First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (FTSM) Performance
FTSM total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +2.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +3.5% total return
- 5 years
- +3.7% a year
- 10 years
- +2.6% a year
- Since first price
- +2.2% a year since 2014
FTSM trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FTSM total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.4% | +0.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +0.8% | −0.2% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +1.7% | −0.4% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +2.7% | −0.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +3.5% | −0.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +14.6%+4.6%/yr | +0.2% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +20.0%+3.7%/yr | −0.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +29.5%+2.6%/yr | −0.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionAug 6, 2014 | +31.2%+2.2%/yr | −0.5% | — | — | — |
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: FTSM vs SPY
From Aug 6, 2014: FTSM grew to $13,118, SPY to $48,511.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FTSM returns by calendar year
10 of 11 full years positive. Best 2024 (+5.2%), worst 2021 (−0.0%). 2026 is year to date.
FTSM annual returns table
| Year | FTSM | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +2.7% | −0.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +4.7% | −0.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +5.2% | −0.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +5.1% | −0.1% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +1.0% | −0.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −0.0% | −0.2% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +1.1% | −4.1% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +2.8% | −0.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | +1.9% | −0.1% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +1.5% | −0.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +1.2% | −0.2% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +0.4% | −1.8% | +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.
FTSM risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +4.6% | +3.6% | +2.6% | +2.2% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2.1% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.52 | -0.04 | 0.37 | 0.18 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.75 | -0.05 | 0.46 | 0.25 |
| Best month | +0.6% | +0.6% | +1.0% | +4.5% |
| Worst month | +0.1% | −0.2% | −1.7% | −4.3% |
| Best 12 months | +5.9% | +5.9% | +5.9% | +5.9% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.5% | −0.2% | −0.5% | −0.9% |
| Positive months | 100% | 88% | 91% | 86% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.35 | 0.31 | 0.40 | — |
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.
FTSM rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 135 | −0.9% | +1.9% | +5.9% | 92% |
| 3-year (a year) | 111 | +0.5% | +1.8% | +5.0% | 100% |
| 5-year (a year) | 87 | +1.2% | +1.7% | +3.7% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 27 | +1.8% | +2.4% | +2.6% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2014. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FTSM performance overview
First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (FTSM) returned +3.5% over the past year and +2.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2014 it has returned +2.2% a year, turning $10,000 into about $13,118. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
Related: FTSM chart, FTSM dividends. See the FTSM overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FTSM performance FAQ
What is the FTSM return over the past year?
FTSM returned +3.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 0.6%.
What is the average annual return of FTSM?
FTSM has returned +3.7% a year over 5 years, +2.6% a year over 10 years, +2.2% a year since August 6, 2014 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FTSM be worth?
$10,000 invested in FTSM at its first recorded close on August 6, 2014 would be worth about $13,118 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FTSM?
The worst calendar year was 2021, with a total return of −0.0%. The best was 2024 at +5.2%.
How volatile is FTSM?
Over the past 3 years FTSM had an annualized volatility of 0.5% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.52 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).