First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (FGM) Performance
FGM total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −8.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −0.3% total return
- 5 years
- +2.8% a year
- 10 years
- +6.8% a year
- Since first price
- +6.4% a year since 2012
FGM trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FGM total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −7.4% | −7.4% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −8.4% | −8.7% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −11.1% | −12.6% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −8.1% | −9.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −0.3% | −2.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +75.5%+20.6%/yr | +65.2% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +14.5%+2.8%/yr | −0.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +93.5%+6.8%/yr | +54.0% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 17, 2012 | +148.0%+6.4%/yr | +83.2% | — | — | — |
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: FGM vs SPY
From Feb 17, 2012: FGM grew to $24,803, SPY to $71,888.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FGM returns by calendar year
10 of 13 full years positive. Best 2025 (+63.6%), worst 2022 (−30.5%). 2026 is year to date.
FGM annual returns table
| Year | FGM | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −8.1% | −18.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +63.6% | −17.6% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +1.4% | −12.5% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +13.3% | −17.9% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −30.5% | −45.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +6.1% | −13.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +17.3% | −42.7% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +20.8% | −13.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −25.1% | −33.1% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +44.3% | −3.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +1.7% | −11.9% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +1.7% | −17.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −13.2% | −23.9% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +28.3% | −11.0% | +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.
FGM largest drawdowns
Now 18.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23, 2018 | −51.6% | Mar 18, 2020 | Jan 5, 2021 | 2.1 years | 3.0 years |
| Jun 7, 2021 | −51.1% | Oct 11, 2022 | May 20, 2025 | 1.3 years | 4.0 years |
| Jun 6, 2014 | −25.8% | Feb 9, 2016 | May 4, 2017 | 1.7 years | 2.9 years |
| Mar 23, 2012 | −18.5% | Jun 5, 2012 | Sep 14, 2012 | 2 months | 6 months |
| Feb 9, 2026 | −18.3% | Oct 23, 2026 | not yet | 8 months | 8 months so far |
| Feb 1, 2013 | −11.0% | Apr 18, 2013 | Aug 8, 2013 | 2 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.
FGM risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +20.2% | +4.3% | +7.1% | +6.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 22.1% | 21.3% | 19.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.85 | 0.14 | 0.32 | 0.35 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.33 | 0.20 | 0.47 | 0.52 |
| Best month | +12.1% | +13.2% | +16.7% | +16.7% |
| Worst month | −13.6% | −16.6% | −19.5% | −19.5% |
| Best 12 months | +63.6% | +63.6% | +74.5% | +74.5% |
| Worst 12 months | +1.4% | −45.6% | −45.6% | −45.6% |
| Positive months | 67% | 58% | 59% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.78 | 0.95 | 1.05 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.52 | 0.67 | 0.76 | — |
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.
FGM rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 165 | −45.6% | +9.5% | +74.5% | 64% |
| 3-year (a year) | 141 | −10.2% | +5.2% | +30.5% | 73% |
| 5-year (a year) | 117 | −7.8% | +4.9% | +12.5% | 82% |
| 10-year (a year) | 57 | +0.5% | +3.7% | +10.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FGM performance overview
First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (FGM) returned −0.3% over the past year and +6.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +6.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $24,803. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −51.6%, from Jan 23, 2018 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 10 months to get back to the old high. FGM finished 10 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+63.6%) and the worst 2022 (−30.5%). Volatility has been 19.8% a year.
Related: FGM chart, FGM holdings, FGM dividends. See the FGM overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FGM performance FAQ
What is the FGM return over the past year?
FGM returned −0.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 2.0%.
What is the average annual return of FGM?
FGM has returned +2.8% a year over 5 years, +6.8% a year over 10 years, +6.4% a year since February 17, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FGM be worth?
$10,000 invested in FGM at its first recorded close on February 17, 2012 would be worth about $24,803 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FGM?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −30.5%. The best was 2025 at +63.6%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FGM?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −51.6% between January 23, 2018 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on January 5, 2021, 10 months after the bottom.
How volatile is FGM?
Over the past 3 years FGM had an annualized volatility of 18.7% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.85 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).