ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (EQL) Performance
EQL total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +12.4% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +13.1% total return
- 5 years
- +10.0% a year
- 10 years
- +12.7% a year
- Since first price
- +13.5% a year since 2009
EQL trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | EQL total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +1.7% | +1.7% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +2.5% | +2.1% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +4.6% | +4.0% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +12.4% | +11.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +13.1% | +11.5% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +66.6%+18.6%/yr | +58.4% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +61.1%+10.0%/yr | +46.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +229.3%+12.7%/yr | +166.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +505.0%+12.8%/yr | +344.6% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 7, 2009 | +794.1%+13.5%/yr | +530.4% | — | — | — |
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: EQL vs SPY
From Jul 7, 2009: EQL grew to $89,406, SPY to $117,107.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
EQL returns by calendar year
13 of 16 full years positive. Best 2013 (+30.2%), worst 2022 (−10.7%). 2026 is year to date.
EQL annual returns table
| Year | EQL | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +12.4% | −6.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +13.1% | −14.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +16.4% | −6.2% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +16.9% | −10.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −10.7% | −19.2% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +29.3% | −4.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +10.9% | −35.6% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +27.9% | −5.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −6.1% | −17.4% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +18.4% | −2.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +12.8% | −7.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −1.5% | −12.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +13.1% | −6.9% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +30.2% | −5.6% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +14.4% | −9.0% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +2.6% | −18.7% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +14.8% | −15.3% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
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.
EQL largest drawdowns
Now 1.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2020 | −35.6% | Mar 23, 2020 | Sep 2, 2020 | 33 days | 6 months |
| Mar 29, 2022 | −19.2% | Oct 12, 2022 | Jul 25, 2023 | 6 months | 1.3 years |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −18.7% | Oct 3, 2011 | Feb 7, 2012 | 3 months | 7 months |
| Sep 21, 2018 | −17.4% | Dec 24, 2018 | Apr 3, 2019 | 3 months | 6 months |
| Apr 23, 2010 | −15.3% | Jul 2, 2010 | Nov 4, 2010 | 2 months | 6 months |
| Nov 29, 2024 | −15.1% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | 4 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.
EQL risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +16.4% | +10.6% | +12.1% | +12.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.8% | 14.4% | 14.6% | 13.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.07 | 0.53 | 0.70 | 0.85 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.83 | 0.82 | 1.08 | 1.36 |
| Best month | +7.9% | +8.5% | +13.0% | +13.0% |
| Worst month | −5.5% | −9.1% | −13.5% | −13.5% |
| Best 12 months | +31.2% | +31.2% | +55.5% | +55.5% |
| Worst 12 months | +7.0% | −10.7% | −12.2% | −12.2% |
| Positive months | 67% | 60% | 67% | 67% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.71 | 0.84 | 0.90 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.83 | 0.92 | 0.95 | — |
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.
EQL rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 196 | −12.2% | +13.2% | +55.5% | 90% |
| 3-year (a year) | 172 | +1.6% | +11.9% | +22.4% | 100% |
| 5-year (a year) | 148 | +4.1% | +12.3% | +17.7% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 88 | +8.9% | +11.8% | +14.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
EQL performance overview
ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF (EQL) returned +13.1% over the past year and +12.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +13.5% a year, turning $10,000 into about $89,406. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −35.6%, from Feb 19, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 5 months to get back to the old high. EQL finished 13 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+30.2%) and the worst 2022 (−10.7%). Volatility has been 13.5% a year.
Related: EQL chart, EQL holdings, EQL dividends, EQL valuation. See the EQL overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
EQL performance FAQ
What is the EQL return over the past year?
EQL returned +13.1% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 11.5%.
What is the average annual return of EQL?
EQL has returned +10.0% a year over 5 years, +12.7% a year over 10 years, +13.5% a year since July 7, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in EQL be worth?
$10,000 invested in EQL at its first recorded close on July 7, 2009 would be worth about $89,406 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for EQL?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −10.7%. The best was 2013 at +30.2%.
What is the biggest drawdown of EQL?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −35.6% between February 19, 2020 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on September 2, 2020, 5 months after the bottom.
How volatile is EQL?
Over the past 3 years EQL had an annualized volatility of 10.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.07 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).