First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap… (FDTS) Performance
FDTS total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +17.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +23.4% total return
- 5 years
- +11.0% a year
- 10 years
- +10.0% a year
- Since first price
- +8.3% a year since 2012
FDTS trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FDTS total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −4.4% | −4.7% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +4.2% | +3.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +0.7% | −0.8% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +17.7% | +15.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +23.4% | +19.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +104.9%+27.0%/yr | +85.8% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +68.3%+11.0%/yr | +41.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +160.1%+10.0%/yr | +96.0% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 16, 2012 | +223.7%+8.3%/yr | +119.4% | — | — | — |
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: FDTS vs SPY
From Feb 16, 2012: FDTS grew to $32,365, SPY to $72,078.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FDTS returns by calendar year
10 of 13 full years positive. Best 2025 (+51.2%), worst 2018 (−23.7%). 2026 is year to date.
FDTS annual returns table
| Year | FDTS | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +17.7% | −13.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +51.2% | −13.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +2.4% | −10.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +11.0% | −10.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −15.3% | −29.4% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +11.7% | −10.2% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +12.9% | −41.6% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +18.7% | −13.4% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −23.7% | −32.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +36.0% | −2.8% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +2.6% | −13.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +4.9% | −16.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −11.3% | −18.6% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +25.2% | −8.8% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
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.
FDTS largest drawdowns
Now 6.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2018 | −51.3% | Mar 23, 2020 | Feb 12, 2021 | 2.1 years | 3.0 years |
| Sep 3, 2021 | −33.1% | Sep 29, 2022 | May 2, 2025 | 1.1 years | 3.7 years |
| Jul 1, 2014 | −24.7% | Feb 12, 2016 | May 2, 2017 | 1.6 years | 2.8 years |
| Feb 27, 2012 | −20.3% | Jun 4, 2012 | Jan 11, 2013 | 3 months | 10 months |
| May 8, 2026 | −13.1% | Jul 29, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 | 3 months | 5 months |
| Feb 25, 2026 | −12.6% | Mar 30, 2026 | May 6, 2026 | 33 days | 2 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FDTS risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +26.7% | +12.3% | +10.3% | +8.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 19.8% | 19.4% | 18.1% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.27 | 0.51 | 0.49 | 0.47 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.50 | 0.75 | 0.70 | 0.68 |
| Best month | +11.0% | +11.0% | +15.0% | +15.0% |
| Worst month | −9.6% | −15.1% | −17.8% | −17.8% |
| Best 12 months | +80.2% | +80.2% | +80.2% | +80.2% |
| Worst 12 months | +2.4% | −28.1% | −28.1% | −28.1% |
| Positive months | 67% | 62% | 62% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.65 | 0.86 | 0.98 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.49 | 0.68 | 0.78 | — |
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.
FDTS rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 165 | −28.1% | +9.2% | +80.2% | 70% |
| 3-year (a year) | 141 | −8.0% | +5.1% | +27.6% | 84% |
| 5-year (a year) | 117 | −3.1% | +6.3% | +14.5% | 90% |
| 10-year (a year) | 57 | +2.7% | +4.9% | +12.4% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FDTS performance overview
First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap… (FDTS) returned +23.4% over the past year and +10.0% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +8.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $32,365. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −51.3%, from Jan 29, 2018 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 11 months to get back to the old high. FDTS finished 10 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+51.2%) and the worst 2018 (−23.7%). Volatility has been 18.1% a year.
Related: FDTS chart, FDTS holdings, FDTS dividends. See the FDTS overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FDTS performance FAQ
What is the FDTS return over the past year?
FDTS returned +23.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 19.9%.
What is the average annual return of FDTS?
FDTS has returned +11.0% a year over 5 years, +10.0% a year over 10 years, +8.3% a year since February 16, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FDTS be worth?
$10,000 invested in FDTS at its first recorded close on February 16, 2012 would be worth about $32,365 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FDTS?
The worst calendar year was 2018, with a total return of −23.7%. The best was 2025 at +51.2%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FDTS?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −51.3% between January 29, 2018 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on February 12, 2021, 11 months after the bottom.
How volatile is FDTS?
Over the past 3 years FDTS had an annualized volatility of 16.4% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.27 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).