FTCS vs GCAD
First Trust Capital Strength ETF vs Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense Fund
Which is better, FTCS or GCAD?
GCAD has been ahead.
GCAD has a lower expense ratio. GCAD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FTCS is less concentrated, with 22.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%.
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 | FTCS | GCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.00%Best |
| AUM | $7.5B | $43M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.22% | 1.98% |
| Holdings | 102 | 55 |
| YTD Return | +6.41%Best | +1.42% |
| 1Y Return | +5.59% | +7.79%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.51% | +28.66%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.06% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.2%Best | 17.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.6%Best | -17.5% |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $13,668 | $21,610Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.5%Best | 49.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Gabelli Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 6, 2006 | Jan 3, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.8 years).
FTCS vs GCAD 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
FTCS vs GCAD Performance
First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense Fund (GCAD) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds. Over the past year FTCS returned +5.59% while GCAD returned +7.79%. Year to date, FTCS is up 6.41% versus a gain of 1.42% for GCAD.
Over three years, FTCS compounded at +10.51% per year against +28.66% for GCAD. Across the full 4-year window we track, GCAD has the edge at +22.48% annualized vs +8.57%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCAD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 11.2% 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 -12.6% for FTCS and -17.5% for GCAD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTCS charges 0.52% per year while GCAD charges 0.00%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $0 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTCS currently yields 1.22% against 1.98% for GCAD.
Holdings Overlap
5.8% of FTCS's money is in holdings GCAD also owns. 10.7% of GCAD's money is in holdings FTCS also owns.
GCAD and FTCS share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FTCS and 51 in GCAD, against full books of 102 and 55.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 40 positions for GCAD that do not appear in our book for FTCS (80.5% of the fund), and 47 for FTCS that do not appear in GCAD (94.1%).
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 FTCS and GCAD 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, FTCS or GCAD?
FTCS has an expense ratio of 0.52% while GCAD charges 0.00%. GCAD is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTCS or GCAD?
Over the past year FTCS returned +5.59% vs +7.79% for GCAD, so GCAD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), FTCS annualized +8.57% vs +22.48% for GCAD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTCS or GCAD?
GCAD has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 11.2% for FTCS. Worst drawdown: FTCS -12.6% vs GCAD -17.5%.
Should I hold both FTCS and GCAD?
FTCS and GCAD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 FTCS and GCAD?
10.7% of GCAD's money is in holdings FTCS also owns. 10.7% of GCAD's is in holdings FTCS also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FTCS and 51 in GCAD.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTCS or GCAD?
FTCS yields 1.22% while GCAD yields 1.98%, so GCAD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is GCAD better than FTCS?
GCAD has a lower expense ratio. GCAD led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FTCS is less concentrated, with 22.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.