SARK vs. FAD
SARK (Tradr Short Innovation Daily ETF) and FAD (First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund) are both exchange-traded funds - SARK is a Inverse Equities fund actively managed by AXS, while FAD is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Multi Cap Growth Index. SARK is actively managed, while FAD is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, SARK returned -27.77%/yr vs 20.97%/yr for FAD. At a correlation of -0.77, they often move in opposite directions. SARK charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.63%/yr for FAD.
Performance
SARK vs. FAD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SARK achieves a -9.84% return, which is significantly lower than FAD's 16.35% return.
SARK
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- -0.56%
- 6M
- -2.21%
- YTD
- -9.84%
- 1Y
- -18.77%
- 3Y*
- -27.77%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
FAD
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -2.88%
- 6M
- 11.38%
- YTD
- 16.35%
- 1Y
- 28.58%
- 3Y*
- 20.97%
- 5Y*
- 10.86%
- 10Y*
- 14.04%
SARK vs. FAD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SARK Tradr Short Innovation Daily ETF | -9.84% | -25.93% | -36.90% | -46.32% | 83.35% | 24.05% |
FAD First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund | 16.35% | 17.23% | 23.85% | 19.07% | -24.06% | -4.05% |
Correlation
The correlation between SARK and FAD is -0.79, 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 | -0.79 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.78 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 9, 2021 | -0.77 |
The correlation between SARK and FAD has been stable across timeframes, ranging from -0.79 to -0.77 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SARK vs. FAD — Risk / Return Rank
SARK
FAD
SARK vs. FAD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Tradr Short Innovation Daily ETF (SARK) and First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD). 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.
| SARK | FAD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.95 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.57 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.94 | 1.25 | -0.31 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.72 | 2.69 | -3.41 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.26 | 9.68 | -10.93 |
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Drawdowns
SARK vs. FAD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SARK drawdown since its inception was -81.07%, which is greater than FAD's maximum drawdown of -54.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SARK and FAD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SARK | FAD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -81.07% | -54.33% | -26.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -26.34% | -10.66% | -15.68% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -74.42% | -23.55% | -50.87% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -31.99% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -37.25% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -80.10% | -5.88% | -74.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -47.22% | -9.60% | -37.62% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 15.02% | 2.96% | +12.06% |
Volatility
SARK vs. FAD - Volatility Comparison
Tradr Short Innovation Daily ETF (SARK) has a higher volatility of 9.61% compared to First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) at 6.64%. This indicates that SARK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FAD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SARK | FAD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.61% | 6.64% | +2.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 26.73% | 15.91% | +10.82% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 35.95% | 20.13% | +15.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 55.88% | 20.85% | +35.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 55.88% | 21.31% | +34.57% |
SARK vs. FAD - Expense Ratio Comparison
SARK has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is higher than FAD's 0.63% expense ratio.
Dividends
SARK vs. FAD - Dividend Comparison
SARK's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.13%, more than FAD's 0.09% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAD First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.59% | 0.51% | 0.60% | 0.09% | 0.32% | 0.48% | 0.20% | 0.22% | 0.64% | 0.41% |
SARK Tradr Short Innovation Daily ETF | 3.13% | 2.82% | 15.49% | 12.57% | 25.22% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SARK and FAD 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.
SARK has higher volatility (9.61%) compared to FAD (6.64%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SARK dropped -81.07% vs FAD's -54.33%.
On 3-year performance, FAD leads with 20.97% vs -27.77% for SARK. On fees, FAD is cheaper at 0.63% per year. On volatility, FAD has been the lower-risk option at 6.64%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, FAD has performed better with a 20.97% return vs -27.77%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
FAD is cheaper with a 0.63% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for SARK.
SARK has the higher dividend yield at 3.13%, compared with 0.09% for FAD.
SARK is categorized as Inverse Equities, while FAD is Mid Cap Growth Equities. They also come from different issuers: AXS and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.75% for SARK and 0.63% for FAD.
FAD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.43 vs -0.52), 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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