First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI) Performance
FTQI total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +15.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +18.9% total return
- 5 years
- +11.6% a year
- 10 years
- +8.2% a year
- Since first price
- +7.2% a year since 2014
FTQI trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FTQI total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −1.3% | −3.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +2.7% | −0.3% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +9.9% | +3.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +15.2% | +4.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +18.9% | +4.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +68.5%+19.0%/yr | +15.8% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +73.4%+11.6%/yr | −0.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +120.0%+8.2%/yr | +7.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 7, 2014 | +142.5%+7.2%/yr | +8.4% | — | — | — |
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: FTQI vs SPY
From Jan 7, 2014: FTQI grew to $24,251, SPY to $51,251.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FTQI returns by calendar year
8 of 11 full years positive. Best 2023 (+23.6%), worst 2018 (−9.8%). 2026 is year to date.
FTQI annual returns table
| Year | FTQI | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +15.2% | −6.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +13.8% | −19.4% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +18.3% | −8.5% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +23.6% | −5.8% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −8.8% | −18.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +10.5% | −6.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −6.6% | −15.5% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +14.0% | −4.5% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −9.8% | −15.2% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +12.5% | −2.5% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +10.4% | −8.2% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +0.0% | −10.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
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.
FTQI largest drawdowns
Now 2.2% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2025 | −19.4% | Apr 8, 2025 | Aug 7, 2025 | 48 days | 6 months |
| Apr 20, 2022 | −18.6% | Oct 14, 2022 | Jul 12, 2023 | 6 months | 1.2 years |
| Jan 17, 2020 | −15.5% | Mar 23, 2020 | May 18, 2021 | 2 months | 1.3 years |
| Jan 23, 2018 | −15.2% | Dec 24, 2018 | Dec 20, 2019 | 11 months | 1.9 years |
| Dec 8, 2015 | −13.5% | Jan 20, 2016 | Jul 15, 2016 | 43 days | 7 months |
| Sep 22, 2014 | −10.6% | Oct 15, 2014 | May 21, 2015 | 23 days | 8 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FTQI risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +19.2% | +12.3% | +8.4% | +7.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.1% | 11.3% | 10.2% | 9.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.51 | 0.78 | 0.63 | 0.61 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.82 | 1.19 | 0.92 | 0.91 |
| Best month | +7.6% | +7.6% | +7.6% | +7.6% |
| Worst month | −6.4% | −9.3% | −9.3% | −9.3% |
| Best 12 months | +30.3% | +30.3% | +30.3% | +30.3% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.4% | −10.3% | −12.3% | −12.3% |
| Positive months | 72% | 68% | 67% | 65% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.67 | 0.65 | 0.56 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.92 | 0.91 | 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.
FTQI rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 142 | −12.3% | +7.5% | +30.3% | 76% |
| 3-year (a year) | 118 | −2.8% | +6.0% | +19.2% | 92% |
| 5-year (a year) | 94 | −0.6% | +4.9% | +12.3% | 98% |
| 10-year (a year) | 34 | +4.9% | +5.9% | +8.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2014. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FTQI performance overview
First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI) returned +18.9% over the past year and +8.2% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2014 it has returned +7.2% a year, turning $10,000 into about $24,251. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −19.4%, from Feb 19, 2025 to Apr 8, 2025, and it took 4 months to get back to the old high. FTQI finished 8 of its 11 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2023 (+23.6%) and the worst 2018 (−9.8%). Volatility has been 9.9% a year.
Related: FTQI chart, FTQI holdings, FTQI dividends, FTQI valuation. See the FTQI overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FTQI performance FAQ
What is the FTQI return over the past year?
FTQI returned +18.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 4.6%.
What is the average annual return of FTQI?
FTQI has returned +11.6% a year over 5 years, +8.2% a year over 10 years, +7.2% a year since January 7, 2014 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FTQI be worth?
$10,000 invested in FTQI at its first recorded close on January 7, 2014 would be worth about $24,251 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FTQI?
The worst calendar year was 2018, with a total return of −9.8%. The best was 2023 at +23.6%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FTQI?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −19.4% between February 19, 2025 and April 8, 2025. It recovered to the old high on August 7, 2025, 4 months after the bottom.
How volatile is FTQI?
Over the past 3 years FTQI had an annualized volatility of 9.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.51 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).