Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) Performance
AMLP total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +19.8% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +22.6% total return
- 5 years
- +16.8% a year
- 10 years
- +6.8% a year
- Since first price
- +5.8% a year since 2010
AMLP trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | AMLP total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −0.8% | −0.8% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −1.4% | −3.3% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +5.8% | +1.9% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +19.8% | +13.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +22.6% | +13.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +58.9%+16.7%/yr | +25.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +117.0%+16.8%/yr | +45.5% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +93.2%+6.8%/yr | −16.1% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +119.0%+5.4%/yr | −33.0% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionAug 25, 2010 | +146.9%+5.8%/yr | −29.1% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: AMLP vs SPY
From Aug 25, 2010: AMLP grew to $24,689, SPY to $95,511.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
AMLP returns by calendar year
11 of 15 full years positive. Best 2021 (+39.1%), worst 2020 (−32.3%). 2026 is year to date.
AMLP annual returns table
| Year | AMLP | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +19.8% | −8.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +5.8% | −14.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +22.8% | −8.3% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +21.4% | −10.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +25.5% | −20.9% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +39.1% | −17.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −32.3% | −67.5% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +6.0% | −20.8% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −12.7% | −24.4% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | −7.9% | −20.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +14.9% | −32.1% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −25.7% | −38.9% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +4.8% | −13.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +18.5% | −5.4% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +1.9% | −9.7% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +10.1% | −12.9% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
AMLP largest drawdowns
Now 5.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2014 | −77.2% | Mar 18, 2020 | Dec 1, 2023 | 5.6 years | 9.3 years |
| Apr 2, 2025 | −14.3% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jan 27, 2026 | 6 days | 10 months |
| Apr 28, 2011 | −12.9% | Aug 8, 2011 | Nov 30, 2011 | 3 months | 7 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
AMLP risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +16.0% | +18.3% | +6.5% | +5.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7% | 18.4% | 30.0% | 25.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.79 | 0.81 | 0.29 | 0.30 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.42 | 1.39 | 0.44 | 0.44 |
| Best month | +12.6% | +14.6% | +49.1% | +49.1% |
| Worst month | −7.1% | −14.5% | −48.4% | −48.4% |
| Best 12 months | +26.2% | +36.4% | +99.0% | +99.0% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.6% | +0.6% | −62.5% | −62.5% |
| Positive months | 61% | 62% | 57% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.39 | 0.54 | 1.18 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.33 | 0.46 | 0.60 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
AMLP rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 183 | −62.5% | +9.0% | +99.0% | 71% |
| 3-year (a year) | 159 | −29.9% | +2.4% | +43.4% | 54% |
| 5-year (a year) | 135 | −20.7% | +1.3% | +36.1% | 55% |
| 10-year (a year) | 75 | −5.8% | +0.9% | +9.0% | 67% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2010. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
AMLP performance overview
Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) returned +22.6% over the past year and +6.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2010 it has returned +5.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $24,689. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −77.2%, from Aug 29, 2014 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 3.7 years to get back to the old high. AMLP finished 11 of its 15 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2021 (+39.1%) and the worst 2020 (−32.3%). Volatility has been 25.2% a year.
Related: AMLP chart, AMLP holdings, AMLP dividends, AMLP valuation. See the AMLP overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
AMLP performance FAQ
What is the AMLP return over the past year?
AMLP returned +22.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 13.2%.
What is the average annual return of AMLP?
AMLP has returned +16.8% a year over 5 years, +6.8% a year over 10 years, +5.8% a year since August 25, 2010 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in AMLP be worth?
$10,000 invested in AMLP at its first recorded close on August 25, 2010 would be worth about $24,689 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for AMLP?
The worst calendar year was 2020, with a total return of −32.3%. The best was 2021 at +39.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of AMLP?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −77.2% between August 29, 2014 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on December 1, 2023, 3.7 years after the bottom.
How volatile is AMLP?
Over the past 3 years AMLP had an annualized volatility of 14.7% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.79 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).