First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (FAB) Performance
FAB total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +19.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +23.0% total return
- 5 years
- +9.3% a year
- 10 years
- +10.8% a year
- Since first price
- +8.4% a year since 2007
FAB trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FAB total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +4.4% | +3.9% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +2.4% | +1.9% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +7.3% | +6.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +19.5% | +18.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +23.0% | +20.8% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +67.7%+18.8%/yr | +58.6% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +56.0%+9.3%/yr | +42.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +178.6%+10.8%/yr | +133.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +389.1%+11.2%/yr | +280.6% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 11, 2007 | +378.6%+8.4%/yr | +250.9% | — | — | — |
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: FAB vs SPY
From May 11, 2007: FAB grew to $47,856, SPY to $71,926.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FAB returns by calendar year
14 of 18 full years positive. Best 2009 (+48.4%), worst 2008 (−36.1%). 2026 is year to date.
FAB annual returns table
| Year | FAB | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +19.5% | −8.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +9.9% | −19.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +7.8% | −9.5% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +15.8% | −16.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −6.8% | −20.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +30.8% | −7.8% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +2.4% | −47.1% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +23.7% | −13.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −14.6% | −21.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +14.6% | −4.7% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +25.8% | −11.1% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −12.5% | −18.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +7.8% | −10.9% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +37.3% | −5.3% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +16.8% | −14.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +0.4% | −24.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +22.4% | −16.3% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +48.4% | −36.5% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −36.1% | −51.5% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
FAB largest drawdowns
Now 2.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 2007 | −63.3% | Mar 6, 2009 | Jan 12, 2011 | 1.7 years | 3.6 years |
| Jan 16, 2020 | −47.1% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 24, 2020 | 2 months | 10 months |
| Apr 15, 2015 | −26.5% | Jan 20, 2016 | Nov 14, 2016 | 9 months | 1.6 years |
| May 10, 2011 | −24.2% | Oct 3, 2011 | Feb 3, 2012 | 5 months | 9 months |
| Nov 25, 2024 | −22.9% | Apr 8, 2025 | Nov 28, 2025 | 4 months | 1.0 years |
| Sep 21, 2018 | −21.3% | Dec 24, 2018 | Dec 16, 2019 | 3 months | 1.2 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FAB risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +14.4% | +9.1% | +10.0% | +8.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 18.4% | 20.8% | 20.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.67 | 0.37 | 0.45 | 0.41 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.13 | 0.59 | 0.68 | 0.62 |
| Best month | +9.2% | +11.9% | +20.9% | +25.4% |
| Worst month | −7.5% | −10.7% | −26.2% | −26.2% |
| Best 12 months | +33.6% | +33.6% | +97.1% | +97.1% |
| Worst 12 months | −1.9% | −11.7% | −32.4% | −47.0% |
| Positive months | 58% | 53% | 61% | 60% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.75 | 0.89 | 1.12 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.60 | 0.76 | 0.82 | — |
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.
FAB rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 222 | −47.0% | +9.2% | +97.1% | 72% |
| 3-year (a year) | 198 | −10.2% | +10.1% | +37.9% | 93% |
| 5-year (a year) | 174 | −4.0% | +10.0% | +30.6% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 114 | +4.9% | +9.7% | +17.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FAB performance overview
First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (FAB) returned +23.0% over the past year and +10.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +8.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $47,856. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −63.3%, from Jun 7, 2007 to Mar 6, 2009, and it took 1.9 years to get back to the old high. FAB finished 14 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+48.4%) and the worst 2008 (−36.1%). Volatility has been 20.6% a year.
Related: FAB chart, FAB holdings, FAB dividends, FAB valuation. See the FAB overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FAB performance FAQ
What is the FAB return over the past year?
FAB returned +23.0% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 20.8%.
What is the average annual return of FAB?
FAB has returned +9.3% a year over 5 years, +10.8% a year over 10 years, +8.4% a year since May 11, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FAB be worth?
$10,000 invested in FAB at its first recorded close on May 11, 2007 would be worth about $47,856 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FAB?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −36.1%. The best was 2009 at +48.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FAB?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −63.3% between June 7, 2007 and March 6, 2009. It recovered to the old high on January 12, 2011, 1.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FAB?
Over the past 3 years FAB had an annualized volatility of 15.4% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.67 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).