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FTCvsCWSETF Comparison
First Trust Large Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund ETF (FTC) belongs to the US Large Cap Growth segment. AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF (CWS) is part of the US Multi-Factor segment. FTC's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary. In contrast, CWS's top sector exposures are Health Care, Industrials and Information Technology. FTC is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.58%, versus 0.79% for CWS. FTC is down -2.62% year-to-date (YTD) with -$56M in YTD flows. CWS performs worse with -3.15% YTD performance, and -$10M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FTC and CWS below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
FTC vs CWS performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FTC CWS | -3.04%-1.04% | -2.85%-5.59% | -2.62%-3.15% | +19.67%+3.33% | +76.47%+39.86% | +62.98%+53.01% |
| Flows | FTC CWS | -$49M-$6M | -$56M-$14M | -$56M-$10M | -$43M-$17M | -$286M+$93M | -$388M+$106M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FTC CWS | +18.01%+14.57% | +21.58%+16.27% | +18.04%+14.04% | +19.95%+15.72% |
| Max drawdown | FTC CWS | -6.34%-7.73% | -14.74%-10.33% | -21.47%-16.20% | -31.23%-23.63% |
| Max drawdown duration | FTC CWS | 65d51d | 45d29d | 128d404d | 836d532d |
FTC | CWS | |
Last sale 3/13/2026 at 1:30 PM | $155.09 | $65.54 |
| Previous close 03/12/2026 | $155.64 | $65.56 |
| 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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FTC | CWS | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
FTC | CWS | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $155.09 | $65.54 |
| 1D performance | -0.35% | -0.03% |
| AuM | $1.17 B | $163.61 M |
| E/R | 0.58% | 0.79% |
FTC | CWS | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | First Trust | AdvisorShares |
| Benchmark | NASDAQ AlphaDEX Large Cap Growth Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 177 | 24 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | May 8, 2007 | September 20, 2016 |
| 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 FTC and CWS ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 12, 2026, FTC is down -2.62% year-to-date (YTD), while CWS has lost -3.15%. That puts FTC better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FTC or CWS?
Year-to-date, the FTC ETF saw -$56M in flows, compared to -$10M for CWS.
Which ETF is more volatile: FTC or CWS?
Over the past year, FTC had a volatility of 21.58%, while CWS experienced 16.27%.
Which ETF is bigger: FTC or CWS?
As of March 12, 2026, FTC holds $1.17 B in assets under management (AUM), while CWS manages $163.61 M.
What sectors do the FTC and CWS ETFs invest in?
FTC leans toward sectors like Industrials, Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary. Meanwhile, CWS focuses on Health Care, Industrials and Information Technology.
What are the top holdings of the FTC ETF and CWS ETF?
FTC top holdings include SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS PLC, KYG3730V1059 and US5128073062. CWS holds in its top three: COMFORT SYSTEMS USA, MUELLER INDUSTRIES and ALLISON TRANSMISSION HOLDINGS.
Which ETF is more diversified: FTC or CWS?
FTC holds 187 securities with 15.89% of its assets in the top 15. CWS has 24 securities and a top 15 weight of 63.99%.
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