FTCS vs PSTR
First Trust Capital Strength ETF vs PeakShares Sector Rotation ETF
Which is better, FTCS or PSTR?
PSTR has been ahead.
FTCS has a lower expense ratio. PSTR led over 1Y and the full window. FTCS is less concentrated, with 22.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.4%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | FTCS | PSTR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52%Best | 1.06% |
| AUM | $7.5B | $67M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.22% | 4.95% |
| Holdings | 102 | 340 |
| YTD Return | +7.80% | +13.20%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.60% | +16.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.98% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.21% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.1% | 7.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.6%Best | -13.7% |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $12,527 | $14,662Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.5%Best | 56.4% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | PeakShares LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 6, 2006 | Apr 30, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 30, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026 (2.5 years).
FTCS vs PSTR growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 2.5 years both funds cover.
FTCS vs PSTR Performance
First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and PeakShares Sector Rotation ETF (PSTR) is an ETF from PeakShares LLC. Over the past year FTCS returned +7.60% while PSTR returned +16.59%. Year to date, FTCS is up 7.80% versus a gain of 13.20% for PSTR.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTCS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.1% compared with 7.8% for PSTR. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -12.6% for FTCS and -13.7% for PSTR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTCS charges 0.52% per year while PSTR charges 1.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $106 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTCS currently yields 1.22% against 4.95% for PSTR.
Holdings Overlap
10.5% of FTCS's money is in holdings PSTR also owns. 2.4% of PSTR's money is in holdings FTCS also owns.
FTCS and PSTR share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FTCS and 101 in PSTR, against full books of 102 and 340.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 87 positions for PSTR that do not appear in our book for FTCS (94.4% of the fund), and 45 for FTCS that do not appear in PSTR (89.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FTCS and PSTR you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FTCS or PSTR?
FTCS has an expense ratio of 0.52% while PSTR charges 1.06%. FTCS is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTCS or PSTR?
Over the past year FTCS returned +7.60% vs +16.59% for PSTR, so PSTR leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTCS or PSTR?
FTCS has been the more volatile fund at 11.1% annualized versus 7.8% for PSTR. Worst drawdown: FTCS -12.6% vs PSTR -13.7%.
Should I hold both FTCS and PSTR?
FTCS and PSTR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between FTCS and PSTR?
10.5% of FTCS's money is in holdings PSTR also owns. 2.4% of PSTR's is in holdings FTCS also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FTCS and 101 in PSTR.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTCS or PSTR?
FTCS yields 1.22% while PSTR yields 4.95%, so PSTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PSTR better than FTCS?
FTCS has a lower expense ratio. PSTR led over 1Y and the full window. FTCS is less concentrated, with 22.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.