First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS) Performance
FTDS total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +20.1% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +23.3% total return
- 5 years
- +8.1% a year
- 10 years
- +11.7% a year
- Since first price
- +7.8% a year since 2006
FTDS trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FTDS total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +6.1% | +5.6% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +6.8% | +6.3% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +9.3% | +8.4% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +20.1% | +18.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +23.3% | +21.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +74.5%+20.4%/yr | +64.6% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +47.7%+8.1%/yr | +33.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +203.7%+11.7%/yr | +160.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +369.7%+10.9%/yr | +277.4% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionDec 7, 2006 | +345.1%+7.8%/yr | +236.6% | — | — | — |
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: FTDS vs SPY
From Dec 7, 2006: FTDS grew to $44,505, SPY to $77,603.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FTDS returns by calendar year
14 of 19 full years positive. Best 2013 (+37.3%), worst 2008 (−35.5%). 2026 is year to date.
FTDS annual returns table
| Year | FTDS | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +20.1% | −7.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +13.6% | −15.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +11.1% | −9.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +11.8% | −14.6% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −13.5% | −21.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +24.8% | −7.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +14.2% | −42.5% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +24.3% | −8.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −10.3% | −22.6% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +20.1% | −4.6% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +14.7% | −11.9% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −5.0% | −12.9% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +2.6% | −11.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +37.3% | −5.3% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +5.9% | −14.5% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −9.4% | −26.8% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +19.2% | −13.0% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +35.4% | −25.9% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −35.5% | −47.2% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +4.5% | −14.3% | +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.
FTDS largest drawdowns
Now 0.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 2007 | −53.5% | Mar 9, 2009 | Jan 18, 2011 | 1.6 years | 3.5 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −42.5% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 11, 2020 | 33 days | 9 months |
| Feb 17, 2011 | −26.8% | Oct 4, 2011 | Feb 19, 2013 | 8 months | 2.0 years |
| Nov 16, 2021 | −23.3% | Sep 30, 2022 | Mar 21, 2024 | 10 months | 2.3 years |
| Sep 20, 2018 | −22.6% | Dec 27, 2018 | Dec 18, 2019 | 3 months | 1.2 years |
| Sep 3, 2014 | −21.8% | Feb 8, 2016 | Nov 14, 2016 | 1.4 years | 2.2 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FTDS risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +15.9% | +7.6% | +10.6% | +7.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8% | 17.3% | 18.4% | 17.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.83 | 0.30 | 0.52 | 0.42 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.36 | 0.44 | 0.75 | 0.60 |
| Best month | +7.5% | +9.2% | +16.4% | +16.4% |
| Worst month | −7.7% | −10.9% | −21.9% | −21.9% |
| Best 12 months | +30.1% | +30.1% | +86.8% | +86.8% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.3% | −15.8% | −25.2% | −39.8% |
| Positive months | 58% | 53% | 62% | 60% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.57 | 0.82 | 1.01 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.51 | 0.75 | 0.84 | — |
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.
FTDS rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 227 | −39.8% | +8.7% | +86.8% | 68% |
| 3-year (a year) | 203 | −5.4% | +9.0% | +22.1% | 94% |
| 5-year (a year) | 179 | −2.6% | +9.0% | +20.1% | 94% |
| 10-year (a year) | 119 | +4.1% | +8.7% | +13.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2006. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FTDS performance overview
First Trust Dividend Strength ETF (FTDS) returned +23.3% over the past year and +11.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2006 it has returned +7.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $44,505. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −53.5%, from Jul 19, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 1.9 years to get back to the old high. FTDS finished 14 of its 19 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+37.3%) and the worst 2008 (−35.5%). Volatility has been 17.4% a year.
Related: FTDS chart, FTDS holdings, FTDS dividends, FTDS valuation. See the FTDS overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FTDS performance FAQ
What is the FTDS return over the past year?
FTDS returned +23.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 21.2%.
What is the average annual return of FTDS?
FTDS has returned +8.1% a year over 5 years, +11.7% a year over 10 years, +7.8% a year since December 7, 2006 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FTDS be worth?
$10,000 invested in FTDS at its first recorded close on December 7, 2006 would be worth about $44,505 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FTDS?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −35.5%. The best was 2013 at +37.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FTDS?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −53.5% between July 19, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on January 18, 2011, 1.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FTDS?
Over the past 3 years FTDS had an annualized volatility of 13.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.83 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).