First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FYC) Performance
FYC total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +17.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +19.3% total return
- 5 years
- +9.2% a year
- 10 years
- +13.7% a year
- Since first price
- +11.9% a year since 2011
FYC trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | FYC total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −3.0% | −3.0% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −4.8% | −4.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +3.8% | +3.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +17.6% | +17.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +19.3% | +19.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +117.0%+29.5%/yr | +114.4% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +55.3%+9.2%/yr | +51.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +261.5%+13.7%/yr | +250.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +551.9%+13.3%/yr | +526.5% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionApr 20, 2011 | +474.2%+11.9%/yr | +451.8% | — | — | — |
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: FYC vs SPY
From Apr 20, 2011: FYC grew to $57,418, SPY to $74,895.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
FYC returns by calendar year
11 of 14 full years positive. Best 2013 (+43.5%), worst 2022 (−25.9%). 2026 is year to date.
FYC annual returns table
| Year | FYC | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +17.6% | −13.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +24.2% | −24.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +24.0% | −9.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +14.5% | −19.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −25.9% | −30.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +21.6% | −13.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +32.3% | −43.3% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +16.8% | −10.3% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −5.5% | −29.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +23.0% | −6.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +13.8% | −12.1% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +1.2% | −12.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −1.1% | −14.9% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +43.5% | −6.3% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +11.6% | −11.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
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.
FYC largest drawdowns
Now 11.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2018 | −47.9% | Mar 18, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 1.5 years | 2.2 years |
| Nov 8, 2021 | −35.4% | Oct 27, 2023 | Nov 6, 2024 | 2.0 years | 3.0 years |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −27.9% | Oct 3, 2011 | Sep 6, 2012 | 3 months | 1.2 years |
| Nov 29, 2024 | −27.8% | Apr 8, 2025 | Aug 13, 2025 | 4 months | 8 months |
| Jun 23, 2015 | −19.7% | Feb 11, 2016 | Jul 12, 2016 | 8 months | 1.1 years |
| Mar 18, 2014 | −14.9% | Oct 13, 2014 | Feb 20, 2015 | 7 months | 11 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
FYC risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +27.5% | +10.5% | +13.4% | +11.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 22.3% | 22.3% | 20.1% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.06 | 0.40 | 0.58 | 0.59 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.02 | 0.63 | 0.89 | 0.91 |
| Best month | +14.8% | +14.8% | +18.1% | +18.1% |
| Worst month | −8.4% | −12.1% | −22.8% | −22.8% |
| Best 12 months | +62.9% | +62.9% | +113.9% | +113.9% |
| Worst 12 months | +5.5% | −25.9% | −29.1% | −29.1% |
| Positive months | 67% | 57% | 61% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.32 | 1.19 | 1.22 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.78 | 0.84 | 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.
FYC rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 175 | −29.1% | +11.7% | +113.9% | 77% |
| 3-year (a year) | 151 | −3.4% | +11.7% | +29.7% | 95% |
| 5-year (a year) | 127 | +0.9% | +10.6% | +20.4% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 67 | +6.6% | +11.2% | +15.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2011. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
FYC performance overview
First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FYC) returned +19.3% over the past year and +13.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2011 it has returned +11.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $57,418. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −47.9%, from Sep 4, 2018 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 8 months to get back to the old high. FYC finished 11 of its 14 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+43.5%) and the worst 2022 (−25.9%). Volatility has been 20.1% a year.
Related: FYC chart, FYC holdings, FYC dividends. See the FYC overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
FYC performance FAQ
What is the FYC return over the past year?
FYC returned +19.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 19.2%.
What is the average annual return of FYC?
FYC has returned +9.2% a year over 5 years, +13.7% a year over 10 years, +11.9% a year since April 20, 2011 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in FYC be worth?
$10,000 invested in FYC at its first recorded close on April 20, 2011 would be worth about $57,418 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for FYC?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −25.9%. The best was 2013 at +43.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of FYC?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −47.9% between September 4, 2018 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on November 16, 2020, 8 months after the bottom.
How volatile is FYC?
Over the past 3 years FYC had an annualized volatility of 21.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.06 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).