FDTS vs FNDC: Grades, Fees and Holdings Compared

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund

FDTSFNasdaq

Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF

FNDCANYSE Arca

Overlap

9.8%by weight

Expense ratio

FNDC −0.41pt a year

FDTS0.80%FNDC0.39%

Avg volume · 30D

FNDC 73.0×the volume

FDTS1.24KFNDC90.8K

10Y return · a year

FDTS +1.7pt

FDTS+10.1%FNDC+8.4%

FDTS vs FNDC Performance

Nov 9, 2021 – Nov 9, 2026

+65.2%FDTS+44.4%FNDC

Expense ratio: FDTS 0.80%; FNDC 0.39%, better
Fund size: FDTS $13M; FNDC $2.98B
1Y total return: FDTS +24.4%, better; FNDC +16.7%
Yield (12M): FDTS 2.73%; FNDC 3.65%, better
Holdings: FDTS 408; FNDC 1580
Avg volume (30D): FDTS 1.24K sh; FNDC 90.8K sh, better
NAV per share: FDTS $64.65; FNDC $48.21
52W range

ETF.net Grade

Pillar letters and Scores for FDTS, FNDC, with each pillar’s weight
Pillar	FDTS	FNDC
Cost30% weight	F7	A70Higher
Mission25% weight	Not scored	A100
Risk15% weight	D39	B67Higher
Tradability15% weight	F10	A76Higher
Holdings10% weight	C43	A75Higher
Durability5% weight	D27	B64Higher

Rank among International Small-Cap funds

How we build Categories ›

Same Category. FDTS and FNDC are both graded against the same 16 International Small-Cap funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

International Small-Cap⁠

Category · 16 funds

See all 16 ›

FNDC ranks 2nd and FDTS 16th of 16 funds in the International Small-Cap Category.

Rank 1ASCHCSchwab International Small-Cap Equity ETFScore 81
Rank 2AFNDCSchwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETFScore 78
Rank 2AVSSVanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETFScore 78
Rank 15FASCIabrdn International Small Cap Active ETFScore 24
Rank 16FFDTSFirst Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX FundScore 19

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

FDTSFFirst Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund

FNDCASchwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF

In short

FDTS Small caps outside the US, picked by rulebook instead of size: FDTS ranks developed-market small companies on growth and value marks, then holds roughly 400 of them. It has run this way since 2012.

FNDC Schwab's contrarian cut of international small caps: instead of letting share price set position size, FNDC weights roughly 1,600 developed-market small companies by fundamental measures of size, which bakes in a value tilt.

Stated mandate

FDTS The fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX® Developed Markets Ex-US Small CapTM Index.

FNDC The fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the total return of an index measuring small non-U.S. developed-market companies according to fundamental size and weighting.

Why people hold it

FDTS Runs a real screen. Stocks are ranked on growth and value marks under First Trust's AlphaDEX rules, not simply held because they are the biggest names on the board.ftportfolios.com
Roughly 400 holdings across developed-market small caps outside the US, so no single stock carries the portfolio.
Live since 2012, which means this methodology has a real-money record through several market cycles rather than a backtest. Cash goes out quarterly.

FNDC Weights companies by fundamental measures of size rather than share price, so a stock's weight does not climb simply because the market bid it up.
Roughly 1,600 names spread across developed markets outside the US. Broad enough that no single small-cap story drives the fund.
Trading since 2013 and now a multi-billion-dollar fund that stays inside its lane: developed-market small companies, no drift into emerging markets or larger caps.
At 0.39%, one of the better-standing implementations in a peer group where the typical fund charges about the same.

Worth knowing

FDTS The sticker is 0.80% a year against a 0.38% median in its international multifactor group. INTF charges 0.16%, FDEV 0.18%.
A small fund that trades thinly, so bid-ask spreads and fill quality matter more here than with the giants of its peer group.
Fee and thin trading land it in the bottom quartile of its peer group on our overall read, even though the basket itself is built well.

FNDC The fundamental weighting costs extra: plain cap-weighted siblings SCHC and VSS charge 0.06% against 0.39% here.
A value tilt means results can diverge from standard cap-weighted international small-cap indexes for long stretches, in either direction.
Cash comes in lumps: distributions are annual or semiannual, not monthly, and the fund trades moderately rather than like the category's busiest names.

Full FDTS profile⁠

Full FNDC profile⁠

FDTS vs FNDC Holdings

How FDTS and FNDC differ

Overlap by weight

9.8%

Shared holdings make up 42.8% of FDTS and 10.0% of FNDC.

Level by level

Holdings169 in both9.8%
Countryby domicile75.9%
Sector11 Sectors84.9%
Asset classStocks100%

Sector

Sector weights in FDTS and FNDC, widest gap first
Sector	Gap	FDTS	FNDC
Consumer Discretionary	FDTS +6.0 points	19.6%	13.6%
Industrials	FNDC +4.2 points	19.9%	24.1%
Real Estate	FNDC +4.2 points	3.5%	7.7%
Materials	FDTS +3.5 points	12.8%	9.3%
Health Care	FNDC +2.9 points	3.6%	6.5%
Financials	FDTS +2.5 points	14.6%	12.1%
Energy	FDTS +1.7 points	6.1%	4.4%
Consumer Staples	FDTS +1.4 points	7.9%	6.5%
Communication	FNDC +1.4 points	4.2%	5.6%
Utilities	FNDC +1.4 points	1.2%	2.6%
Technology	FNDC +0.9 points	6.7%	7.6%

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in FDTS and FNDC, widest gap first
Country	Gap	FDTS	FNDC
China	FDTS +7.8 points	8.8%	1.0%
South Korea	FDTS +7.6 points	15.2%	7.6%
Japan	FDTS +7.1 points	37.3%	30.2%
Switzerland	FNDC +3.2 points	1.0%	4.2%
France	FNDC +2.4 points	1.5%	3.9%
Sweden	FNDC +2.2 points	1.7%	3.9%
Italy	FNDC +1.9 points	1.0%	2.9%
Singapore	FNDC +1.5 points	0.8%	2.3%
Other countries (23)	FNDC +11.3 points	32.6%	43.9%

Outside the US: FDTS 73% developed, 27% emerging. FNDC 88% developed, 12% emerging.

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

FDTS5.3%
FNDC2.5%

Securities held

FDTS399
FNDC1,564

Asset class

FDTS: Stocks
FNDC: Stocks

Holdings

Only in FDTS230
In both169
Only in FNDC1,395

Only in FDTS

230 securities, 56.6% of FDTS by weight

NewPrinces SpA0.59%
Health and Happiness (H&H) International Holdings Limited0.59%
Saga Plc0.51%
Lakefront Biotherapeutics N.V.0.50%
Charter Hall Retail REIT0.50%
361 Degrees International Limited0.49%
Kameda Seika Co., Ltd.0.48%
Chow Sang Sang Holdings International Limited0.48%
Conduit Holdings Ltd.0.46%
Kyung Dong Navien Co., Ltd.0.46%
IP Group Plc0.45%
Georgia Capital Plc0.45%
Hankook & Company Co., Ltd.0.45%
Bure Equity AB0.44%
Halfords Group Plc0.44%
Yellow Cake Plc0.44%
Mattr Corp.0.43%
Mitsui Matsushima Holdings Co., Ltd.0.43%
Regal Partners Limited0.42%
Amerigo Resources Ltd.0.42%
Sebang Global Battery Co., Ltd.0.42%
Orezone Gold Corporation0.41%
Etablissements Maurel et Prom0.41%
Olam Group Ltd0.41%
Press Kogyo Co., Ltd.0.41%
Shinagawa Refra Co., Ltd.0.41%
Cosmecca Korea Co., Ltd.0.41%
Q Technology (Group) Company Limited0.40%
Generation Capital Ltd.0.40%
HomeCo Daily Needs REIT0.39%
Shaftesbury Capital Plc0.39%
Global New Material International Holdings Limited0.39%
Funding Circle Holdings Plc0.39%
K+s AG0.39%
Xtep International Holdings Limited0.39%
Riken Technos Corporation0.38%
Daiki Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd.0.37%
Shizuoka Gas Co., Ltd.0.37%
Oil Refineries Ltd.0.37%
BWP Property Group Ltd0.37%
Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp.0.37%
Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd.0.37%
TK Corporation0.36%
Rural Funds Group0.36%
2nd Retailing Co., Ltd.0.36%
Sinofert Holdings Limited0.36%
Arena REIT0.36%
DN Automotive Corporation0.36%
Innocean Worldwide Inc.0.35%
Kamei Corporation0.35%

Only in FNDC

1,395 securities, 89.8% of FNDC by weight

Gfl Environmental Subordinate Voti0.37%
Samsung E&A Ltd0.32%
Easyjet0.26%
Nippon Paint Holdings0.25%
Helvetia Baloise Holding N AG0.24%
Oriental Land0.23%
Konami Group0.22%
Qiagen0.21%
Evolution0.21%
Sopra Steria Group SA0.21%
Orion Class B0.21%
Getinge Class B0.21%
Coway Ltd0.21%
Valmet Corp0.21%
Ibiden Ltd0.20%
Northland Power Inc0.20%
Meritz Financial Group Inc0.20%
Howden Joinery Group PLC0.20%
Baytex Energy0.20%
Imi PLC0.19%
Clariant AG0.19%
Talanx AG0.19%
Edenred0.19%
Hulic0.19%
Rb Global0.19%
Andritz AG0.18%
Trend Micro0.18%
Sig Group N AG0.18%
Samsung Life Ltd0.18%
Atkinsrealis Group Inc0.18%
Bankinter0.18%
Gibson Energy0.18%
Intercontinental Hotels Group PLC0.18%
Mirvac Group Stapled Units0.18%
Lionsgate Studios0.18%
Wharf Real Estate Investment Compa0.18%
Asics0.18%
Tryg0.18%
Tate and Lyle PLC0.17%
Nibe Industrier Class B0.17%
Adyen0.17%
Treasury Wine Estates Ltd0.17%
Man Group PLC0.17%
Amundi SA0.17%
Square Enix Hldg0.17%
Spie SA0.17%
Segro Reit PLC0.17%
Enagas SA0.17%
Klepierre Reit SA0.17%
Joyy Adr Inc0.17%

Weight gaps

The 100 widest of 169 Holdings in both funds.

Holding weights in FDTS and FNDC, widest gap first
Holding	Gap	FDTS	FNDC
NTG Nordic Transport Group A/S	FDTS +0.49 points	0.50%	0.01%
Youngone Holdings Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.49 points	0.52%	0.03%
Topsports International Holdings Limited	FDTS +0.48 points	0.49%	<0.01%
NHN Corporation	FDTS +0.45 points	0.49%	0.04%
Happinet Corporation	FDTS +0.45 points	0.52%	0.07%
SBS Holdings, Inc.	FDTS +0.43 points	0.45%	0.02%
Youngone Corporation	FDTS +0.44 points	0.48%	0.04%
Japan Pulp and Paper Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.44 points	0.45%	0.01%
Sapporo Breweries Limited	FDTS +0.43 points	0.54%	0.11%
Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited	FDTS +0.41 points	0.45%	0.04%
Hi-Lex Corporation	FDTS +0.41 points	0.42%	<0.01%
Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.41 points	0.47%	0.06%
SK Discovery Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.40 points	0.43%	0.03%
Stadler Rail AG	FDTS +0.40 points	0.48%	0.08%
SL Corp.	FDTS +0.41 points	0.44%	0.03%
LEG Immobilien SE	FDTS +0.40 points	0.50%	0.10%
Shibuya Corporation	FDTS +0.39 points	0.40%	0.01%
Man Wah Holdings Ltd.	FDTS +0.38 points	0.40%	0.02%
Lotte Rental Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.37 points	0.42%	0.05%
United Energy Group, Ltd.	FDTS +0.36 points	0.39%	0.03%
Dfds A/S	FDTS +0.35 points	0.41%	0.06%
Netmarble Corporation	FDTS +0.35 points	0.37%	0.02%
Formula Systems (1985) Ltd.	FDTS +0.34 points	0.36%	0.02%
Matsuda Sangyo Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.34 points	0.37%	0.03%
RAIZNEXT Corporation	FDTS +0.33 points	0.35%	0.02%
DeNA Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.33 points	0.37%	0.04%
Karoon Energy Ltd	FDTS +0.33 points	0.36%	0.03%
LOTTE Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.33 points	0.36%	0.03%
Kumho Tire Co., Inc.	FDTS +0.33 points	0.36%	0.03%
Npr-Riken Corporation	FDTS +0.33 points	0.34%	0.01%
Television Francaise 1	FDTS +0.33 points	0.38%	0.05%
Binggrae Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.32 points	0.35%	0.03%
Kaga Electronics Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.32 points	0.37%	0.05%
Topre Corporation	FDTS +0.31 points	0.35%	0.04%
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA	FDTS +0.30 points	0.35%	0.05%
F&F Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.30 points	0.34%	0.04%
Hanwha Life Insurance Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.30 points	0.33%	0.03%
Beach Energy Limited	FDTS +0.30 points	0.37%	0.07%
Artience Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.30 points	0.34%	0.04%
J D Wetherspoon PlcJDW.L	FDTS +0.29 points	0.34%	0.05%
Keller Group PlcKLR.L	FDTS +0.28 points	0.40%	0.12%
Hosiden Corporation	FDTS +0.29 points	0.32%	0.03%
Hanwha General Insurance Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.28 points	0.30%	0.02%
Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.28 points	0.34%	0.06%
Nittetsu Mining Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.27 points	0.30%	0.03%
KCC Corporation	FDTS +0.26 points	0.35%	0.09%
Genus PlcGNS.L	FDTS +0.27 points	0.31%	0.04%
Cascades Inc.	FDTS +0.26 points	0.32%	0.06%
Hilton Food Group PlcHFG.L	FDTS +0.26 points	0.28%	0.02%
Want Want China Holdings Ltd	FDTS +0.26 points	0.29%	0.03%
Aecon Group Inc.	FDTS +0.25 points	0.36%	0.11%
ERO Copper Corp.	FDTS +0.25 points	0.29%	0.04%
Draegerwerk AG & Company KGaA (Preference)	FDTS +0.25 points	0.31%	0.06%
Bird Construction, Inc.	FDTS +0.25 points	0.31%	0.06%
Kangwon Land, Inc.	FDTS +0.25 points	0.28%	0.03%
Johnson Electric Holdings Limited	FDTS +0.25 points	0.28%	0.03%
Seria Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.24 points	0.31%	0.07%
Centerra Gold Inc.	FDTS +0.24 points	0.37%	0.13%
Teekay Tankers Ltd. (Class A)TNK	FDTS +0.24 points	0.32%	0.08%
CCI Group Inc	FDTS +0.24 points	0.27%	0.03%
SK Gas Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.24 points	0.27%	0.03%
MIXI Inc.	FDTS +0.23 points	0.29%	0.06%
Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited	FDTS +0.23 points	0.26%	0.03%
Tokai Rika Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.23 points	0.27%	0.04%
BH Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.23 points	0.25%	0.02%
KYB Corporation	FDTS +0.22 points	0.26%	0.04%
JOST Werke AG	FDTS +0.22 points	0.26%	0.04%
The Hyakugo Bank, Ltd.	FDTS +0.22 points	0.26%	0.04%
Iino Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd.	FDTS +0.22 points	0.25%	0.03%
Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.22 points	0.26%	0.04%
Tsubakimoto Chain Co.	FDTS +0.22 points	0.26%	0.04%
Orion Corporation	FDTS +0.22 points	0.30%	0.08%
Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.21 points	0.26%	0.05%
NRW Holdings Limited	FDTS +0.22 points	0.27%	0.05%
Toyo Tire Corporation	FDTS +0.22 points	0.38%	0.16%
UACJ Corp.	FDTS +0.22 points	0.30%	0.08%
Tadano Ltd.	FDTS +0.21 points	0.25%	0.04%
DOF Group ASA	FDTS +0.22 points	0.27%	0.05%
Parex Resources Inc.	FDTS +0.20 points	0.34%	0.14%
Russel Metals Inc.	FDTS +0.21 points	0.39%	0.18%
Macmahon Holdings Limited	FDTS +0.19 points	0.22%	0.03%
Kier Group PlcKIE.L	FDTS +0.20 points	0.28%	0.08%
Granges AB	FDTS +0.19 points	0.25%	0.06%
Chugin Financial Group, Inc.	FDTS +0.19 points	0.24%	0.05%
Sirius Real Estate Ltd.SRE.L	FDTS +0.18 points	0.21%	0.03%
Torex Resources Inc.	FDTS +0.18 points	0.31%	0.13%
Hokuriku Electric Power Company	FDTS +0.18 points	0.24%	0.06%
Towngas Smart Energy Co. Ltd.	FDTS +0.18 points	0.19%	0.01%
Mitchells & Butlers PlcMAB.L	FDTS +0.18 points	0.21%	0.03%
NC Corporation	FDTS +0.17 points	0.27%	0.10%
ADENTRA Inc.	FDTS +0.17 points	0.18%	0.01%
North Pacific Bank, Ltd.	FDTS +0.17 points	0.21%	0.04%
RWS Holdings PlcRWS.L	FDTS +0.17 points	0.19%	0.02%
Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.	FDTS +0.16 points	0.19%	0.03%
The San-In Godo Bank, Ltd.	FDTS +0.16 points	0.20%	0.04%
Juroku Financial Group, Inc.	FDTS +0.16 points	0.20%	0.04%
Jupiter Fund Management PlcJUP.L	FDTS +0.16 points	0.19%	0.03%
Ferrotec Corporation	FDTS +0.15 points	0.21%	0.06%
Misto Holdings Corporation	FDTS +0.15 points	0.19%	0.04%
Ambea AB	FDTS +0.14 points	0.20%	0.06%

All 403 FDTS holdings⁠All 1,582 FNDC holdings⁠

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

FDTS vs FNDC Cost

Overpaying FDTS vs FNDC

$7,448

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

FDTS 0.80%
$15,346
FNDC 0.39%
$7,898

Amount$10,000

Years30 years

Cost over time

FDTS 0.80%
FNDC 0.39%
Overpaying

Year by year

Year	FDTS	FNDC	Overpaying
10	$1,422	$705	$717
20	$5,393	$2,725	$2,668
30	$15,346	$7,898	$7,448

Expense ratio

0.80%FDTS
0.39%FNDC, cheaper

FNDC0.39%FDTS0.80%

0.06%0.83%

Middle half of International Small-Cap funds
Median 0.44%

FNDC 4th cheapest of 16 funds

FDTS 15th cheapest of 16 funds

FDTS vs FNDC Dividends

Last 12 months to Nov 9, 2026

Yield (12M): FDTS 2.73%; FNDC 3.65%, better
Payout (12M): FDTS $1.82; FNDC $1.80
Last payment: FDTS $0.28; FNDC $0.28
Ex-dividend: FDTS Sep 24, 2026; FNDC Jun 24, 2026
Paid on: FDTS Sep 30, 2026; FNDC Jun 29, 2026
Frequency: FDTS Quarterly; FNDC Twice a year

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

FDTSQuarterly · 39 paymentsAll FDTS payments⁠

FNDCTwice a year · 18 paymentsAll FNDC payments⁠

FDTS vs FNDC Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

FDTS
FNDC

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years: FDTS 16.7%FNDC 13.3%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years: FDTS 1.20, betterFNDC 1.14
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years: FDTS −30.6%FNDC −30.5%, better
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years: FDTS 1.02FNDC 1.04; Market = 1

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