First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund (FXZ) Performance
FXZ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +15.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +20.4% total return
- 5 years
- +6.0% a year
- 10 years
- +10.0% a year
- Since first price
- +8.6% a year since 2007
FXZ trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FXZ total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −8.3% | −8.3% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −4.2% | −4.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −6.3% | −6.8% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +15.6% | +14.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +20.4% | +18.8% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +32.6%+9.9%/yr | +26.5% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +33.6%+6.0%/yr | +22.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +159.1%+10.0%/yr | +121.4% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +361.3%+10.7%/yr | +265.1% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 10, 2007 | +397.8%+8.6%/yr | +273.3% | — | — | — |
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: FXZ vs SPY
From May 10, 2007: FXZ grew to $49,779, SPY to $72,541.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FXZ returns by calendar year
11 of 18 full years positive. Best 2009 (+59.5%), worst 2008 (−44.4%). 2026 is year to date.
FXZ annual returns table
| Year | FXZ | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +15.6% | −14.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +16.3% | −22.6% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −16.3% | −21.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +16.3% | −19.6% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −0.9% | −31.2% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +30.8% | −14.7% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +22.5% | −42.9% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +21.5% | −14.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −22.6% | −31.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +23.7% | −4.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +29.1% | −11.5% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −9.9% | −20.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −1.0% | −15.6% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +26.9% | −8.3% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +25.1% | −15.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −10.4% | −32.6% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +28.2% | −20.5% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +59.5% | −35.3% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −44.4% | −63.9% | −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.
FXZ largest drawdowns
Now 14.8% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2008 | −65.5% | Mar 6, 2009 | Dec 10, 2010 | 10 months | 2.6 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −49.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.8 years |
| Apr 9, 2024 | −34.0% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jan 9, 2026 | 12 months | 1.8 years |
| May 10, 2011 | −32.6% | Oct 3, 2011 | Dec 18, 2012 | 5 months | 1.6 years |
| Apr 20, 2022 | −31.2% | Sep 26, 2022 | Apr 3, 2024 | 5 months | 2.0 years |
| Jul 3, 2014 | −26.9% | Jan 25, 2016 | Jul 11, 2016 | 1.6 years | 2.0 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FXZ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +8.7% | +8.5% | +10.2% | +8.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0% | 25.2% | 23.6% | 24.7% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.30 | 0.31 | 0.43 | 0.41 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.45 | 0.47 | 0.66 | 0.60 |
| Best month | +11.5% | +16.4% | +17.3% | +23.9% |
| Worst month | −13.1% | −20.3% | −20.3% | −30.7% |
| Best 12 months | +55.7% | +55.7% | +105.4% | +117.3% |
| Worst 12 months | −21.0% | −21.0% | −26.6% | −55.9% |
| Positive months | 58% | 53% | 57% | 57% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.81 | 1.07 | 1.17 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.50 | 0.66 | 0.76 | — |
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.
FXZ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 222 | −55.9% | +11.2% | +117.3% | 64% |
| 3-year (a year) | 198 | −9.0% | +9.6% | +41.1% | 91% |
| 5-year (a year) | 174 | −1.6% | +10.8% | +31.5% | 99% |
| 10-year (a year) | 114 | +4.3% | +9.5% | +17.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FXZ performance overview
First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund (FXZ) returned +20.4% over the past year and +10.0% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +8.6% a year, turning $10,000 into about $49,779. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −65.5%, from May 16, 2008 to Mar 6, 2009, and it took 1.8 years to get back to the old high. FXZ finished 11 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+59.5%) and the worst 2008 (−44.4%). Volatility has been 24.7% a year.
Related: FXZ chart, FXZ holdings, FXZ dividends, FXZ valuation. See the FXZ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FXZ performance FAQ
What is the FXZ return over the past year?
FXZ returned +20.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 18.8%.
What is the average annual return of FXZ?
FXZ has returned +6.0% a year over 5 years, +10.0% a year over 10 years, +8.6% a year since May 10, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FXZ be worth?
$10,000 invested in FXZ at its first recorded close on May 10, 2007 would be worth about $49,779 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FXZ?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −44.4%. The best was 2009 at +59.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FXZ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −65.5% between May 16, 2008 and March 6, 2009. It recovered to the old high on December 10, 2010, 1.8 years after the bottom.
How volatile is FXZ?
Over the past 3 years FXZ had an annualized volatility of 20.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.30 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).