FXZvsVAWETF Comparison
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First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund ETF (FXZ) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) belong to the same industry segment: US Materials. FXZ's top 3 sector exposures are Materials and Industrials. In contrast, VAW's top sector exposures are Materials FXZ is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.64%, versus 0.09% for VAW. FXZ is up 23.61% year-to-date (YTD) with +$121M in YTD flows. VAW performs worse with 10.34% YTD performance, and -$85M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FXZ and VAW 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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FXZ vs VAW performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 05/01/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FXZ VAW | +3.08%+0.44% | +10.17%-3.08% | +23.61%+10.34% | +53.16%+24.01% | +34.40%+39.66% | +47.52%+33.01% |
| Flows | FXZ VAW | +$20M+$48M | +$70M+$34M | +$121M-$85M | +$80M+$25M | -$1.30B-$470M | +$110M-$808M |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FXZ VAW | +25.03%+20.73% | +21.45%+17.21% | +21.82%+17.54% | +24.34%+19.68% |
| Max drawdown | FXZ VAW | -12.79%-13.41% | -12.79%-13.41% | -33.94%-23.20% | -33.94%-25.44% |
| Max drawdown duration | FXZ VAW | 36d64d | 36d64d | 639d430d | 639d679d |
Trading data
FXZ | VAW | |
Last sale 5/5/2026 at 1:30 PM | $80.69 | $231.88 |
| Previous close 05/04/2026 | $79.23 | $228.16 |
| Consolidated volume 05/04/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of April 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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FXZ | VAW | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 5/5/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
FXZ | VAW | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $80.69 | $231.88 |
| 1D performance | +1.84% | +1.63% |
| AuM | $386.96 M | $3.02 B |
| E/R | 0.64% | 0.09% |
Characteristics
FXZ | VAW | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | Vanguard |
| Benchmark | StrataQuant Materials Index | MSCI US IMI Materials 25/50 Index |
| N° of holdings | 36 | 98 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | May 8, 2007 | January 26, 2004 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
FXZ
USA
91.25%
Other
8.75%
VAW
USA
72.51%
Ireland
21.11%
Other
6.38%
Sectors
FXZ
Materials
78.33%
Industrials
14.16%
Other
7.51%
VAW
Materials
77.69%
Other
22.31%
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Diversification
FXZ
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
63.02%
VAW
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
64.3%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of March 31, 2026
FXZ
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS
6.61%
ALCOA CORP
5.40%
GB00BRXH2664
4.92%
EASTMAN CHEMICAL
4.74%
NEWMONT CORP
4.55%
OLIN
4.49%
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
4.39%
STEEL DYNAMICS
4.31%
RBC BEARINGS
3.93%
TIMKEN
3.88%
RELIANCE STEEL
3.40%
NUCOR
3.40%
MUELLER INDUSTRIES
3.13%
NEWMARKET
2.97%
ELEMENT SOLUTIONS INC
2.90%
VAW
IE000S9YS762
15.14%
NEWMONT CORP
7.73%
FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC
5.52%
SHERWIN WILLIAMS
4.94%
CRH PLC
4.61%
ECOLAB
4.44%
AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS
4.05%
CORTEVA INC
3.70%
NUCOR
2.53%
VULCAN MATERIALS
2.35%
MARTIN MARIETTA
2.32%
DOW INC
1.94%
CH1430134226
1.82%
STEEL DYNAMICS
1.63%
PPG INDUSTRIES
1.57%
Frequently asked questions about FXZ and VAW
How have the FXZ and VAW ETFs performed in 2026?
As of May 1, 2026, FXZ is up 23.61% year-to-date (YTD), while VAW has returned 10.34%. That puts FXZ better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FXZ or VAW?
Year-to-date, the FXZ ETF saw +$121M in flows, compared to -$85M for VAW.
Which ETF is more volatile: FXZ or VAW?
Over the past year, FXZ had a volatility of 21.45%, while VAW experienced 17.21%.
Which ETF is bigger: FXZ or VAW?
As of May 1, 2026, FXZ holds $386.96 M in assets under management (AUM), while VAW manages $3.02 B.
What sectors do the FXZ and VAW ETFs invest in?
FXZ leans toward sectors like Materials and Industrials. Meanwhile, VAW focuses on Materials.
What are the top holdings of the FXZ ETF and VAW ETF?
FXZ top holdings include CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, ALCOA CORP and GB00BRXH2664. VAW holds in its top three: IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC.
Which ETF is more diversified: FXZ or VAW?
FXZ holds 37 securities with 63.02% of its assets in the top 15. VAW has 112 securities and a top 15 weight of 64.3%.
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Latest news about FXZ & VAW
Tony's ETF Buyer's Guide: Sector ETFs (Vanguard versus State Street SPDR)
December 1, 2023
VAW
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