Verified factor-similar pair

FIW vs PHO

These two ETFs pass the same FF6 US similarity lane: US-listed equity ETFs, same USD model basis, at least one material non-market factor, and 100% overlap in statistically significant material factor exposure.

SMB
Similarity score
90
Near substitute

Score blends exposure-level distance, factor-vector shape, market-beta closeness, and a small backtested relative-Sharpe term.

FIW

First Trust Water ETF
SMB
Adj. R2
0.833
Rel. Sharpe
0.928
Mkt beta
0.97
AUM
US$1.8B
MER
0.51%
Valuation
89

PHO

Invesco Water Resources ETF
SMB
Adj. R2
0.804
Rel. Sharpe
0.613
Mkt beta
1.01
AUM
US$2.1B
MER
0.59%
Valuation
90

Factor Exposure Match

Blue bars compare raw factor beta magnitude. Green bars compare absolute t-stat strength. Dim bars indicate the t-stat is below 1.96.

SMB
FIW
+0.49
|t|
+7.4
PHO
+0.42
|t|
+6.1
diff +0.07
HML
FIW
-0.06
|t|
-1.0
PHO
-0.13
|t|
-1.9
diff +0.06
RMW
FIW
+0.19
|t|
+2.3
PHO
+0.17
|t|
+1.9
diff +0.02
CMA
FIW
+0.08
|t|
+0.8
PHO
+0.15
|t|
+1.5
diff -0.07
UMD
FIW
-0.01
|t|
-0.2
PHO
-0.00
|t|
-0.1
diff -0.00

Why This Pair Matches

Exposure level
90
Exposure shape
99
Mkt beta diff
0.04
Rel. Sharpe diff
0.315

This comparison focuses on measured factor exposure, not a qualitative review of each fund's portfolio-construction process. Backtested relative Sharpe is included as a secondary signal, while we continue refining a comparison metric that separates factor payoff from alpha. See methodology.

FIW fund page PHO fund page US ETF Leaders US Universe
Important context

VerifiedBeta publishes educational ETF research, not personalized investment advice, portfolio management, or security recommendations. Funds that screen well here can still be unsuitable for your objectives, taxes, liquidity needs, or constraints. Review fund documents, methodology assumptions, and your own circumstances before acting. See the full disclaimer.