FTCS vs TENM

FTCS vs TENM

Which is better, FTCS or TENM?

FTCS has been ahead.

TENM has a lower expense ratio. FTCS led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: TENMHigher Returns: FTCS

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

MetricFTCSTENM
Expense Ratio0.53%0.50%Best
AUM$7.9B$46M
Dividend Yield1.12%0.27%
Holdings10216
YTD Return+14.54%Best+9.80%
1Y Return+15.06%Best+10.66%
3Y Return (annualized)+13.25%-
5Y Return (annualized)+6.76%-
Volatility (annualized)14.6%6.7%Best
Max Drawdown-8.1%-3.6%Best
$10,000 over 1.1 years$11,448Best$11,250
Fund FamilyFirst Trust Portfolios (US)iShares by BlackRock (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJul 6, 2006Oct 21, 2025

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.1 years).

FTCS vs TENM 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 1.1 years both funds cover.

Compare FTCS against instead:FTCS vs SPYFTCS vs QQQFTCS vs VOOFTCS vs VTITENM against:TENM vs VXUS

FTCS vs TENM Performance

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Mar ETF (TENM) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year FTCS returned +15.06% while TENM returned +10.66%. Year to date, FTCS is up 14.54% versus a gain of 9.80% for TENM.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

FTCS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 6.7% for TENM. 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 -8.1% for FTCS and -3.6% for TENM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.22. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

FTCS charges 0.53% per year while TENM charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $53 vs $50 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTCS currently yields 1.12% against 0.27% for TENM.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 50 holdings in FTCS and 2 in TENM, totalling 99.9% and 104.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FTCS and 2 in TENM, against full books of 102 and 16.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of FTCS and TENM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

FTCSTENM

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, FTCS or TENM?

FTCS has an expense ratio of 0.53% while TENM charges 0.50%. TENM is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, FTCS or TENM?

Over the past year FTCS returned +15.06% vs +10.66% for TENM, so FTCS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FTCS annualized +13.08% vs +11.30% for TENM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, FTCS or TENM?

FTCS has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 6.7% for TENM. Worst drawdown: FTCS -8.1% vs TENM -3.6%.

Should I hold both FTCS and TENM?

FTCS and TENM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.22, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, FTCS or TENM?

FTCS yields 1.12% while TENM yields 0.27%, so FTCS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is TENM better than FTCS?

TENM has a lower expense ratio. FTCS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.