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FTLSvsAAUSETF Comparison
First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) belongs to the Alternatives segment. Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) is part of the US Multi-Factor segment. FTLS's top 3 sector exposures are Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. In contrast, AAUS's top sector exposures are Information Technology, Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary. FTLS is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 1.38%, versus 0.15% for AAUS. FTLS is down -1.56% year-to-date (YTD) with +$21M in YTD flows. AAUS performs worse with -3.25% YTD performance, and -$2M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FTLS and AAUS below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
FTLS vs AAUS performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FTLS AAUS | -1.07%-2.48% | -1.14%-2.75% | -1.56%-3.25% | +10.81%n/a | +49.87%n/a | +61.00%n/a |
| Flows | FTLS AAUS | +$10M+$284K | +$35M-$2M | +$21M-$2M | +$84M- | +$1.14B- | +$1.40B- |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FTLS AAUS | +7.71%+11.46% | +9.86%n/a | +8.71%n/a | +9.71%n/a |
| Max drawdown | FTLS AAUS | -3.09%-4.92% | -6.78%n/a | -11.43%n/a | -11.43%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | FTLS AAUS | 38d60d | 46dn/a | 214dn/a | 214dn/a |
FTLS | AAUS | |
Last sale 3/13/2026 at 1:30 PM | $69.51 | $53.29 |
| Previous close 03/12/2026 | $70.06 | $53.67 |
| Consolidated volume 03/12/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
FTLS | AAUS | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $69.51 | $53.29 |
| 1D performance | -0.79% | -0.71% |
| AuM | $2.14 B | $470.92 M |
| E/R | 1.38% | 0.15% |
FTLS | AAUS | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Active |
| Provider | First Trust | Alpha Architect |
| Benchmark | - | - |
| N° of holdings | 358 | 258 |
| Asset class | - | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 8, 2014 | July 23, 2025 |
| 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 FTLS and AAUS ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 12, 2026, FTLS is down -1.56% year-to-date (YTD), while AAUS has lost -3.25%. That puts FTLS better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FTLS or AAUS?
Year-to-date, the FTLS ETF saw +$21M in flows, compared to -$2M for AAUS.
Which ETF is bigger: FTLS or AAUS?
As of March 12, 2026, FTLS holds $2.14 B in assets under management (AUM), while AAUS manages $470.92 M.
What sectors do the FTLS and AAUS ETFs invest in?
FTLS leans toward sectors like Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. Meanwhile, AAUS focuses on Information Technology, Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary.
What are the top holdings of the FTLS ETF and AAUS ETF?
FTLS top holdings include APPLE, MICROSOFT-T and ALPHABET INC-CL. AAUS holds in its top three: NVIDIA, APPLE and MICROSOFT-T.
Which ETF is more diversified: FTLS or AAUS?
FTLS holds 378 securities with 39.52% of its assets in the top 15. AAUS has 266 securities and a top 15 weight of 48.93%.
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