A side-by-side comparison of First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX® Fund (FDT) and JPMorgan International Value ETF (JIVE) 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 | JIVE |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -4.76% | +0.74%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -0.44%✓ | -0.95% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.97%✓ | -2.30% |
| 1-Month Change | -2.12%✓ | -3.68% |
| Current Price | $93.28 | $94.32 |
| AUM | $1.37B | $4.08B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.8% | 0.55%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 2.71%✓ | 1.86% |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | — |
| Inception Date | 2011-04-18 | 2023-09-13 |
| Holdings Count | 49 | 50 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | — |
| Category | Foreign Large Value | Foreign Large Value |
| Beta | 1.12 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $99.93 | $100.21 |
| 52-Week Low | $71.23 | $71.61 |
| 50-Day MA | $94.33 | $97.13 |
| 200-Day MA | $91.77 | $90.62 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | FDT | JIVE |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -4.76% | +0.74%✓ |
| 1 Year | +32.02% | +34.54%✓ |
| 3 Year | +27.69% | +28.88%✓ |
| 5 Year | +12.53% | — |
| 10 Year | +9.93% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 23.29% | 13.78% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.26 | — |
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 | SSNLF | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 3.86% |
| 2 | 2330 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | 2.54% |
| 3 | SHEL | Shell plc | 1.59% |
| 4 | NESN | Nestle S.A. | 1.45% |
| 5 | 8640 | Toronto Dominion Bank | 1.35% |
| 6 | ROP | Roche Holding AG | 1.32% |
| 7 | HSBA | HSBC Holdings PLC | 1.32% |
| 8 | NOVN | Novartis AG | 1.10% |
| 9 | BBVA | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA | 1.04% |
| 10 | RY | Royal Bank of Canada | 1.04% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | FDT | JIVE |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 9.21% | 4.92% |
| Communication Services | 2.73% | 4.20% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 10.76% | 6.31% |
| Consumer Defensive | 2.60% | 4.93% |
| Energy | 9.16% | 10.57% |
| Financial Services | 11.05% | 38.84% |
| Healthcare | 1.34% | 5.31% |
| Industrials | 32.98% | 10.31% |
| Real Estate | 4.53% | 1.92% |
| Technology | 10.73% | 10.88% |
| Utilities | 4.91% | 1.81% |
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 JIVE
The fund invests primarily in equity securities and equity-related instruments of foreign companies, including foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies. The fund may invest in issuers located in both developed foreign and emerging market countries. Developed foreign countries include Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, most of the countries of Western Europe and Hong Kong; emerging market countries include most of the other countries in the world.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both FDT and JIVE 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, JIVE 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 JIVE?
FDT (First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX® Fund) and JIVE (JPMorgan International Value ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.37B vs $4.08B), dividend yield (2.71% vs 1.86%), and year-to-date performance (-4.76% vs +0.74%).
Is FDT better than JIVE?
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 JIVE on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both FDT and JIVE should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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