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FTLSvsLGHETF Comparison
HCM Retirement Defender 100 Index ETF
First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) belongs to the Alternatives segment. HCM Retirement Defender 100 Index ETF (LGH) is part of the segment. FTLS's top 3 sector exposures are Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. In contrast, LGH'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 1% for LGH. FTLS is down -0.57% year-to-date (YTD) with +$18M in YTD flows. LGH performs worse with -2.08% YTD performance, and -$3M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FTLS and LGH 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 LGH performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FTLS LGH | -0.94%-3.37% | -0.53%-2.24% | -0.57%-2.08% | +11.35%+24.97% | +51.19%+82.49% | +64.85%+81.33% |
| Flows | FTLS LGH | +$7M- | +$42M-$3M | +$18M-$3M | +$81M+$26M | +$1.14B+$110M | +$1.40B+$244M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FTLS LGH | +7.55%+16.20% | +9.83%+17.92% | +8.70%+16.90% | +9.72%+16.76% |
| Max drawdown | FTLS LGH | -2.60%-5.38% | -6.78%-11.27% | -11.43%-18.42% | -11.43%-29.00% |
| Max drawdown duration | FTLS LGH | 36d56d | 46d48d | 214d206d | 214d806d |
FTLS | LGH | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $70.55 | $60.44 |
| Previous close 03/10/2026 | $70.58 | $60.46 |
| Consolidated volume 03/10/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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FTLS | LGH | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
FTLS | LGH | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $70.55 | $60.44 |
| 1D performance | -0.04% | -0.03% |
| AuM | $2.16 B | $564.51 M |
| E/R | 1.38% | 1% |
FTLS | LGH | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | Howard Capital Management |
| Benchmark | - | HCM Retirement Defender 100 Index |
| N° of holdings | 358 | 393 |
| Asset class | - | Alternative |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 8, 2014 | October 7, 2019 |
| 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 LGH ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 10, 2026, FTLS is down -0.57% year-to-date (YTD), while LGH has lost -2.08%. That puts FTLS better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FTLS or LGH?
Year-to-date, the FTLS ETF saw +$18M in flows, compared to -$3M for LGH.
Which ETF is more volatile: FTLS or LGH?
Over the past year, FTLS had a volatility of 9.83%, while LGH experienced 17.92%.
Which ETF is bigger: FTLS or LGH?
As of March 10, 2026, FTLS holds $2.16 B in assets under management (AUM), while LGH manages $564.51 M.
What sectors do the FTLS and LGH ETFs invest in?
FTLS leans toward sectors like Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. Meanwhile, LGH focuses on Information Technology, Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary.
What are the top holdings of the FTLS ETF and LGH ETF?
FTLS top holdings include APPLE, MICROSOFT-T and ALPHABET INC-CL. LGH holds in its top three: NVIDIA, APPLE and MICROSOFT-T.
Which ETF is more diversified: FTLS or LGH?
FTLS holds 378 securities with 39.52% of its assets in the top 15. LGH has 405 securities and a top 15 weight of 41.6%.
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