First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) Performance
FDM total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +15.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +22.9% total return
- 5 years
- +9.7% a year
- 10 years
- +11.4% a year
- Since first price
- +8.7% a year since 2005
FDM trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FDM total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +2.3% | +2.3% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +0.7% | +0.3% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +4.0% | +3.2% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +15.2% | +13.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +22.9% | +21.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +82.4%+22.2%/yr | +74.0% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +59.2%+9.7%/yr | +45.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +195.4%+11.4%/yr | +153.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +487.2%+12.5%/yr | +371.7% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +410.1%+8.5%/yr | +297.5% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionSep 30, 2005 | +476.9%+8.7%/yr | +348.2% | — | — | — |
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: FDM vs SPY
From Sep 30, 2005: FDM grew to $57,693, SPY to $90,654.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FDM returns by calendar year
13 of 20 full years positive. Best 2013 (+44.1%), worst 2008 (−31.9%). 2026 is year to date.
FDM annual returns table
| Year | FDM | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +15.2% | −9.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +18.6% | −22.4% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +13.0% | −11.3% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +12.8% | −18.9% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −11.6% | −22.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +35.1% | −10.2% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −4.0% | −46.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +27.4% | −11.4% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −13.5% | −26.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +8.7% | −8.5% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +35.9% | −10.1% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −0.1% | −11.4% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +3.3% | −12.5% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +44.1% | −6.2% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +15.7% | −13.2% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −8.6% | −33.1% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +25.6% | −21.2% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +20.0% | −37.9% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −31.9% | −46.7% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | −7.4% | −16.4% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +15.9% | −14.5% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
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.
FDM largest drawdowns
Now 4.8% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 2007 | −63.4% | Mar 9, 2009 | Feb 19, 2013 | 1.7 years | 5.6 years |
| Aug 22, 2018 | −47.8% | Mar 18, 2020 | Jan 7, 2021 | 1.6 years | 2.4 years |
| Nov 11, 2021 | −23.7% | May 4, 2023 | Jul 15, 2024 | 1.5 years | 2.7 years |
| Dec 11, 2024 | −23.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jul 2, 2025 | 4 months | 7 months |
| Jun 23, 2015 | −17.8% | Feb 11, 2016 | Jul 12, 2016 | 8 months | 1.1 years |
| May 5, 2006 | −14.5% | Jul 21, 2006 | Nov 15, 2006 | 3 months | 6 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FDM risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +18.8% | +9.8% | +10.9% | +8.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0% | 20.7% | 22.3% | 21.1% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.77 | 0.38 | 0.48 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.46 | 0.63 | 0.74 | — |
| Best month | +13.0% | +13.8% | +17.1% | +19.6% |
| Worst month | −8.7% | −9.8% | −26.9% | −26.9% |
| Best 12 months | +45.9% | +45.9% | +95.0% | +95.0% |
| Worst 12 months | +1.1% | −15.1% | −28.6% | −44.0% |
| Positive months | 56% | 52% | 57% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.94 | 0.97 | 1.09 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.61 | 0.73 | 0.75 | — |
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.
FDM rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 242 | −44.0% | +9.3% | +95.0% | 69% |
| 3-year (a year) | 218 | −20.2% | +10.7% | +26.0% | 83% |
| 5-year (a year) | 194 | −3.9% | +9.4% | +24.9% | 91% |
| 10-year (a year) | 134 | +4.3% | +9.9% | +16.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2005. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FDM performance overview
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) returned +22.9% over the past year and +11.4% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2005 it has returned +8.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $57,693. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −63.4%, from Jul 12, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 4.0 years to get back to the old high. FDM finished 13 of its 20 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+44.1%) and the worst 2008 (−31.9%). Volatility has been 21.1% a year.
Related: FDM chart, FDM holdings, FDM dividends, FDM valuation. See the FDM overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FDM performance FAQ
What is the FDM return over the past year?
FDM returned +22.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 21.0%.
What is the average annual return of FDM?
FDM has returned +9.7% a year over 5 years, +11.4% a year over 10 years, +8.7% a year since September 30, 2005 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FDM be worth?
$10,000 invested in FDM at its first recorded close on September 30, 2005 would be worth about $57,693 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FDM?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −31.9%. The best was 2013 at +44.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FDM?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −63.4% between July 12, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on February 19, 2013, 4.0 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FDM?
Over the past 3 years FDM had an annualized volatility of 19.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.77 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).