper with a 0.59% expense ratio, compared with 0.95% for FTGC.
FTGC has the higher dividend yield at 16.40%, compared with 0.44% for SAEF.
SAEF is categorized as Mid Cap Blend Equities, while FTGC is Commodities. They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.59% for SAEF and 0.95% for FTGC.
FTGC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.83 vs 1.20), 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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