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FTLSvsMGCETF Comparison
First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) belongs to the Alternatives segment. Vanguard Mega Cap ETF (MGC) is part of the US Large Cap segment. FTLS's top 3 sector exposures are Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. In contrast, MGC'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 0.05% for MGC. FTLS is down -0.57% year-to-date (YTD) with +$18M in YTD flows. MGC performs worse with -1.61% YTD performance, and -$387M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FTLS and MGC 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 MGC performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FTLS MGC | -0.94%-2.11% | -0.53%-2.08% | -0.57%-1.61% | +11.35%+23.44% | +51.19%+91.30% | +64.85%+91.40% |
| Flows | FTLS MGC | +$7M-$13M | +$42M+$320M | +$18M-$387M | +$81M+$1.60B | +$1.14B+$2.42B | +$1.40B+$2.63B |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FTLS MGC | +7.55%+11.83% | +9.83%+18.73% | +8.70%+15.21% | +9.72%+17.33% |
| Max drawdown | FTLS MGC | -2.60%-3.98% | -6.78%-13.99% | -11.43%-19.36% | -11.43%-25.79% |
| Max drawdown duration | FTLS MGC | 36d57d | 46d45d | 214d126d | 214d707d |
FTLS | MGC | |
Last sale 3/11/2026 at 1:30 PM | $70.55 | $246.97 |
| Previous close 03/10/2026 | $70.58 | $247.04 |
| 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 | MGC | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
FTLS | MGC | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $70.55 | $246.97 |
| 1D performance | -0.04% | -0.03% |
| AuM | $2.16 B | $9.32 B |
| E/R | 1.38% | 0.05% |
FTLS | MGC | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | Vanguard |
| Benchmark | - | CRSP U.S. Mega Cap Index |
| N° of holdings | 358 | 169 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 8, 2014 | December 17, 2007 |
| 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 MGC ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 10, 2026, FTLS is down -0.57% year-to-date (YTD), while MGC has lost -1.61%. That puts FTLS better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FTLS or MGC?
Year-to-date, the FTLS ETF saw +$18M in flows, compared to -$387M for MGC.
Which ETF is more volatile: FTLS or MGC?
Over the past year, FTLS had a volatility of 9.83%, while MGC experienced 18.73%.
Which ETF is bigger: FTLS or MGC?
As of March 10, 2026, FTLS holds $2.16 B in assets under management (AUM), while MGC manages $9.32 B.
What sectors do the FTLS and MGC ETFs invest in?
FTLS leans toward sectors like Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services. Meanwhile, MGC focuses on Information Technology, Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary.
What are the top holdings of the FTLS ETF and MGC ETF?
FTLS top holdings include APPLE, MICROSOFT-T and ALPHABET INC-CL. MGC holds in its top three: NVIDIA, APPLE and MICROSOFT-T.
Which ETF is more diversified: FTLS or MGC?
FTLS holds 378 securities with 39.52% of its assets in the top 15. MGC has 175 securities and a top 15 weight of 52.77%.
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