FTLS vs OUNZ

Comparison between FIRST TRUST LONG/SHORT EQUITY ETF (FTLS, ETF) and VanEck Merk Gold Trust (OUNZ, ETF).

5-Year PerformanceOUNZ has outperformed FTLS, delivering a return of +19.0% compared to +10.2%

FTLS vs OUNZ - Performance Comparison

Log

Key Characteristics

Financial metrics and valuation ratios

Metric	FTLS(ETF)	OUNZ(ETF)
Net Assets	$2.40B	$2.50B
Expense Ratio	1.38%	0.25%
Max Drawdown	20.54%	26.31%
Sharpe Ratio	1.27	0.81
5Y Beta	0.51	0.22
5Y Dividends CAGR	43.25%	N/A

Net Assets

FTLS

$2.40B

Winner

OUNZ

$2.50B

Expense Ratio

FTLS

1.38%

Winner

OUNZ

0.25%

Max Drawdown

Winner

FTLS

20.54%

OUNZ

26.31%

Sharpe Ratio

Winner

FTLS

1.27

OUNZ

0.81

5Y Beta

FTLS

0.51

Winner

OUNZ

0.22

5Y Dividends CAGR

FTLS

43.25%

OUNZ

N/A

FTLS vs OUNZ - Historical Returns

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Period	FTLS	OUNZ
1 month	+2.07%	+2.02%
3 months	+2.48%	-9.55%
6 months	+6.14%	-14.35%
1 year	+14.10%	+25.67%
5 years(CAGR)	+10.17%	+18.98%
10 years(CAGR)	+9.51%	+11.91%
Max(CAGR)	+9.04%	+9.86%

Winner

FTLS

+2.07%

OUNZ

+2.02%

Winner

FTLS

+2.48%

OUNZ

-9.55%

Winner

FTLS

+6.14%

OUNZ

-14.35%

FTLS

+14.10%

Winner

OUNZ

+25.67%

5Y(CAGR)

FTLS

+10.17%

Winner

OUNZ

+18.98%

10Y(CAGR)

FTLS

+9.51%

Winner

OUNZ

+11.91%

Max(CAGR)

FTLS

+9.04%

Winner

OUNZ

+9.86%

FTLS vs OUNZ - Annual Returns (2014 - 2026)

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Year	FTLS	OUNZ
2026	+6.88%	-2.04%
2025	+9.09%	+61.59%
2024	+19.09%	+27.01%
2023	+18.24%	+11.98%
2022	-5.23%	+0.97%
2021	+20.30%	-6.17%
2020	+2.13%	+23.96%
2019	+16.32%	+17.90%
2018	-5.41%	-3.19%
2017	+13.88%	+12.03%
2016	+7.57%	+6.65%
2015	+5.38%	-11.15%
2014	+5.71%	-8.73%

FTLS vs OUNZ Drawdown Comparison

The maximum drawdown for FTLS was -20.54%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 135 trading sessions.

The maximum drawdown for OUNZ was -26.31%, occurring on Jul 16, 2026. This drawdown has not yet recovered.

The current FTLS drawdown is -0.22%. The current OUNZ drawdown is -21.31%.

Rank	FTLS	OUNZ
#1	-20.54% Feb 19, 2020 - Aug 31, 2020	-26.31% Jan 29, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026
#2	-13.38% Jan 26, 2018 - Sep 17, 2019	-21.77% Jul 11, 2014 - Jul 5, 2016
#3	-11.69% Jan 23, 2025 - Aug 27, 2025	-21.76% Aug 6, 2020 - Mar 1, 2024
#4	-10.35% Dec 29, 2021 - Jun 2, 2023	-17.58% Jul 8, 2016 - Jun 20, 2019
#5	-9.26% Dec 1, 2015 - Jul 26, 2016	-12.51% Mar 9, 2020 - Apr 9, 2020
#6	-8.16% May 27, 2015 - Nov 24, 2015	-10.10% Oct 20, 2025 - Dec 22, 2025
#7	-7.45% Sep 2, 2020 - Jan 7, 2021	-8.10% Oct 30, 2024 - Jan 30, 2025
#8	-4.76% Feb 11, 2021 - Apr 15, 2021	-7.12% Apr 21, 2025 - Jun 13, 2025
#9	-4.44% Jul 10, 2024 - Aug 27, 2024	-6.57% Sep 4, 2019 - Jan 6, 2020
#10	-4.22% Mar 28, 2024 - Jun 6, 2024	-5.75% May 20, 2024 - Jul 16, 2024
#11	-3.95% Sep 11, 2023 - Nov 10, 2023	-4.93% Dec 26, 2025 - Jan 12, 2026
#12	-3.91% Sep 18, 2014 - Oct 28, 2014	-4.91% Feb 24, 2020 - Mar 5, 2020
#13	-3.86% Aug 18, 2016 - Nov 9, 2016	-4.84% Mar 31, 2025 - Apr 10, 2025
#14	-3.79% Feb 2, 2026 - Apr 9, 2026	-4.84% Jun 13, 2025 - Aug 29, 2025
#15	-3.46% Nov 11, 2025 - Dec 24, 2025	-4.38% Jul 16, 2024 - Aug 12, 2024