First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (FPE) Performance
FPE total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −2.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −2.1% total return
- 5 years
- +2.0% a year
- 10 years
- +4.2% a year
- Since first price
- +4.4% a year since 2013
FPE trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FPE total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −1.9% | −2.9% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −3.4% | −4.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −3.8% | −6.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −2.7% | −7.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −2.1% | −8.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +30.4%+9.2%/yr | +8.5% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +10.6%+2.0%/yr | −17.5% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +51.5%+4.2%/yr | −13.4% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 12, 2013 | +81.4%+4.4%/yr | −15.8% | — | — | — |
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: FPE vs SPY
From Feb 12, 2013: FPE grew to $18,140, SPY to $63,106.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FPE returns by calendar year
10 of 12 full years positive. Best 2019 (+18.1%), worst 2022 (−12.8%). 2026 is year to date.
FPE annual returns table
| Year | FPE | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −2.7% | −4.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +9.6% | −4.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +11.2% | −2.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +6.8% | −14.9% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −12.8% | −16.3% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +5.2% | −1.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +6.0% | −33.3% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +18.1% | −1.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −5.0% | −6.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +11.3% | −1.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +6.4% | −5.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +6.1% | −2.0% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +11.7% | −1.6% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
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.
FPE largest drawdowns
Now 4.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 14, 2020 | −33.3% | Mar 18, 2020 | Nov 9, 2020 | 33 days | 9 months |
| Sep 22, 2021 | −19.6% | Mar 20, 2023 | Aug 13, 2024 | 1.5 years | 2.9 years |
| May 9, 2013 | −13.3% | Aug 20, 2013 | Nov 26, 2014 | 3 months | 1.5 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FPE risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +8.5% | +2.1% | +4.3% | +4.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.9% | 8.9% | 9.4% | 8.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.68 | -0.13 | 0.26 | 0.37 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.14 | -0.17 | 0.34 | 0.49 |
| Best month | +5.7% | +7.9% | +9.9% | +9.9% |
| Worst month | −2.9% | −8.8% | −15.9% | −15.9% |
| Best 12 months | +21.9% | +21.9% | +29.2% | +29.2% |
| Worst 12 months | −0.4% | −15.2% | −15.2% | −15.2% |
| Positive months | 67% | 57% | 66% | 66% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.36 | 0.37 | 0.42 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.75 | 0.65 | 0.69 | — |
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.
FPE rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 153 | −15.2% | +6.4% | +29.2% | 82% |
| 3-year (a year) | 129 | −1.7% | +6.0% | +10.9% | 89% |
| 5-year (a year) | 105 | +1.3% | +4.6% | +7.5% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 45 | +3.0% | +4.9% | +5.7% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2013. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FPE performance overview
First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (FPE) returned −2.1% over the past year and +4.2% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2013 it has returned +4.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $18,140. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −33.3%, from Feb 14, 2020 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 8 months to get back to the old high. FPE finished 10 of its 12 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+18.1%) and the worst 2022 (−12.8%). Volatility has been 8.4% a year.
Related: FPE chart, FPE dividends. See the FPE overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FPE performance FAQ
What is the FPE return over the past year?
FPE returned −2.1% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 8.2%.
What is the average annual return of FPE?
FPE has returned +2.0% a year over 5 years, +4.2% a year over 10 years, +4.4% a year since February 12, 2013 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FPE be worth?
$10,000 invested in FPE at its first recorded close on February 12, 2013 would be worth about $18,140 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FPE?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −12.8%. The best was 2019 at +18.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FPE?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −33.3% between February 14, 2020 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on November 9, 2020, 8 months after the bottom.
How volatile is FPE?
Over the past 3 years FPE had an annualized volatility of 5.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.68 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).