A side-by-side comparison of First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX® Fund (FTA) and iShares Select Dividend ETF (DVY) 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 | FTA | DVY |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +1.15%✓ | +0.18% |
| 1-Day Change | +0.62%✓ | +0.42% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.78%✓ | -1.06% |
| 1-Month Change | -6.30% | -5.43%✓ |
| Current Price | $95.89 | $152.71 |
| AUM | $1.34B | $22.56B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.6% | 0.38%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 1.59% | 3.24%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2007-05-08 | 2003-11-03 |
| Holdings Count | 50 | 98 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | Mid-Cap Value | Mid-Cap Value |
| Beta | 0.60 | 0.53 |
| 52-Week High | $104.38 | $165.69 |
| 52-Week Low | $79.60 | $132.44 |
| 50-Day MA | $101.39 | $161.73 |
| 200-Day MA | $95.10 | $154.57 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | FTA | DVY |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +1.15%✓ | +0.18% |
| 1 Year | +20.34%✓ | +14.50% |
| 3 Year | +16.18% | +16.23%✓ |
| 5 Year | +10.47%✓ | +9.82% |
| 10 Year | +10.80%✓ | +9.88% |
| 1Y Volatility | 8.27% | 9.06% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.98 | 0.96 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | CTSH | Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp Class A | 1.31% |
| 2 | ACN | Accenture plc | 1.28% |
| 3 | SMCI | Super Micro Computer Inc | 1.25% |
| 4 | PYPL | PayPal Holdings Inc | 1.12% |
| 5 | COP | ConocoPhillips | 1.08% |
| 6 | PSX | Phillips 66 | 1.07% |
| 7 | VLO | Valero Energy Corporation | 1.07% |
| 8 | T | AT&T Inc. | 1.06% |
| 9 | GPN | Global Payments Inc | 1.03% |
| 10 | TRV | The Travelers Companies Inc | 0.99% |
| 1 | PFE | Pfizer Inc | 2.44% |
| 2 | HPQ | HP Inc | 2.42% |
| 3 | MO | Altria Group | 2.22% |
| 4 | PRU | Prudential Financial, Inc. | 2.21% |
| 5 | TROW | T. Rowe Price Group Inc | 2.10% |
| 6 | VZ | Verizon Communications Inc | 1.81% |
| 7 | TGT | Target Corporation | 1.78% |
| 8 | OKE | ONEOK Inc | 1.77% |
| 9 | KMB | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | 1.56% |
| 10 | GIS | General Mills Inc | 1.50% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | FTA | DVY |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 3.14% | 1.98% |
| Communication Services | 5.75% | 5.63% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.95% | 10.31% |
| Consumer Defensive | 7.16% | 14.00% |
| Energy | 14.25% | 10.37% |
| Financial Services | 20.07% | 25.70% |
| Healthcare | 8.84% | 5.65% |
| Industrials | 7.46% | 1.91% |
| Real Estate | 4.42% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 9.67% | 3.29% |
| Utilities | 10.29% | 21.15% |
About FTA
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 value stocks from the NASDAQ US 500 Large Cap Index TM (the base index) that may generate positive alpha, or risk-adjusted returns, relative to traditional indices through the use of the AlphaDEX® selection methodology.
About DVY
The fund seeks to track the investment results of the underlying index, which measures the performance of the U.S.'s leading stocks by dividend yield. Dividend yield is calculated using a stock's indicated annual dividend (not including any special dividends) divided by its price. The underlying index is composed of 100 of the highest dividend-yielding securities (excluding REITs) in the Dow Jones U.S. Index, a broad-based index representative of the total market for U.S. equity securities.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both FTA and DVY 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, DVY 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 FTA and DVY?
FTA (First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX® Fund) and DVY (iShares Select Dividend ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.34B vs $22.56B), dividend yield (1.59% vs 3.24%), and year-to-date performance (+1.15% vs +0.18%).
Is FTA better than DVY?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, FTA has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy FTA and DVY on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both FTA and DVY should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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