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FTLSvsIWLETF Comparison
First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) belongs to the Alternatives segment. iShares Russell Top 200 ETF (IWL) is part of the US Large Cap segment. FTLS's top 3 sector exposures are Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. In contrast, IWL'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 IWL. FTLS is down -1.56% year-to-date (YTD) with +$21M in YTD flows. IWL performs worse with -3.82% YTD performance, and +$19M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FTLS and IWL 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 IWL performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FTLS IWL | -1.07%-2.58% | -1.14%-3.15% | -1.56%-3.82% | +10.81%+21.93% | +49.87%+86.48% | +61.00%+84.58% |
| Flows | FTLS IWL | +$10M-$17M | +$35M+$44M | +$21M+$19M | +$84M+$130M | +$1.14B+$464M | +$1.40B+$415M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FTLS IWL | +7.71%+12.39% | +9.86%+18.67% | +8.71%+15.27% | +9.71%+17.22% |
| Max drawdown | FTLS IWL | -3.09%-5.35% | -6.78%-13.89% | -11.43%-19.22% | -11.43%-25.69% |
| Max drawdown duration | FTLS IWL | 38d60d | 46d45d | 214d126d | 214d707d |
FTLS | IWL | |
Last sale 3/13/2026 at 1:30 PM | $69.51 | $164.03 |
| Previous close 03/12/2026 | $70.06 | $165.19 |
| 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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FTLS | IWL | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
FTLS | IWL | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $69.51 | $164.03 |
| 1D performance | -0.79% | -0.70% |
| AuM | $2.14 B | $1.97 B |
| E/R | 1.38% | 0.15% |
FTLS | IWL | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | iShares |
| Benchmark | - | Russell Top 200 Index |
| N° of holdings | 358 | 191 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 8, 2014 | September 22, 2009 |
| 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 IWL ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 12, 2026, FTLS is down -1.56% year-to-date (YTD), while IWL has lost -3.82%. That puts FTLS better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FTLS or IWL?
Year-to-date, the FTLS ETF saw +$21M in flows, compared to +$19M for IWL.
Which ETF is more volatile: FTLS or IWL?
Over the past year, FTLS had a volatility of 9.86%, while IWL experienced 18.67%.
Which ETF is bigger: FTLS or IWL?
As of March 12, 2026, FTLS holds $2.14 B in assets under management (AUM), while IWL manages $1.97 B.
What sectors do the FTLS and IWL ETFs invest in?
FTLS leans toward sectors like Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. Meanwhile, IWL focuses on Information Technology, Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary.
What are the top holdings of the FTLS ETF and IWL ETF?
FTLS top holdings include APPLE, MICROSOFT-T and ALPHABET INC-CL. IWL holds in its top three: NVIDIA, APPLE and MICROSOFT-T.
Which ETF is more diversified: FTLS or IWL?
FTLS holds 378 securities with 39.52% of its assets in the top 15. IWL has 201 securities and a top 15 weight of 50.83%.
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