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FIWvsREMXETF Comparison
First Trust ISE Water Index Fund ETF (FIW) and VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) belong to the same industry segment: Natural Resources. FIW's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Health Care and Utilities. In contrast, REMX's top sector exposures are Materials, FIW is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.51%, versus 0.58% for REMX. FIW is down -1.81% year-to-date (YTD) with -$16M in YTD flows. REMX performs better with 31.47% YTD performance, and +$786M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FIW and REMX below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
FIW vs REMX performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FIW REMX | -7.50%+6.37% | -2.86%+32.65% | -1.81%+31.47% | +3.99%+139.90% | +36.44%+29.69% | +43.37%+36.47% |
| Flows | FIW REMX | -$11M+$183M | -$11M+$881M | -$16M+$786M | +$14M+$1.79B | +$182M+$1.71B | +$663M+$1.67B |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FIW REMX | +15.56%+44.73% | +18.49%+39.35% | +16.42%+33.20% | +18.54%+34.83% |
| Max drawdown | FIW REMX | -7.93%-15.34% | -12.39%-24.86% | -18.25%-61.47% | -28.49%-72.86% |
| Max drawdown duration | FIW REMX | 47d30d | 52d112d | 238d908d | 710d1437d |
FIW | REMX | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $106.43 | $96.92 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $106.68 | $96.49 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Create an account to view replication metrics
FIW | REMX | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
FIW | REMX | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $106.43 | $96.92 |
| 1D performance | -0.23% | +0.45% |
| AuM | $1.85 B | $2.96 B |
| E/R | 0.51% | 0.58% |
FIW | REMX | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | VanEck |
| Benchmark | ISE Clean Edge Water Index | MVIS Global Rare Earth/Strategic Metals Index |
| N° of holdings | 33 | 20 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | May 8, 2007 | October 27, 2010 |
| ESG | Yes | 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 FIW and REMX ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 10, 2026, FIW is down -1.81% year-to-date (YTD), while REMX has returned 31.47%. That puts REMX better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FIW or REMX?
Year-to-date, the FIW ETF saw -$16M in flows, compared to +$786M for REMX.
Which ETF is more volatile: FIW or REMX?
Over the past year, FIW had a volatility of 18.49%, while REMX experienced 39.35%.
Which ETF is bigger: FIW or REMX?
As of March 10, 2026, FIW holds $1.85 B in assets under management (AUM), while REMX manages $2.96 B.
What sectors do the FIW and REMX ETFs invest in?
FIW leans toward sectors like Industrials, Health Care and Utilities. Meanwhile, REMX focuses on Materials.
What are the top holdings of the FIW ETF and REMX ETF?
FIW top holdings include WATERS, US31488V1070 and MUELLER INDUSTRIES. REMX holds in its top three: ALBEMARLE, RARE-EARTH and XIAMEN TUNGST.
Which ETF is more diversified: FIW or REMX?
FIW holds 36 securities with 58.46% of its assets in the top 15. REMX has 24 securities and a top 15 weight of 79.5%.
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