First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) Performance
FAD total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +8.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +8.3% total return
- 5 years
- +7.7% a year
- 10 years
- +13.6% a year
- Since first price
- +10.0% a year since 2007
FAD trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FAD total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −3.5% | −3.5% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −5.1% | −5.2% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −0.1% | −0.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +8.9% | +8.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +8.3% | +8.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +86.7%+23.1%/yr | +84.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +44.6%+7.7%/yr | +41.7% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +259.0%+13.6%/yr | +245.8% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +545.5%+13.2%/yr | +505.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 10, 2007 | +533.7%+10.0%/yr | +489.6% | — | — | — |
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: FAD vs SPY
From May 10, 2007: FAD grew to $63,370, SPY to $72,541.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FAD returns by calendar year
14 of 18 full years positive. Best 2013 (+38.4%), worst 2008 (−38.8%). 2026 is year to date.
FAD annual returns table
| Year | FAD | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +8.9% | −12.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +17.2% | −22.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +23.9% | −9.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +19.1% | −15.1% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −24.1% | −28.2% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +21.2% | −12.4% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +34.9% | −37.2% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +26.7% | −7.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −6.4% | −27.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +25.7% | −4.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +5.9% | −10.7% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +2.2% | −11.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +8.7% | −11.1% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +38.4% | −6.7% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +10.2% | −11.9% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −0.8% | −24.9% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +25.2% | −17.5% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +30.9% | −22.8% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −38.8% | −49.8% | −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.
FAD largest drawdowns
Now 11.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2007 | −54.3% | Mar 6, 2009 | Feb 10, 2011 | 1.4 years | 3.3 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −37.2% | Mar 18, 2020 | Jul 30, 2020 | 28 days | 5 months |
| Nov 16, 2021 | −32.0% | Jun 16, 2022 | Jul 16, 2024 | 7 months | 2.7 years |
| Sep 14, 2018 | −27.0% | Dec 24, 2018 | Dec 20, 2019 | 3 months | 1.3 years |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −24.9% | Oct 3, 2011 | Jan 9, 2013 | 3 months | 1.5 years |
| Dec 4, 2024 | −23.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jul 23, 2025 | 4 months | 8 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FAD risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +22.3% | +9.4% | +13.5% | +10.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 20.1% | 19.1% | 18.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.96 | 0.37 | 0.64 | 0.54 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.67 | 0.56 | 0.99 | 0.79 |
| Best month | +11.9% | +11.9% | +14.2% | +14.2% |
| Worst month | −8.2% | −12.4% | −16.3% | −23.7% |
| Best 12 months | +44.3% | +44.3% | +79.5% | +79.5% |
| Worst 12 months | +4.4% | −24.1% | −24.1% | −44.2% |
| Positive months | 67% | 55% | 63% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.28 | 1.16 | 1.13 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.87 | 0.91 | 0.91 | — |
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.
FAD rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 222 | −44.2% | +13.1% | +79.5% | 77% |
| 3-year (a year) | 198 | −7.6% | +12.4% | +27.5% | 96% |
| 5-year (a year) | 174 | +0.4% | +12.2% | +24.0% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 114 | +7.0% | +12.4% | +16.6% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FAD performance overview
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) returned +8.3% over the past year and +13.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +10.0% a year, turning $10,000 into about $63,370. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −54.3%, from Oct 10, 2007 to Mar 6, 2009, and it took 1.9 years to get back to the old high. FAD finished 14 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+38.4%) and the worst 2008 (−38.8%). Volatility has been 18.6% a year.
Related: FAD chart, FAD holdings, FAD dividends, FAD valuation. See the FAD overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FAD performance FAQ
What is the FAD return over the past year?
FAD returned +8.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 8.2%.
What is the average annual return of FAD?
FAD has returned +7.7% a year over 5 years, +13.6% a year over 10 years, +10.0% a year since May 10, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FAD be worth?
$10,000 invested in FAD at its first recorded close on May 10, 2007 would be worth about $63,370 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FAD?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −38.8%. The best was 2013 at +38.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FAD?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −54.3% between October 10, 2007 and March 6, 2009. It recovered to the old high on February 10, 2011, 1.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FAD?
Over the past 3 years FAD had an annualized volatility of 18.3% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.96 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).