Data as of .
FMTL vs ISTM: which is really different?
FMTL and ISTM hold 0% of their weight in the same names.
ETFIQ Off-Index Score: ISTM scores higher
How much of it is not the index it is sold as an alternative to?
A percentile among the 379 thematic ETFs with a holdings filing. It is a position in a set, not a rating, and neither end of it is a recommendation. All thematic ETFs ranked by it · How it is computed
0% of the two portfolios are the same securities at the same weight.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, FMTL and ISTM hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in FMTL | Only in ISTM |
|---|---|
| BHP Group Limited 8.97% | BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCY 17.46% |
| Freeport-McMoRan Inc. 8.55% | CASH COLLATERAL USD BZUFT 9.45% |
| Glencore Plc 7.88% | USD CASH 3.30% |
| Anglo American Plc 6.70% | TREASURY BILL 2.92% |
| Sumitomo Corporation 5.23% | TREASURY BILL 2.91% |
| Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. 4.79% | CRH AMERICA FINANCE INC 144A 1.51% |
| Cameco Corporation 4.72% | TREASURY BILL 1.46% |
| Newmont Corporation 4.63% | TREASURY BILL 1.45% |
Weight overlap is an ETFIQ calculation: for every security both funds hold, the smaller of the two weights, summed. Above 50%, holding both is close to holding one of them twice. Holdings dated Sep 18, 2026.
Performance, window by window
| Window | Total return | vs the S&P 500 | vs the Nasdaq-100 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FMTL | ISTM | FMTL | ISTM | FMTL | ISTM | |
| 3 months | +0.7% | +2.2% | −1.5 pts | −0.1 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.7 pts |
| 6 months | +20.3% | +11.0% | +2.3 pts | −7.0 pts | −3.9 pts | −13.2 pts |
| 1 year | not published | +43.4% | not published | +26.9 pts | not published | +21.6 pts |
| Since launch | +50.9% | +86.4% | +37.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +34.7 pts | −18.4 pts |
| FMTL First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF Holds 52 stocks in rare earth and critical materials, 13% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | ISTM iShares Strategic Metals ETF Holds 98 stocks in rare earth and critical materials, 0% of its weight in S&P 500 companies | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | First Trust | iShares |
| Theme | Rare earth and critical materials | Rare earth and critical materials |
| In the S&P 500 | 13.2% | 0.0% |
| Active share vs the S&P 500 | 99.7% | 100.0% |
| In the Nasdaq-100 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Holdings | 52 | 98 |
| Top ten, share of the fund | 60.6% | 46.0% |
| Expense ratio | 0.65% | 0.47% |
| Fee for the differing part | 0.65% | 0.47% |
| Total return, 1 year | +50.9% (since launch on Nov 5, 2025) | +43.4% |
| vs the S&P 500 | +37.3 pts | +26.9 pts |
| vs the Nasdaq-100 | +34.7 pts | +21.6 pts |
| Below its high | −9.5% | −13.6% |
| Net assets | $30m | $34m |
FMTL in plain words
By weight, 13% of FMTL's portfolio is stocks that are also in the S&P 500; its active share against the S&P 500 is 100%. The top ten holdings are 61% of the fund across 52 positions, as published by its issuer for Sep 18, 2026. Since it launched on Nov 5, 2025 the fund returned +50.9% with distributions reinvested against +13.6% for the S&P 500, so a holder was ahead by 37.2 pts. It sits 9.5% below its all-time high of Aug 25, 2026.
ISTM in plain words
By weight, 0% of ISTM's portfolio is stocks that are also in the S&P 500; its active share against the S&P 500 is 100%. The top ten holdings are 46% of the fund across 98 positions, as published by its issuer for Sep 18, 2026. Over the year to Sep 18, 2026 the fund returned +43.4% with distributions reinvested against +16.6% for the S&P 500, so a holder was ahead by 26.9 pts. It sits 13.6% below its all-time high of Jan 29, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Do FMTL and ISTM hold the same stocks?
- By their latest filings, 0% of their books are the same securities at the same weight, which is mostly different names. Overlap is the sum of the smaller weight of every security they share.
- Which is more different from the S&P 500, FMTL or ISTM?
- FMTL has 13% of its weight in S&P 500 names and ISTM has 0%, so ISTM differs more from the index.
- Which is cheaper, FMTL or ISTM?
- FMTL charges 0.65% a year and ISTM charges 0.47%, so ISTM 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, FMTL against ISTM, data as of Sep 18, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/themes/fmtl-vs-istm Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.