First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible… (FCVT) Performance
FCVT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +5.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +4.5% total return
- 5 years
- +2.0% a year
- 10 years
- +9.5% a year
- Since first price
- +8.9% a year since 2015
FCVT trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FCVT total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −8.8% | −9.0% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −10.4% | −10.7% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −8.1% | −8.6% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +5.3% | +4.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +4.5% | +3.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +58.1%+16.5%/yr | +49.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +10.6%+2.0%/yr | −13.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +146.8%+9.5%/yr | +75.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 4, 2015 | +154.6%+8.9%/yr | +78.3% | — | — | — |
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: FCVT vs SPY
From Nov 4, 2015: FCVT grew to $25,464, SPY to $43,215.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FCVT returns by calendar year
7 of 10 full years positive. Best 2020 (+51.0%), worst 2022 (−20.9%). 2026 is year to date.
FCVT annual returns table
| Year | FCVT | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +5.3% | −17.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +19.7% | −14.9% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +11.9% | −6.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +7.1% | −11.6% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −20.9% | −23.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −1.1% | −13.7% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +51.0% | −29.9% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +22.3% | −4.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −2.3% | −14.2% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +12.7% | −2.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +8.0% | −20.1% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
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.
FCVT largest drawdowns
Now 17.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12, 2021 | −35.3% | Oct 27, 2023 | Oct 3, 2025 | 2.7 years | 4.6 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −29.9% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jun 8, 2020 | 33 days | 4 months |
| Apr 20, 2016 | −20.1% | May 4, 2016 | Oct 5, 2017 | 14 days | 1.5 years |
| Jun 22, 2026 | −17.5% | Oct 23, 2026 | not yet | 4 months | 4 months so far |
| Sep 4, 2018 | −14.2% | Dec 24, 2018 | Mar 21, 2019 | 4 months | 7 months |
| Nov 17, 2015 | −13.0% | Feb 12, 2016 | Apr 20, 2016 | 3 months | 5 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FCVT risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +18.5% | +4.3% | +10.1% | +9.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9% | 15.1% | 14.8% | 14.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.92 | 0.12 | 0.57 | 0.58 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.67 | 0.17 | 0.93 | 0.95 |
| Best month | +12.1% | +12.1% | +13.3% | +13.3% |
| Worst month | −8.6% | −8.6% | −12.5% | −12.5% |
| Best 12 months | +46.7% | +46.7% | +79.0% | +79.0% |
| Worst 12 months | +4.2% | −26.8% | −27.1% | −27.1% |
| Positive months | 69% | 58% | 63% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.99 | 0.77 | 0.79 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.82 | 0.80 | 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.
FCVT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 120 | −27.1% | +11.0% | +79.0% | 81% |
| 3-year (a year) | 96 | −8.0% | +9.8% | +24.0% | 81% |
| 5-year (a year) | 72 | +1.9% | +7.2% | +19.9% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 12 | +9.4% | +10.2% | +11.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2015. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FCVT performance overview
First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible… (FCVT) returned +4.5% over the past year and +9.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2015 it has returned +8.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $25,464. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −35.3%, from Feb 12, 2021 to Oct 27, 2023, and it took 1.9 years to get back to the old high. FCVT finished 7 of its 10 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2020 (+51.0%) and the worst 2022 (−20.9%). Volatility has been 14.5% a year.
Related: FCVT chart, FCVT dividends. See the FCVT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FCVT performance FAQ
What is the FCVT return over the past year?
FCVT returned +4.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 3.2%.
What is the average annual return of FCVT?
FCVT has returned +2.0% a year over 5 years, +9.5% a year over 10 years, +8.9% a year since November 4, 2015 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FCVT be worth?
$10,000 invested in FCVT at its first recorded close on November 4, 2015 would be worth about $25,464 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FCVT?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −20.9%. The best was 2020 at +51.0%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FCVT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −35.3% between February 12, 2021 and October 27, 2023. It recovered to the old high on October 3, 2025, 1.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FCVT?
Over the past 3 years FCVT had an annualized volatility of 14.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.92 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).