BAFE vs FTCS
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF vs First Trust Capital Strength ETF
Which is better, BAFE or FTCS?
BAFE has been ahead.
FTCS has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y and the full window. FTCS is less concentrated, with 22.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.4%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BAFE | FTCS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.52%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $7.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 1.22% |
| Holdings | 90 | 102 |
| YTD Return | +9.97%Best | +6.41% |
| 1Y Return | +12.65%Best | +5.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +6.06% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2% | 11.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -12.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,035Best | $10,951 |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.4% | 22.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Brown Advisory | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2024 | Jul 6, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 18, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
BAFE vs FTCS growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.9 years both funds cover.
BAFE vs FTCS Performance
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF (BAFE) is an ETF from Brown Advisory and First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% while FTCS returned +5.59%. Year to date, BAFE is up 9.97% versus a gain of 6.41% for FTCS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAFE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 11.3% for FTCS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -18.4% for BAFE and -12.6% for FTCS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAFE charges 0.54% per year while FTCS charges 0.52%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $52 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAFE currently yields 0.27% against 1.22% for FTCS.
Holdings Overlap
13.1% of BAFE's money is in holdings FTCS also owns. 10.0% of FTCS's money is in holdings BAFE also owns.
BAFE and FTCS share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 50 in FTCS, against full books of 90 and 102.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 45 positions for FTCS that do not appear in our book for BAFE (89.9% of the fund), and 32 for BAFE that do not appear in FTCS (69.7%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BAFE and FTCS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BAFE or FTCS?
BAFE has an expense ratio of 0.54% while FTCS charges 0.52%. FTCS is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAFE or FTCS?
Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% vs +5.59% for FTCS, so BAFE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAFE annualized +10.24% vs +4.90% for FTCS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAFE or FTCS?
BAFE has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 11.3% for FTCS. Worst drawdown: BAFE -18.4% vs FTCS -12.6%.
Should I hold both BAFE and FTCS?
BAFE and FTCS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BAFE and FTCS?
13.1% of BAFE's money is in holdings FTCS also owns. 10.0% of FTCS's is in holdings BAFE also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 50 in FTCS.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAFE or FTCS?
BAFE yields 0.27% while FTCS yields 1.22%, so FTCS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is FTCS better than BAFE?
FTCS has a lower expense ratio. BAFE led over 1Y and the full window. FTCS is less concentrated, with 22.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.