First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (FXL) Performance
FXL total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +30.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +28.1% total return
- 5 years
- +10.9% a year
- 10 years
- +20.2% a year
- Since first price
- +13.4% a year since 2007
FXL trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FXL total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −1.2% | −1.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +10.5% | +10.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +20.7% | +20.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +30.6% | +30.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +28.1% | +28.1% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +105.5%+27.1%/yr | +104.7% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +68.1%+10.9%/yr | +66.5% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +528.1%+20.2%/yr | +513.0% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +1,035.5%+17.6%/yr | +980.0% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 10, 2007 | +1,052.2%+13.4%/yr | +995.6% | — | — | — |
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: FXL vs SPY
From May 10, 2007: FXL grew to $115,223, SPY to $72,541.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FXL returns by calendar year
14 of 18 full years positive. Best 2009 (+66.8%), worst 2008 (−48.4%). 2026 is year to date.
FXL annual returns table
| Year | FXL | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +30.6% | −15.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +13.3% | −28.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +16.1% | −14.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +40.5% | −14.0% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −30.4% | −35.3% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +18.2% | −15.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +54.2% | −34.0% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +38.7% | −11.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | +2.7% | −25.4% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +35.8% | −6.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +15.4% | −15.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −3.3% | −18.5% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +16.4% | −13.7% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +38.2% | −6.3% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +8.6% | −17.6% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −11.7% | −32.0% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +26.6% | −15.5% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +66.8% | −25.2% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −48.4% | −57.1% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
FXL largest drawdowns
Now 4.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2007 | −61.4% | Nov 20, 2008 | Dec 10, 2010 | 1.1 years | 3.2 years |
| Nov 9, 2021 | −38.5% | Oct 14, 2022 | Feb 9, 2024 | 11 months | 2.3 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −34.0% | Mar 16, 2020 | May 29, 2020 | 26 days | 3 months |
| Feb 17, 2011 | −32.0% | Oct 3, 2011 | Jul 11, 2013 | 7 months | 2.4 years |
| Feb 18, 2025 | −28.3% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jul 25, 2025 | 49 days | 5 months |
| Jun 3, 2015 | −26.0% | Feb 11, 2016 | Nov 15, 2016 | 8 months | 1.5 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FXL risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +25.9% | +12.7% | +19.9% | +13.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0% | 22.6% | 21.5% | 21.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.00 | 0.48 | 0.85 | 0.63 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.92 | 0.78 | 1.45 | 0.97 |
| Best month | +16.8% | +16.8% | +16.8% | +16.8% |
| Worst month | −8.7% | −11.3% | −12.7% | −22.8% |
| Best 12 months | +44.1% | +44.1% | +91.3% | +91.3% |
| Worst 12 months | −1.9% | −30.4% | −30.4% | −52.4% |
| Positive months | 69% | 62% | 66% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.45 | 1.25 | 1.22 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.86 | 0.87 | 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.
FXL rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 222 | −52.4% | +18.9% | +91.3% | 76% |
| 3-year (a year) | 198 | −6.4% | +14.8% | +36.2% | 97% |
| 5-year (a year) | 174 | −2.0% | +15.6% | +31.2% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 114 | +8.1% | +16.7% | +21.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FXL performance overview
First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (FXL) returned +28.1% over the past year and +20.2% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +13.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $115,223. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −61.4%, from Oct 10, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 2.1 years to get back to the old high. FXL finished 14 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+66.8%) and the worst 2008 (−48.4%). Volatility has been 21.9% a year.
Related: FXL chart, FXL holdings, FXL valuation. See the FXL overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FXL performance FAQ
What is the FXL return over the past year?
FXL returned +28.1% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 28.1%.
What is the average annual return of FXL?
FXL has returned +10.9% a year over 5 years, +20.2% a year over 10 years, +13.4% a year since May 10, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FXL be worth?
$10,000 invested in FXL at its first recorded close on May 10, 2007 would be worth about $115,223 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FXL?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −48.4%. The best was 2009 at +66.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FXL?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −61.4% between October 10, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on December 10, 2010, 2.1 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FXL?
Over the past 3 years FXL had an annualized volatility of 21.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.00 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).