XPND vs. FFND

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

XPND (First Trust Expanded Technology ETF) and FFND (The Future Fund Active ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XPND is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by First Trust, while FFND is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by The Future Fund. Both are actively managed. Over the past 3 years, XPND returned 28.18%/yr vs 21.85%/yr for FFND. Their correlation of 0.84 suggests significant overlap in exposure. XPND charges 0.65%/yr vs 1.00%/yr for FFND.

Performance

XPND vs. FFND - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Expanded Technology ETF (XPND) and The Future Fund Active ETF (FFND). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XPND achieves a 16.32% return, which is significantly higher than FFND's 6.70% return.

XPND

• 1D: -0.83%
• 1M: 12.34%
• YTD: 16.32%
• 6M: 15.44%
• 1Y: 32.11%
• 3Y*: 28.18%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

FFND

• 1D: -1.07%
• 1M: 2.89%
• YTD: 6.70%
• 6M: 6.37%
• 1Y: 21.25%
• 3Y*: 21.85%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

XPND vs. FFND - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
XPND First Trust Expanded Technology ETF	16.32%	18.82%	29.61%	46.13%	-29.66%	6.04%
FFND The Future Fund Active ETF	6.70%	19.38%	24.05%	40.05%	-39.84%	-4.81%

Correlation

The correlation between XPND and FFND is 0.78, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.78
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.81
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 25, 2021	0.84

The correlation between XPND and FFND has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.78 to 0.84 - a consistent structural relationship.

XPND vs. FFND - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XPND	FFND
Technology	76.5%	26.1%
Communication Services	15.7%	10.9%
Financial Services	5.9%	13.7%
Basic Materials	-	1.7%
Consumer Cyclical	-	12.7%
Consumer Defensive	-	4.4%
Energy	-	1.7%
Healthcare	-	11.0%
Industrials	-	14.2%
Real Estate	-	1.5%
Utilities	-	2.0%

Return for Risk

XPND vs. FFND — Risk / Return Rank

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

XPND

XPND Risk / Return Rank: 45
XPND Sharpe Ratio Rank: 53
XPND Sortino Ratio Rank: 50
XPND Omega Ratio Rank: 50
XPND Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
XPND Martin Ratio Rank: 36

FFND

FFND Risk / Return Rank: 47
FFND Sharpe Ratio Rank: 47
FFND Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
FFND Omega Ratio Rank: 48
FFND Calmar Ratio Rank: 41
FFND Martin Ratio Rank: 52

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.

XPND vs. FFND - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Expanded Technology ETF (XPND) and The Future Fund Active ETF (FFND). 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.

	XPND	FFND	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.81	1.66	+0.15
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.42	2.39	+0.03
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.31	1.30	0.00
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.86	2.03	-0.17
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.46	8.89	-3.43
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XPND vs. FFND - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XPND Sharpe Ratio is 1.81, which is comparable to the FFND Sharpe Ratio of 1.66. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XPND and FFND, 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

	XPND	FFND	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.81	1.66	+0.15
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.69	0.20	+0.48

Drawdowns

XPND vs. FFND - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XPND drawdown since its inception was -38.00%, smaller than the maximum FFND drawdown of -47.84%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XPND and FFND.

Drawdown Indicators

	XPND	FFND	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-38.00%	-47.84%	+9.84%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-17.38%	-10.53%	-6.85%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-23.37%	-18.90%	-4.47%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.83%	-1.07%	+0.24%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.07%	-18.79%	+8.72%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.90%	2.40%	+3.50%

Volatility

XPND vs. FFND - Volatility Comparison

First Trust Expanded Technology ETF (XPND) has a higher volatility of 4.57% compared to The Future Fund Active ETF (FFND) at 3.78%. This indicates that XPND's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FFND based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XPND	FFND	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.57%	3.78%	+0.79%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.02%	10.20%	+3.82%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.86%	12.91%	+4.95%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	23.88%	25.04%	-1.16%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.88%	25.04%	-1.16%

XPND vs. FFND - Expense Ratio Comparison

XPND has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is lower than FFND's 1.00% expense ratio.

Dividends

XPND vs. FFND - Dividend Comparison

XPND's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.09%, less than FFND's 0.61% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
FFND The Future Fund Active ETF	0.61%	0.65%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.03%
XPND First Trust Expanded Technology ETF	0.09%	0.08%	0.12%	0.18%	0.34%	0.02%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XPND and FFND in my portfolio?

XPND and FFND have a correlation of 0.78, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, XPND or FFND?

XPND has higher volatility (4.57%) compared to FFND (3.78%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XPND dropped -38.00% vs FFND's -47.84%.

Which ETF is better, XPND or FFND?

On 3-year performance, XPND leads with 28.18% vs 21.85% for FFND. On fees, XPND is cheaper at 0.65% per year. On volatility, FFND has been the lower-risk option at 3.78%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XPND or FFND?

Over the 3-year period, XPND has performed better with a 28.18% return vs 21.85%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XPND or FFND?

XPND is cheaper with a 0.65% expense ratio, compared with 1.00% for FFND.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XPND or FFND?

FFND has the higher dividend yield at 0.61%, compared with 0.09% for XPND.

What is the main difference between XPND and FFND?

XPND is categorized as Technology Equities, while FFND is Large Cap Growth Equities. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and The Future Fund. Their fees differ too: 0.65% for XPND and 1.00% for FFND.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

XPND currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.81 vs 1.66), 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.