Data as of .
FMF vs RSST: which moved less with stocks?
Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, FMF moved less with the S&P 500 than RSST: correlation +0.18 against +0.87.
ETFIQ Diversifier Score: FMF scores higher
How much does it diversify a stock portfolio?
A percentile among the 63 alternatives ETFs with a full year. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All alternatives ETFs ranked by it · How it is computed
One strategy, two funds
FMF and RSST both run a managed futures strategy. Over the same 52 weeks to Sep 18, 2026, FMF’s weekly returns had a correlation of +0.18 with the S&P 500 and RSST’s +0.87. In the 22 weeks the index fell, by 1.24% a week on average, FMF averaged +0.20% and RSST −1.32%. Over the same weeks, FMF finished 11.7 percentage points ahead of cash and RSST finished 32.3 points ahead of cash.
Performance, window by window
| Window | Total return | vs the S&P 500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FMF | RSST | FMF | RSST | |
| 3 months | +4.9% | +5.7% | +2.6 pts | +3.4 pts |
| 6 months | +6.9% | +23.9% | −11.1 pts | +5.9 pts |
| 1 year | +15.7% | +37.1% | −0.9 pts | +20.5 pts |
| 3 years | +21.0% | +76.6% | −57.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
| Since launch | +33.5% | +77.3% | −424.0 pts | −0.3 pts |
| FMF First Trust Managed Futures Strategy Fund Managed futures fund: follows price trends in futures on stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities, and can bet on falls as well as rises | RSST Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Managed Futures ETF Managed futures fund: follows price trends in futures on stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities, and can bet on falls as well as rises | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | First Trust | Return Stacked |
| Strategy | Managed futures | Managed futures |
| Correlation with the S&P 500 | +0.18 | +0.87 |
| Beta to the S&P 500 | +0.12 | +1.30 |
| Down-week capture | −16.2% | 106.4% |
| Average week when the S&P 500 fell | +0.20% | −1.32% |
| The S&P 500 in those weeks | −1.24% | −1.24% |
| Total return, same 52 weeks | +15.3% | +35.9% |
| Against T-bills, percentage points | +11.7 pts | +32.3 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.98% | 0.99% |
| Listed | Aug 2, 2013 | Sep 6, 2023 |
| Net assets | $288m | $415m |
FMF in plain words
FMF is a managed futures fund. ETFIQ measures what every alternatives fund is sold on: whether it moves differently from the stock market. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, its weekly returns had a correlation of +0.18 with the S&P 500’s and a beta of +0.12, so for each 1% the index moved it moved about 0.12% the same way. The S&P 500 fell in 22 of those 52 weeks, by 1.24% on average. In the same weeks FMF rose 0.20% on average, a down-week capture of −16.2%. Over the same 52 weeks FMF returned +15.3% and a Treasury bill fund +3.6%, so it finished 11.7 percentage points ahead of cash.
RSST in plain words
RSST is a managed futures fund. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026, its weekly returns had a correlation of +0.87 with the S&P 500’s and a beta of +1.30, so for each 1% the index moved it moved about 1.30% the same way. In the same weeks RSST fell 1.32% on average, a down-week capture of 106.4%. Over the same 52 weeks RSST returned +35.9% and a Treasury bill fund +3.6%, so it finished 32.3 percentage points ahead of cash.
Questions people ask
- Which moved less with the S&P 500, FMF or RSST?
- Over the 52 weeks to Sep 18, 2026, FMF’s weekly returns had a correlation of +0.18 with the S&P 500 and RSST’s +0.87, so FMF moved less with the index.
- Which did better when the S&P 500 fell, FMF or RSST?
- In the 22 weeks the S&P 500 fell, by 1.24% a week on average, FMF averaged +0.20% and RSST −1.32%, so FMF returned more in those weeks.
- Which earned more than cash, FMF or RSST?
- Over the same weeks, FMF finished 11.7 percentage points ahead of cash and RSST finished 32.3 percentage points ahead of cash. Cash here is BIL, a fund of Treasury bills.
- Which is cheaper, FMF or RSST?
- FMF charges 0.98% a year and RSST charges 0.99%, so FMF is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, FMF against RSST, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/alternatives/fmf-vs-rsst Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.