First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence… (FAI) Performance
FAI total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +29.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +28.4% total return
- Since first price
- +76.5% since 2024
FAI trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FAI total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −6.1% | −6.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +7.5% | +7.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +19.8% | +19.8% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +29.6% | +29.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +28.4% | +28.4% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| Since inceptionNov 21, 2024 | +76.5% | +76.4% | — | — | — |
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: FAI vs SPY
From Nov 21, 2024: FAI grew to $17,646, SPY to $13,097.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FAI returns by calendar year
1 of 1 full years positive. Best 2025 (+33.4%), worst 2025 (+33.4%). 2026 is year to date.
FAI annual returns table
| Year | FAI | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +29.6% | −18.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +33.4% | −27.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
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.
FAI largest drawdowns
Now 9.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2025 | −27.8% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 9, 2025 | 49 days | 4 months |
| Oct 29, 2025 | −18.8% | Mar 30, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | 5 months | 6 months |
| Jun 2, 2026 | −18.8% | Jul 29, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | 57 days | 4 months |
| Oct 6, 2026 | −10.2% | Oct 22, 2026 | not yet | 16 days | 17 days so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FAI risk statistics
| Statistic | Since 2024 |
|---|---|
| Annualized return | +40.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.13 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.68 |
| Best month | +23.3% |
| Worst month | −9.7% |
| Best 12 months | +75.7% |
| Worst 12 months | +30.2% |
| Positive months | 59% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | — |
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.
FAI rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 12 | +22.6% | +36.9% | +75.7% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2024. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FAI performance overview
First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence… (FAI) returned +28.4% over the past year, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price on Nov 21, 2024 it has returned +76.5%. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −27.8%, from Feb 18, 2025 to Apr 8, 2025, and it took 2 months to get back to the old high. Volatility has been 30.8% a year.
Related: FAI chart, FAI holdings, FAI valuation. See the FAI overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FAI performance FAQ
What is the FAI return over the past year?
FAI returned +28.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 28.4%.
How much would $10,000 invested in FAI be worth?
$10,000 invested in FAI at its first recorded close on November 21, 2024 would be worth about $17,646 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What is the biggest drawdown of FAI?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −27.8% between February 18, 2025 and April 8, 2025. It recovered to the old high on June 9, 2025, 2 months after the bottom.
How volatile is FAI?
Over the past history FAI had an annualized volatility of 30.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.13 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).