First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund (FCA) Performance
FCA total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −12.8% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −13.0% total return
- 5 years
- +0.1% a year
- 10 years
- +5.8% a year
- Since first price
- +2.0% a year since 2011
FCA trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FCA total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −9.5% | −12.5% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −10.6% | −13.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −24.8% | −28.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −12.8% | −16.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −13.0% | −17.5% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +50.0%+14.5%/yr | +31.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +0.7%+0.1%/yr | −21.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +75.1%+5.8%/yr | +14.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +123.0%+5.5%/yr | +27.0% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionApr 21, 2011 | +35.8%+2.0%/yr | −23.8% | — | — | — |
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: FCA vs SPY
From Apr 21, 2011: FCA grew to $13,577, SPY to $74,515.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FCA returns by calendar year
6 of 14 full years positive. Best 2017 (+60.3%), worst 2018 (−18.3%). 2026 is year to date.
FCA annual returns table
| Year | FCA | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −12.8% | −29.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +45.2% | −21.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +14.1% | −20.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −8.3% | −22.7% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −17.6% | −34.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −0.6% | −17.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +11.8% | −29.3% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +18.7% | −21.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −18.3% | −31.5% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +60.3% | −11.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | −5.0% | −18.0% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −6.0% | −41.3% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −0.7% | −12.4% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | −3.8% | −28.6% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +30.3% | −20.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
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.
FCA largest drawdowns
Now 28.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2015 | −45.6% | Feb 11, 2016 | Sep 15, 2017 | 9 months | 2.4 years |
| Apr 21, 2011 | −45.4% | Oct 3, 2011 | Apr 9, 2015 | 5 months | 4.0 years |
| Sep 13, 2021 | −42.5% | Oct 31, 2022 | Aug 13, 2025 | 1.1 years | 3.9 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −40.0% | Mar 18, 2020 | Feb 16, 2021 | 2.1 years | 3.1 years |
| May 13, 2026 | −29.3% | Oct 22, 2026 | not yet | 5 months | 5 months so far |
| Feb 17, 2021 | −13.7% | Mar 24, 2021 | Jun 1, 2021 | 35 days | 3 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FCA risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +16.1% | +1.8% | +6.7% | +2.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 25.2% | 22.6% | 24.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.60 | 0.05 | 0.30 | 0.18 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.12 | 0.08 | 0.47 | 0.27 |
| Best month | +16.6% | +29.3% | +29.3% | +29.3% |
| Worst month | −10.4% | −14.1% | −14.1% | −27.8% |
| Best 12 months | +67.4% | +67.4% | +67.4% | +67.4% |
| Worst 12 months | −6.1% | −34.4% | −34.4% | −36.0% |
| Positive months | 53% | 48% | 56% | 55% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.45 | 0.43 | 0.59 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.26 | 0.27 | 0.40 | — |
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.
FCA rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 175 | −36.0% | +3.7% | +67.4% | 57% |
| 3-year (a year) | 151 | −11.1% | +3.8% | +22.7% | 72% |
| 5-year (a year) | 127 | −6.1% | +4.4% | +15.1% | 76% |
| 10-year (a year) | 67 | +0.1% | +3.9% | +11.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2011. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FCA performance overview
First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund (FCA) returned −13.0% over the past year and +5.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2011 it has returned +2.0% a year, turning $10,000 into about $13,577. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −45.6%, from May 4, 2015 to Feb 11, 2016, and it took 1.6 years to get back to the old high. FCA finished 6 of its 14 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2017 (+60.3%) and the worst 2018 (−18.3%). Volatility has been 24.9% a year.
Related: FCA chart, FCA holdings, FCA dividends. See the FCA overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FCA performance FAQ
What is the FCA return over the past year?
FCA returned −13.0% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 17.5%.
What is the average annual return of FCA?
FCA has returned +0.1% a year over 5 years, +5.8% a year over 10 years, +2.0% a year since April 21, 2011 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FCA be worth?
$10,000 invested in FCA at its first recorded close on April 21, 2011 would be worth about $13,577 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FCA?
The worst calendar year was 2018, with a total return of −18.3%. The best was 2017 at +60.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FCA?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −45.6% between May 4, 2015 and February 11, 2016. It recovered to the old high on September 15, 2017, 1.6 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FCA?
Over the past 3 years FCA had an annualized volatility of 21.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.60 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).