First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) Performance
FSZ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +1.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +4.7% total return
- 5 years
- +5.5% a year
- 10 years
- +9.5% a year
- Since first price
- +9.1% a year since 2012
FSZ trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FSZ total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.5% | +0.5% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.1% | −0.1% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +0.2% | −0.8% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +1.5% | −0.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +4.7% | +2.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +51.8%+14.9%/yr | +43.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +30.9%+5.5%/yr | +15.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +146.8%+9.5%/yr | +98.7% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 16, 2012 | +257.9%+9.1%/yr | +161.9% | — | — | — |
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: FSZ vs SPY
From Feb 16, 2012: FSZ grew to $35,789, SPY to $72,078.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FSZ returns by calendar year
9 of 13 full years positive. Best 2017 (+31.3%), worst 2022 (−19.5%). 2026 is year to date.
FSZ annual returns table
| Year | FSZ | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +1.5% | −10.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +30.1% | −12.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −1.9% | −12.2% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +21.3% | −13.8% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −19.5% | −33.3% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +20.5% | −7.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +13.8% | −34.0% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +25.9% | −10.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −15.2% | −24.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +31.3% | −2.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +3.8% | −11.0% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +6.5% | −15.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −6.1% | −18.3% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +30.1% | −7.7% | +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.
FSZ largest drawdowns
Now 5.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2020 | −34.0% | Mar 16, 2020 | Sep 2, 2020 | 54 days | 7 months |
| Dec 29, 2021 | −33.5% | Oct 12, 2022 | Jun 6, 2024 | 9 months | 2.4 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −24.0% | Dec 24, 2018 | Jan 2, 2020 | 11 months | 1.9 years |
| May 2, 2014 | −19.0% | Feb 11, 2016 | Feb 1, 2017 | 1.8 years | 2.8 years |
| Mar 20, 2012 | −17.4% | Jun 5, 2012 | Sep 14, 2012 | 3 months | 6 months |
| Sep 27, 2024 | −13.9% | Apr 7, 2025 | Apr 28, 2025 | 6 months | 7 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FSZ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +12.6% | +6.3% | +9.0% | +8.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.0% | 16.3% | 16.0% | 15.3% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.61 | 0.24 | 0.48 | 0.53 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.00 | 0.35 | 0.71 | 0.79 |
| Best month | +10.9% | +10.9% | +11.4% | +11.4% |
| Worst month | −7.1% | −9.5% | −14.7% | −14.7% |
| Best 12 months | +30.1% | +30.1% | +50.7% | +50.7% |
| Worst 12 months | −1.9% | −25.9% | −25.9% | −25.9% |
| Positive months | 67% | 60% | 62% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.63 | 0.76 | 0.81 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.56 | 0.73 | 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.
FSZ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 165 | −25.9% | +9.9% | +50.7% | 73% |
| 3-year (a year) | 141 | −1.4% | +8.6% | +20.8% | 99% |
| 5-year (a year) | 117 | +0.3% | +8.5% | +15.2% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 57 | +5.3% | +8.1% | +11.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FSZ performance overview
First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (FSZ) returned +4.7% over the past year and +9.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +9.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $35,789. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −34.0%, from Jan 22, 2020 to Mar 16, 2020, and it took 6 months to get back to the old high. FSZ finished 9 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2017 (+31.3%) and the worst 2022 (−19.5%). Volatility has been 15.3% a year.
Related: FSZ chart, FSZ holdings, FSZ dividends. See the FSZ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FSZ performance FAQ
What is the FSZ return over the past year?
FSZ returned +4.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 2.6%.
What is the average annual return of FSZ?
FSZ has returned +5.5% a year over 5 years, +9.5% a year over 10 years, +9.1% a year since February 16, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FSZ be worth?
$10,000 invested in FSZ at its first recorded close on February 16, 2012 would be worth about $35,789 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FSZ?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −19.5%. The best was 2017 at +31.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FSZ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −34.0% between January 22, 2020 and March 16, 2020. It recovered to the old high on September 2, 2020, 6 months after the bottom.
How volatile is FSZ?
Over the past 3 years FSZ had an annualized volatility of 14.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.61 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).