FTCS vs HELO

FTCS vs HELO

Which is better, FTCS or HELO?

HELO has been ahead.

HELO has a lower expense ratio. HELO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FTCS is less concentrated, with 22.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.1%.

Lower Fees: HELOHigher Returns: HELOLess Concentrated: FTCS

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

MetricFTCSHELO
Expense Ratio0.52%0.50%Best
AUM$7.5B$4.9B
Dividend Yield1.22%0.57%
Holdings102156
YTD Return+6.41%Best+4.91%
1Y Return+5.59%+7.68%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+10.51%+11.88%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+6.06%-
Volatility (annualized)11.2%7.3%Best
Max Drawdown-12.6%-10.9%Best
$10,000 over 3 years$13,706$14,128Best
Top 10 Weight22.5%Best40.1%
Fund FamilyFirst Trust Portfolios (US)J.P. Morgan Asset Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJul 6, 2006Sep 28, 2023

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3 years).

FTCS vs HELO 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 years both funds cover.

Compare FTCS against instead:FTCS vs SPYFTCS vs QQQFTCS vs VOOFTCS vs VTIHELO against:HELO vs VXUS

FTCS vs HELO Performance

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and JPMorgan Hedged Equity Laddered Overlay ETF (HELO) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Over the past year FTCS returned +5.59% while HELO returned +7.68%. Year to date, FTCS is up 6.41% versus a gain of 4.91% for HELO.

Over three years, FTCS compounded at +10.51% per year against +11.88% for HELO.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

FTCS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.2% compared with 7.3% for HELO. 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 -10.9% for HELO. 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 HELO charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $50 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTCS currently yields 1.22% against 0.57% for HELO.

Holdings Overlap

FTCS already in HELO29.8%
HELO already in FTCS16.5%

29.8% of FTCS's money is in holdings HELO also owns. 16.5% of HELO's money is in holdings FTCS also owns.

FTCS and HELO share little of their money.

15 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FTCS and 146 in HELO, against full books of 102 and 156.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 127 positions for HELO that do not appear in our book for FTCS (81.9% of the fund), and 34 for FTCS that do not appear in HELO (70.0%).

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.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in FTCSWeight in HELODifference
AAPLApple, Inc2.07%7.01%4.94%
JNJJohnson & Johnson2.09%1.40%0.69%
MAMastercard Inc. Cl A2.10%1.24%0.86%
VVisa Inc. Cl A2.08%0.96%1.12%
EOGEog Resources Inc2.09%0.81%1.28%
MMM3m Co.2.09%0.78%1.31%
PEPPepsico Inc1.90%0.80%1.10%
SCHWSchwab (Charles) Corp1.97%0.72%1.25%
VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc2.15%0.38%1.77%
WMTWalmart, Inc.1.89%0.64%1.25%

29.8% of FTCS is already inside HELO.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

FTCSHELO

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FTCS or HELO?

FTCS has an expense ratio of 0.52% while HELO charges 0.50%. HELO is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, FTCS or HELO?

Over the past year FTCS returned +5.59% vs +7.68% for HELO, so HELO leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, FTCS or HELO?

FTCS has been the more volatile fund at 11.2% annualized versus 7.3% for HELO. Worst drawdown: FTCS -12.6% vs HELO -10.9%.

Should I hold both FTCS and HELO?

FTCS and HELO 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 HELO?

29.8% of FTCS's money is in holdings HELO also owns. 16.5% of HELO's is in holdings FTCS also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FTCS and 146 in HELO.

Which pays a higher dividend, FTCS or HELO?

FTCS yields 1.22% while HELO yields 0.57%, so FTCS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is HELO better than FTCS?

HELO has a lower expense ratio. HELO led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. FTCS is less concentrated, with 22.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 40.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.