First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) Performance
FTCS total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +9.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +8.9% total return
- 5 years
- +6.2% a year
- 10 years
- +11.2% a year
- Since first price
- +9.9% a year since 2006
FTCS trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FTCS total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +5.7% | +5.3% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +5.1% | +4.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +8.4% | +7.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +9.9% | +8.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +8.9% | +7.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +43.6%+12.8%/yr | +38.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +35.0%+6.2%/yr | +26.5% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +189.5%+11.2%/yr | +155.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +465.4%+12.2%/yr | +354.1% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +526.3%+9.6%/yr | +369.8% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 11, 2006 | +573.4%+9.9%/yr | +405.1% | — | — | — |
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: FTCS vs SPY
From Jul 11, 2006: FTCS grew to $67,339, SPY to $86,356.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FTCS returns by calendar year
15 of 19 full years positive. Best 2009 (+39.7%), worst 2008 (−37.3%). 2026 is year to date.
FTCS annual returns table
| Year | FTCS | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +9.9% | −8.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +6.5% | −10.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +11.2% | −6.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +8.5% | −8.1% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −10.2% | −20.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +26.7% | −6.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +13.1% | −31.9% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +26.7% | −5.7% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −4.2% | −18.6% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +26.6% | −2.0% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +8.4% | −7.3% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +1.4% | −11.0% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +15.9% | −6.1% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +37.6% | −5.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +16.0% | −17.3% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −2.8% | −24.5% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +13.7% | −15.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +39.7% | −25.7% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −37.3% | −50.9% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +10.3% | −12.0% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
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.
FTCS largest drawdowns
Now 1.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2007 | −53.6% | Nov 20, 2008 | Feb 11, 2011 | 1.4 years | 3.6 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −31.9% | Mar 23, 2020 | Aug 6, 2020 | 33 days | 6 months |
| May 2, 2011 | −24.5% | Oct 3, 2011 | Mar 13, 2012 | 5 months | 10 months |
| Dec 29, 2021 | −20.9% | Sep 30, 2022 | Feb 15, 2024 | 9 months | 2.1 years |
| Sep 21, 2018 | −18.6% | Dec 24, 2018 | Apr 16, 2019 | 3 months | 7 months |
| Apr 2, 2012 | −17.3% | Jun 4, 2012 | Sep 14, 2012 | 2 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.
FTCS risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +9.8% | +6.0% | +10.2% | +9.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.2% | 14.0% | 14.0% | 15.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.51 | 0.23 | 0.60 | 0.57 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.73 | 0.35 | 0.93 | 0.87 |
| Best month | +6.7% | +11.1% | +11.1% | +14.4% |
| Worst month | −6.4% | −7.0% | −10.9% | −18.0% |
| Best 12 months | +25.1% | +25.1% | +44.1% | +62.0% |
| Worst 12 months | −0.2% | −10.2% | −10.2% | −42.7% |
| Positive months | 69% | 60% | 67% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.54 | 0.70 | 0.80 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.60 | 0.79 | 0.87 | — |
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.
FTCS rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 232 | −42.7% | +11.7% | +62.0% | 82% |
| 3-year (a year) | 208 | −7.5% | +11.3% | +27.4% | 91% |
| 5-year (a year) | 184 | −1.0% | +11.3% | +23.6% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 124 | +7.8% | +11.4% | +17.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2006. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FTCS performance overview
First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) returned +8.9% over the past year and +11.2% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2006 it has returned +9.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $67,339. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −53.6%, from Jul 13, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 2.2 years to get back to the old high. FTCS finished 15 of its 19 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+39.7%) and the worst 2008 (−37.3%). Volatility has been 15.6% a year.
Related: FTCS chart, FTCS holdings, FTCS dividends, FTCS valuation. See the FTCS overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FTCS performance FAQ
What is the FTCS return over the past year?
FTCS returned +8.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 7.6%.
What is the average annual return of FTCS?
FTCS has returned +6.2% a year over 5 years, +11.2% a year over 10 years, +9.9% a year since July 11, 2006 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FTCS be worth?
$10,000 invested in FTCS at its first recorded close on July 11, 2006 would be worth about $67,339 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FTCS?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −37.3%. The best was 2009 at +39.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FTCS?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −53.6% between July 13, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on February 11, 2011, 2.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FTCS?
Over the past 3 years FTCS had an annualized volatility of 11.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.51 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).