CTEFvsFADETF Comparison
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Castellan Targeted Equity ETF (CTEF) belongs to the Options Strategies segment. First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund ETF (FAD) is part of the US Multi-Factor segment. CTEF's top 3 sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Industrials. In contrast, FAD's top sector exposures are Technology, Industrials and Healthcare. CTEF is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.45%, versus 0.63% for FAD. CTEF is up 34.17% year-to-date (YTD) with +$14M in YTD flows. FAD performs worse with 13.68% YTD performance, and +$145M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of CTEF and FAD below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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CTEF vs FAD performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 07/27/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | CTEF FAD | -4.07%-4.78% | +15.10%+3.82% | +34.17%+13.68% | +62.07%+22.79% | n/a+72.20% | n/a+57.04% |
| Flows | CTEF FAD | +$5M+$38M | +$5M+$94M | +$14M+$145M | +$28M+$192M | -+$234M | -+$224M |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | CTEF FAD | +25.47%+23.57% | +23.00%+20.27% | n/a+19.83% | n/a+21.34% |
| Max drawdown | CTEF FAD | -5.97%-8.12% | -14.78%-10.70% | n/a-23.51% | n/a-31.99% |
| Max drawdown duration | CTEF FAD | 27d24d | 47d81d | n/a230d | n/a967d |
Trading data
CTEF | FAD | |
Last sale 7/28/2026 at 1:30 PM | $88.97 | $183.22 |
| Previous close 07/27/2026 | $89.49 | $184.78 |
| Consolidated volume 07/27/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of June 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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CTEF
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexCTEF | FAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 7/28/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
CTEF | FAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $88.97 | $183.22 |
| 1D performance | -0.59% | -0.84% |
| AuM | $649.22 M | $569.83 M |
| E/R | 0.45% | 0.63% |
Characteristics
CTEF | FAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | Castellan ETFs | First Trust |
| Benchmark | - | NASDAQ AlphaDEX Multi Cap Growth Index |
| N° of holdings | 22 | 666 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | June 17, 2025 | May 8, 2007 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
CTEF
USA
93.39%
Other
6.61%
FAD
USA
97.42%
Other
2.58%
Sectors
CTEF
Technology
32.14%
Finance
26.31%
Industrials
14.79%
Healthcare
8.46%
Consumer Cyclical.
8.03%
Other
10.27%
FAD
Technology
24.86%
Industrials
22.02%
Healthcare
15.92%
Finance
12.64%
Other
24.56%
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Diversification
CTEF
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
73.3%
FAD
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
10.99%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of June 30, 2026
CTEF
Micron Technology, Inc.
8.52%
Lam Research Corp.
5.83%
Dave, Inc.
5.57%
Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
5.43%
Western Digital Corp.
5.02%
Modine Manufacturing Co.
4.99%
Jabil, Inc.
4.80%
Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.
4.60%
Virtu Financial, Inc.
4.56%
Blue Bird Corp.
4.37%
Tapestry, Inc.
4.05%
Deckers Outdoor Corp.
3.98%
Frontdoor, Inc.
3.97%
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.
3.88%
Palomar Holdings, Inc.
3.73%
FAD
Sandisk Corp.
1.16%
Micron Technology, Inc.
1.11%
Dell Technologies, Inc.
0.94%
Seagate Technology Holdings Plc
0.85%
Western Digital Corp.
0.80%
Marvell Technology, Inc.
0.80%
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
0.77%
MKS, Inc.
0.65%
Bloom Energy Corp.
0.62%
Corning, Inc.
0.59%
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
0.57%
Applied Materials, Inc.
0.55%
Lam Research Corp.
0.53%
MaxLinear, Inc.
0.53%
Teradyne, Inc.
0.52%
Frequently asked questions about CTEF and FAD
How have the CTEF and FAD ETFs performed in 2026?
As of July 27, 2026, CTEF is up 34.17% year-to-date (YTD), while FAD has returned 13.68%. That puts CTEF better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: CTEF or FAD?
Year-to-date, the CTEF ETF saw +$14M in flows, compared to +$145M for FAD.
Which ETF is more volatile: CTEF or FAD?
Over the past year, CTEF had a volatility of 23%, while FAD experienced 20.27%.
Which ETF is bigger: CTEF or FAD?
As of July 27, 2026, CTEF holds $649.22 M in assets under management (AUM), while FAD manages $569.83 M.
What sectors do the CTEF and FAD ETFs invest in?
CTEF leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Industrials. Meanwhile, FAD focuses on Technology, Industrials and Healthcare.
What are the top holdings of the CTEF ETF and FAD ETF?
CTEF top holdings include Micron Technology, Inc., Lam Research Corp. and Dave, Inc.. FAD holds in its top three: Sandisk Corp., Micron Technology, Inc. and Dell Technologies, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: CTEF or FAD?
CTEF holds 22 securities with 73.3% of its assets in the top 15. FAD has 666 securities and a top 15 weight of 10.99%.
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