FTDSvsFTAETF Comparison
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First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS) belongs to the US High Dividend segment. First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund ETF (FTA) is part of the US Large Cap Value segment. FTDS's top 3 sector exposures are Finance, Energy and Industrials. In contrast, FTA's top sector exposures are Finance, Energy and Utilities. FTDS is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.88%, versus 0.58% for FTA. FTDS is up 19.05% year-to-date (YTD) with +$6M in YTD flows. FTA performs better with 21.8% YTD performance, and +$34M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FTDS and FTA 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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FTDS vs FTA performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 11/05/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FTDS FTA | +6.08%+7.55% | +2.33%+2.28% | +19.05%+21.80% | +24.29%+27.76% | +67.23%+69.96% | +42.29%+67.01% |
| Flows | FTDS FTA | -$49K+$20M | -$49K+$20M | +$6M+$34M | +$9M+$30M | +$9M-$195M | +$9M-$155M |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FTDS FTA | +11.63%+12.13% | +12.24%+11.60% | +14.97%+14.22% | +17.79%+16.52% |
| Max drawdown | FTDS FTA | -7.36%-8.19% | -7.36%-8.19% | -17.92%-18.80% | -23.56%-19.87% |
| Max drawdown duration | FTDS FTA | 59d74d | 59d74d | 239d269d | 854d285d |
Trading data
FTDS | FTA | |
Last sale 11/6/2026 at 2:30 PM | $65.52 | $102.49 |
| Previous close 11/04/2026 | $66.21 | $103.57 |
| Consolidated volume 11/04/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of October 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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FTDS | FTA | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 11/6/2026 at 2:30 PM
Live
Closed
FTDS | FTA | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $65.52 | $102.49 |
| 1D performance | -1.04% | -1.04% |
| AuM | $39.73 M | $1.45 B |
| E/R | 0.88% | 0.58% |
Characteristics
FTDS | FTA | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | First Trust |
| Benchmark | The Dividend Strength Index | NASDAQ AlphaDEX Large Cap Value Index |
| N° of holdings | 50 | 185 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | December 5, 2006 | May 8, 2007 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
FTDS
USA
93.29%
Other
6.71%
FTA
USA
92.32%
Other
7.68%
Sectors
FTDS
Finance
28.46%
Energy
21.45%
Industrials
14.91%
Technology
11.26%
Non-Energy Materi.
10.12%
Other
13.8%
FTA
Finance
27.87%
Energy
12.69%
Utilities
10.45%
Healthcare
8.53%
Technology
7.18%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
7.14%
Other
26.14%
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Diversification
FTDS
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
34.36%
FTA
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
16.51%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of September 30, 2026
FTDS
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.
2.76%
Phillips 66
2.60%
HF Sinclair Corp.
2.59%
APA Corp.
2.50%
Garmin Ltd.
2.30%
Allegion Plc
2.29%
Quest Diagnostics, Inc.
2.23%
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
2.19%
Devon Energy Corp.
2.19%
Avery Dennison Corp.
2.18%
QUALCOMM, Inc.
2.16%
Tractor Supply Co.
2.11%
The Toro Co.
2.11%
Elevance Health, Inc.
2.08%
CDW Corp.
2.07%
FTA
Accenture Plc
1.53%
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.
1.41%
Super Micro Computer, Inc.
1.29%
Valero Energy Corp.
1.13%
Phillips 66
1.13%
PayPal Holdings, Inc.
1.11%
ConocoPhillips
1.10%
AT&T, Inc.
1.06%
Global Payments, Inc.
1.00%
The Travelers Cos., Inc.
0.99%
Verizon Communications, Inc.
0.98%
EOG Resources, Inc.
0.98%
The Walt Disney Co.
0.95%
General Motors Co.
0.93%
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
0.92%
Frequently asked questions about FTDS and FTA
How have the FTDS and FTA ETFs performed in 2026?
As of November 5, 2026, FTDS is up 19.05% year-to-date (YTD), while FTA has returned 21.8%. That puts FTA better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FTDS or FTA?
Year-to-date, the FTDS ETF saw +$6M in flows, compared to +$34M for FTA.
Which ETF is more volatile: FTDS or FTA?
Over the past year, FTDS had a volatility of 12.24%, while FTA experienced 11.6%.
Which ETF is bigger: FTDS or FTA?
As of November 5, 2026, FTDS holds $39.73 M in assets under management (AUM), while FTA manages $1.45 B.
What sectors do the FTDS and FTA ETFs invest in?
FTDS leans toward sectors like Finance, Energy and Industrials. Meanwhile, FTA focuses on Finance, Energy and Utilities.
What are the top holdings of the FTDS ETF and FTA ETF?
FTDS top holdings include Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Phillips 66 and HF Sinclair Corp.. FTA holds in its top three: Accenture Plc, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. and Super Micro Computer, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: FTDS or FTA?
FTDS holds 50 securities with 34.36% of its assets in the top 15. FTA has 185 securities and a top 15 weight of 16.51%.
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