First Trust vs FlexShares: ETF issuers compared | ETF Tracker

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First Trust vs FlexShares: ETF issuers compared | ETF Tracker

Bonds & cash: FlexShares wins, 56% to 48% of funds made money

Every dot is one bonds & cash fund, placed at its 1-year return. Right of the line = made money. The ringed dot is the middle fund.

BOX SCORE · BONDS & CASH	First Trust	FlexShares
Funds in the category	25	22
Made money (W–L)	12–13	9–7
Win %	48%	56%
Money made	$215M	$113M
Typical return	−0.3%	+0.6%
Launches · 2026	0	6
Assets	$34.6B	$8.5B
Fee per $100	$0.55	$0.22

The biggest bonds & cash funds on each side

First Trust

Fund	Name	Assets	1Y
FTSM	First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF	$6.8B	+3.5% ✓
LMBS	First Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF	$6.5B	+1.4% ✓
UCON	First Trust Smith Unconstrained Bond ETF	$3.1B	−1.2% ✕
FIXD	First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF	$2.8B	−2.7% ✕
FTCB	First Trust Core Investment Grade ETF	$2.7B	−1.9% ✕
FTSL	First Trust Senior Loan Fund	$2.5B	+3.1% ✓

FlexShares

Fund	Name	Assets	1Y
TDTT	Northern Trust iBoxx 3-Year Target Duration TIPS ETF	$2.5B	+1.6% ✓
RAVI	Northern Trust Ultra-Short Fixed Income ETF	$1.6B	+3.7% ✓
TDTF	Northern Trust iBoxx 5-Year Target Duration TIPS ETF	$1.1B	−0.1% ✕
SKOR	Northern Trust Credit-Scored US Corporate Bond ETF	$1.1B	−0.3% ✕
HYGV	Northern Trust High Yield Value-Scored Bond ETF	$1.0B	+1.3% ✓
TAXI	Northern Trust Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond ETF	$327M	+1.8% ✓