XJR vs. FAAR
XJR (iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF) and FAAR (First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XJR is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P SmallCap 600 Sustainability Screened Index, while FAAR is a Commodities fund actively managed by First Trust. XJR is passively managed, while FAAR is actively managed. Over the past 5 years, XJR returned 7.03%/yr vs 8.03%/yr for FAAR. At a 0.06 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XJR charges 0.12%/yr vs 0.95%/yr for FAAR.
Performance
XJR vs. FAAR - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with XJR having a 19.64% return and FAAR slightly higher at 20.28%.
XJR
- 1D
- 1.87%
- 1M
- 5.97%
- YTD
- 19.64%
- 6M
- 17.64%
- 1Y
- 34.13%
- 3Y*
- 14.94%
- 5Y*
- 7.03%
- 10Y*
- —
FAAR
- 1D
- 0.31%
- 1M
- -4.57%
- YTD
- 20.28%
- 6M
- 20.86%
- 1Y
- 26.92%
- 3Y*
- 10.85%
- 5Y*
- 8.03%
- 10Y*
- 4.74%
XJR vs. FAAR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XJR iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF | 19.64% | 4.73% | 9.59% | 16.39% | -17.30% | 24.96% | 35.61% |
FAAR First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF | 20.28% | 8.07% | 5.97% | -5.63% | 10.15% | 12.34% | 6.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between XJR and FAAR is -0.09, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.09 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.03 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 24, 2020 | 0.06 |
The correlation between XJR and FAAR shifts across timeframes, from -0.09 (1 year) to 0.06 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
XJR vs. FAAR — Risk / Return Rank
XJR
FAAR
XJR vs. FAAR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF (XJR) and First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR). 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.
| XJR | FAAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.11 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.34 | -0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.62 | 4.72 | -1.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.73 | 14.40 | -2.67 |
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Drawdowns
XJR vs. FAAR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XJR drawdown since its inception was -27.14%, which is greater than FAAR's maximum drawdown of -18.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XJR and FAAR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XJR | FAAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -27.14% | -18.03% | -9.11% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.43% | -5.68% | -3.75% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.14% | -11.54% | -15.60% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.14% | -18.03% | -9.11% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -18.03% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.02% | -5.39% | +5.37% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.40% | -7.83% | -1.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.91% | 1.87% | +1.04% |
Volatility
XJR vs. FAAR - Volatility Comparison
iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF (XJR) has a higher volatility of 5.38% compared to First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF (FAAR) at 2.50%. This indicates that XJR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FAAR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XJR | FAAR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.38% | 2.50% | +2.88% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.61% | 9.71% | +2.90% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.03% | 13.36% | +4.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.45% | 12.95% | +8.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.71% | 11.53% | +10.18% |
XJR vs. FAAR - Expense Ratio Comparison
XJR has a 0.12% expense ratio, which is lower than FAAR's 0.95% expense ratio.
Dividends
XJR vs. FAAR - Dividend Comparison
XJR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.95%, less than FAAR's 9.57% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAAR First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF | 9.57% | 11.63% | 3.45% | 3.20% | 5.82% | 6.49% | 3.05% | 1.02% | 0.58% | 2.83% |
XJR iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF | 0.95% | 1.14% | 1.96% | 0.92% | 1.29% | 2.00% | 0.58% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XJR and FAAR have a correlation of -0.09, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
XJR has higher volatility (5.38%) compared to FAAR (2.50%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XJR dropped -27.14% vs FAAR's -18.03%.
On 5-year performance, FAAR leads with 8.03% vs 7.03% for XJR. On fees, XJR is cheaper at 0.12% per year. On volatility, FAAR has been the lower-risk option at 2.50%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, FAAR has performed better with a 8.03% return vs 7.03%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
XJR is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.95% for FAAR.
FAAR has the higher dividend yield at 9.57%, compared with 0.95% for XJR.
XJR is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while FAAR is Commodities. They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.12% for XJR and 0.95% for FAAR.
FAAR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.01 vs 1.90), 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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