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FDMvsDESETF Comparison
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund ETF (FDM) belongs to the US Small Cap segment. WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund (DES) is part of the US High Dividend segment. FDM's top 3 sector exposures are Financials, Industrials and Consumer Discretionary. In contrast, DES's top sector exposures are Financials, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials. FDM is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.65%, versus 0.38% for DES. FDM is up 1.46% year-to-date (YTD) with - in YTD flows. DES performs better with 5.42% YTD performance, and -$14M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FDM and DES below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
FDM vs DES performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FDM DES | -5.38%-6.07% | -1.38%+2.68% | +1.46%+5.42% | +30.26%+14.80% | +59.98%+37.11% | +37.57%+24.90% |
| Flows | FDM DES | --$2M | --$21M | --$14M | +$11M-$134M | +$9M-$347M | +$9M-$157M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FDM DES | +18.30%+15.66% | +22.10%+20.16% | +21.30%+19.45% | +21.85%+19.63% |
| Max drawdown | FDM DES | -7.34%-6.49% | -13.77%-14.25% | -23.13%-25.25% | -23.71%-25.25% |
| Max drawdown duration | FDM DES | 32d19d | 45d98d | 208d435d | 974d435d |
FDM | DES | |
Last sale 3/13/2026 at 1:30 PM | $80.16 | $35.19 |
| Previous close 03/12/2026 | $80.86 | $35.18 |
| Consolidated volume 03/12/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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FDM | DES | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
FDM | DES | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $80.16 | $35.19 |
| 1D performance | -0.87% | +0.03% |
| AuM | $218.29 M | $1.91 B |
| E/R | 0.65% | 0.38% |
FDM | DES | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | WisdomTree |
| Benchmark | Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index | WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Index |
| N° of holdings | 136 | 1078 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 27, 2005 | June 16, 2006 |
| ESG | No | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the FDM and DES ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 12, 2026, FDM is up 1.46% year-to-date (YTD), while DES has returned 5.42%. That puts DES better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FDM or DES?
Year-to-date, the FDM ETF saw - in flows, compared to -$14M for DES.
Which ETF is more volatile: FDM or DES?
Over the past year, FDM had a volatility of 22.1%, while DES experienced 20.16%.
Which ETF is bigger: FDM or DES?
As of March 12, 2026, FDM holds $218.29 M in assets under management (AUM), while DES manages $1.91 B.
What sectors do the FDM and DES ETFs invest in?
FDM leans toward sectors like Financials, Industrials and Consumer Discretionary. Meanwhile, DES focuses on Financials, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials.
What are the top holdings of the FDM ETF and DES ETF?
FDM top holdings include STOKE THERAPEUTICS INC, TETRA TECHNOLOGIES and DELUXE. DES holds in its top three: TFS FINANCIAL, EPR PROPERTIES and CAL MAINE FOODS.
Which ETF is more diversified: FDM or DES?
FDM holds 148 securities with 21.36% of its assets in the top 15. DES has 1141 securities and a top 15 weight of 12.38%.
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