First Trust Water ETF (FIW) Performance
FIW total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +1.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −3.7% total return
- 5 years
- +4.9% a year
- 10 years
- +12.4% a year
- Since first price
- +9.9% a year since 2007
FIW trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FIW total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +4.2% | +4.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +3.6% | +3.4% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +1.7% | +1.4% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +1.9% | +1.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −3.7% | −4.4% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +42.2%+12.5%/yr | +39.2% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +27.2%+4.9%/yr | +22.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +223.2%+12.4%/yr | +200.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +506.4%+12.8%/yr | +442.1% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 11, 2007 | +531.3%+9.9%/yr | +445.5% | — | — | — |
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: FIW vs SPY
From May 11, 2007: FIW grew to $63,135, SPY to $71,926.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FIW returns by calendar year
13 of 18 full years positive. Best 2019 (+37.4%), worst 2008 (−29.4%). 2026 is year to date.
FIW annual returns table
| Year | FIW | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +1.9% | −13.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +7.2% | −15.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +8.4% | −8.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +20.3% | −15.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −15.7% | −27.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +32.0% | −7.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +21.2% | −36.6% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +37.4% | −6.2% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −9.2% | −19.5% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +24.7% | −4.8% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +32.1% | −8.0% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −10.0% | −18.5% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +0.4% | −13.0% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +31.0% | −8.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +26.6% | −12.3% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −5.5% | −25.1% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +19.9% | −18.5% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +19.8% | −30.2% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −29.4% | −52.3% | −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.
FIW largest drawdowns
Now 4.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2008 | −52.8% | Mar 9, 2009 | Apr 1, 2011 | 9 months | 2.8 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −36.6% | Mar 23, 2020 | Oct 8, 2020 | 33 days | 8 months |
| Nov 19, 2021 | −28.5% | Jun 16, 2022 | Dec 14, 2023 | 7 months | 2.1 years |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −25.1% | Oct 3, 2011 | Feb 23, 2012 | 3 months | 8 months |
| Jun 20, 2014 | −22.2% | Sep 28, 2015 | Apr 20, 2016 | 1.3 years | 1.8 years |
| Sep 20, 2018 | −19.5% | Dec 24, 2018 | Feb 25, 2019 | 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.
FIW risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +8.6% | +4.8% | +11.4% | +9.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9% | 18.7% | 17.7% | 18.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.32 | 0.15 | 0.57 | 0.50 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.51 | 0.22 | 0.88 | 0.74 |
| Best month | +12.2% | +12.9% | +12.9% | +15.0% |
| Worst month | −9.3% | −12.4% | −14.0% | −22.3% |
| Best 12 months | +34.6% | +34.6% | +64.8% | +64.8% |
| Worst 12 months | −6.9% | −15.7% | −15.7% | −38.8% |
| Positive months | 58% | 53% | 63% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.85 | 0.99 | 0.98 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.67 | 0.83 | 0.85 | — |
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.
FIW rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 222 | −38.8% | +11.3% | +64.8% | 76% |
| 3-year (a year) | 198 | −7.1% | +12.6% | +30.0% | 95% |
| 5-year (a year) | 174 | +1.5% | +12.9% | +23.0% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 114 | +7.8% | +13.1% | +17.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FIW performance overview
First Trust Water ETF (FIW) returned −3.7% over the past year and +12.4% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +9.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $63,135. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −52.8%, from Jun 5, 2008 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 2.1 years to get back to the old high. FIW finished 13 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+37.4%) and the worst 2008 (−29.4%). Volatility has been 18.8% a year.
Related: FIW chart, FIW holdings, FIW dividends, FIW valuation. See the FIW overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FIW performance FAQ
What is the FIW return over the past year?
FIW returned −3.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 4.4%.
What is the average annual return of FIW?
FIW has returned +4.9% a year over 5 years, +12.4% a year over 10 years, +9.9% a year since May 11, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FIW be worth?
$10,000 invested in FIW at its first recorded close on May 11, 2007 would be worth about $63,135 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FIW?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −29.4%. The best was 2019 at +37.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FIW?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −52.8% between June 5, 2008 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on April 1, 2011, 2.1 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FIW?
Over the past 3 years FIW had an annualized volatility of 15.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.32 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).