A side-by-side comparison of First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX® Fund (FDT) and Invesco International BuyBack Achievers ETF (IPKW) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | FDT | IPKW |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -4.76% | +2.40%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -0.44%✓ | -1.37% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.97%✓ | -1.94% |
| 1-Month Change | -2.12% | -3.35%✓ |
| Current Price | $93.28 | $58.50 |
| AUM | $1.37B✓ | $551M |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.8% | 0.55%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 2.71% | 3.37%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2011-04-18 | 2014-02-27 |
| Holdings Count | 49 | 50 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | Foreign Large Value | Foreign Large Value |
| Beta | 1.12 | 0.68 |
| 52-Week High | $99.93 | $61.91 |
| 52-Week Low | $71.23 | $49.17 |
| 50-Day MA | $94.33 | $60.70 |
| 200-Day MA | $91.77 | $58.30 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | FDT | IPKW |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -4.76% | +2.40%✓ |
| 1 Year | +32.02%✓ | +18.73% |
| 3 Year | +27.69%✓ | +23.82% |
| 5 Year | +12.53%✓ | +11.47% |
| 10 Year | +9.93% | +11.32%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 23.29% | 12.53% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.26 | 1.42 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | 009150 | Samsung Electro-Mechanics | 1.63% |
| 2 | 402340 | SK Square Co Ltd | 1.05% |
| 3 | 1888 | Kingboard Laminates Holdings Ltd | 0.98% |
| 4 | 000660 | SK Hynix Inc | 0.97% |
| 5 | 9984 | Softbank Group Corp. | 0.88% |
| 6 | 011070 | LG Innotek Co Ltd | 0.87% |
| 7 | MOH | Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries S.A | 0.87% |
| 8 | 6448 | Brother Industries Ltd | 0.82% |
| 9 | 0148 | Kingboard Holdings Ltd | 0.80% |
| 10 | 000150 | Doosan Corp. | 0.77% |
| 1 | SHEL | Shell plc | 5.75% |
| 2 | INGA | ING Groep NV | 5.34% |
| 3 | 8058 | Mitsubishi Corp. | 5.33% |
| 4 | STAN | Standard Chartered PLC | 5.17% |
| 5 | 3690 | Meituan | 4.80% |
| 6 | NOVN | Novartis AG | 4.35% |
| 7 | GLE | Societe Generale S.A. | 4.30% |
| 8 | 4063 | Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. | 3.79% |
| 9 | EQNR | Equinor ASA | 3.11% |
| 10 | VOD | Vodafone Group PLC | 2.93% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | FDT | IPKW |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 9.21% | 8.04% |
| Communication Services | 2.73% | 5.09% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 10.76% | 13.31% |
| Consumer Defensive | 2.60% | 4.80% |
| Energy | 9.16% | 11.24% |
| Financial Services | 11.05% | 26.79% |
| Healthcare | 1.34% | 4.88% |
| Industrials | 32.98% | 18.41% |
| Real Estate | 4.53% | 0.29% |
| Technology | 10.73% | 4.93% |
| Utilities | 4.91% | 2.22% |
About FDT
The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise the index. The index is designed to select stocks from the NASDAQ Developed Markets Ex-US Index that may generate positive alpha, or risk-adjusted returns, relative to traditional indices through the use of the AlphaDEX® selection methodology.
About IPKW
The fund generally will invest at least 90% of its total assets in the securities that comprise the underlying index. Strictly in accordance with its guidelines and mandated procedures, Nasdaq, Inc. (Nasdaq or the index provider) compiles, maintains, and calculates the underlying index, which is comprised of the securities of foreign companies that are classified as International BuyBack AchieversTM pursuant to the index provider's proprietary selection methodology. It is non-diversified.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both FDT and IPKW are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, IPKW scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between FDT and IPKW?
FDT (First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX® Fund) and IPKW (Invesco International BuyBack Achievers ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.37B vs $551M), dividend yield (2.71% vs 3.37%), and year-to-date performance (-4.76% vs +2.40%).
Is FDT better than IPKW?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy FDT and IPKW on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both FDT and IPKW should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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