First Trust vs Nicholasx: ETF issuers compared

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First Trust vs Nicholasx: ETF issuers compared | ETF Tracker

Bonds & cash: Nicholasx wins, 100% to 52% 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. Small sample: fewer than 3 funds on a side.

BOX SCORE · BONDS & CASH	First Trust	Nicholasx
Funds in the category	25	2
Made money (W–L)	13–12	1–0
Win %	52%	100%
Money made	$337M	$4M
Typical return	+0.2%	+3.1%
Launches · 2026	0	1
Assets	$34.8B	$134M
Fee per $100	$0.55	$0.90

The biggest bonds & cash funds on each side

First Trust

Fund	Name	Assets	1Y
FTSM	First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF	$6.8B	+3.3% ✓
LMBS	First Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF	$6.6B	+1.9% ✓
UCON	First Trust Smith Unconstrained Bond ETF	$3.1B	−0.7% ✕
FIXD	First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF	$2.8B	−1.8% ✕
FTCB	First Trust Core Investment Grade ETF	$2.8B	−1.0% ✕
FTSL	First Trust Senior Loan Fund	$2.5B	+2.8% ✓

Nicholasx

Fund	Name	Assets	1Y
FIAX	Nicholas Fixed Income Alternative ETF	$122M	+3.1% ✓
XCSH	XFUNDS 1-3 Month BOX ETF	$12M	—

Tale of the tape

Bonds & cash: Nicholasx wins, 100% to 52% of funds made money

The biggest bonds & cash funds on each side

FT First Trust

N Nicholasx

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