First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend… (FGD) Performance
FGD total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +15.4% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +22.6% total return
- 5 years
- +11.8% a year
- 10 years
- +9.9% a year
- Since first price
- +6.1% a year since 2007
FGD trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FGD total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.2% | −2.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +1.4% | −0.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +5.9% | +2.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +15.4% | +11.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +22.6% | +15.5% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +99.9%+26.0%/yr | +67.8% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +74.8%+11.8%/yr | +29.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +156.5%+9.9%/yr | +45.4% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +229.2%+8.3%/yr | +46.6% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 27, 2007 | +204.7%+6.1%/yr | +12.0% | — | — | — |
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: FGD vs SPY
From Nov 27, 2007: FGD grew to $30,469, SPY to $75,424.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FGD returns by calendar year
11 of 18 full years positive. Best 2009 (+60.1%), worst 2008 (−50.2%). 2026 is year to date.
FGD annual returns table
| Year | FGD | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +15.4% | −9.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +44.4% | −11.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +5.7% | −8.9% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +8.2% | −13.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −7.2% | −28.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +20.8% | −9.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −5.2% | −44.8% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +20.6% | −10.8% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −12.5% | −20.9% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +17.9% | −2.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +11.9% | −10.2% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −10.2% | −18.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −1.8% | −13.8% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +17.6% | −10.8% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +16.0% | −12.9% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −2.6% | −19.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +12.5% | −16.7% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +60.1% | −35.1% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −50.2% | −60.0% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
FGD largest drawdowns
Now 4.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29, 2007 | −68.0% | Mar 9, 2009 | Apr 25, 2013 | 1.3 years | 5.4 years |
| Feb 12, 2020 | −44.8% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jan 12, 2021 | 40 days | 11 months |
| Feb 9, 2022 | −28.7% | Oct 12, 2022 | May 14, 2024 | 8 months | 2.3 years |
| Jul 3, 2014 | −28.1% | Jan 20, 2016 | Jul 19, 2017 | 1.5 years | 3.0 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −20.9% | Dec 24, 2018 | Feb 12, 2020 | 11 months | 2.0 years |
| Mar 19, 2025 | −11.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | Apr 24, 2025 | 20 days | 36 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FGD risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +24.2% | +12.3% | +9.5% | +5.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8% | 16.2% | 17.6% | 19.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.43 | 0.58 | 0.48 | 0.31 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.56 | 0.89 | 0.68 | 0.45 |
| Best month | +7.8% | +13.9% | +18.8% | +27.1% |
| Worst month | −5.6% | −10.8% | −25.1% | −25.1% |
| Best 12 months | +53.5% | +53.5% | +66.0% | +93.9% |
| Worst 12 months | +5.7% | −21.2% | −26.0% | −59.7% |
| Positive months | 75% | 67% | 66% | 59% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.47 | 0.65 | 0.84 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.46 | 0.63 | 0.73 | — |
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.
FGD rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 216 | −59.7% | +9.1% | +93.9% | 66% |
| 3-year (a year) | 192 | −8.2% | +6.5% | +34.9% | 88% |
| 5-year (a year) | 168 | −3.8% | +5.8% | +25.6% | 95% |
| 10-year (a year) | 108 | +1.9% | +5.1% | +13.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FGD performance overview
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend… (FGD) returned +22.6% over the past year and +9.9% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +6.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $30,469. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −68.0%, from Nov 29, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 4.1 years to get back to the old high. FGD finished 11 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+60.1%) and the worst 2008 (−50.2%). Volatility has been 19.9% a year.
Related: FGD chart, FGD holdings, FGD dividends. See the FGD overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FGD performance FAQ
What is the FGD return over the past year?
FGD returned +22.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 15.5%.
What is the average annual return of FGD?
FGD has returned +11.8% a year over 5 years, +9.9% a year over 10 years, +6.1% a year since November 27, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FGD be worth?
$10,000 invested in FGD at its first recorded close on November 27, 2007 would be worth about $30,469 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FGD?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −50.2%. The best was 2009 at +60.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FGD?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −68.0% between November 29, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on April 25, 2013, 4.1 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FGD?
Over the past 3 years FGD had an annualized volatility of 12.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.43 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).