First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus (LDSF) Performance
LDSF total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +0.4% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +1.7% total return
- 5 years
- +2.5% a year
- Since first price
- +2.4% a year since 2019
LDSF trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | LDSF total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.3% | −0.5% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.2% | −1.4% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −0.2% | −2.5% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +0.4% | −3.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +1.7% | −3.3% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +17.5%+5.5%/yr | +1.5% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +13.2%+2.5%/yr | −7.7% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 7, 2019 | +20.7%+2.4%/yr | −8.6% | — | — | — |
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: LDSF vs SPY
From Jan 7, 2019: LDSF grew to $12,072, SPY to $33,479.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
LDSF returns by calendar year
4 of 6 full years positive. Best 2025 (+7.2%), worst 2022 (−5.5%). 2026 is year to date.
LDSF annual returns table
| Year | LDSF | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +0.4% | −1.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +7.2% | −1.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +4.2% | −1.5% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +6.5% | −1.7% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −5.5% | −7.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −0.3% | −1.2% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +2.5% | −8.6% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
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.
LDSF risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +5.0% | +2.2% | +2.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.0% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.19 | -0.41 | -0.07 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.27 | -0.53 | -0.09 |
| Best month | +2.7% | +2.7% | +2.7% |
| Worst month | −1.7% | −2.2% | −4.5% |
| Best 12 months | +9.3% | +9.3% | +9.3% |
| Worst 12 months | +1.3% | −6.9% | −6.9% |
| Positive months | 78% | 60% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.14 | 0.14 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.58 | 0.64 | — |
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.
LDSF rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 82 | −6.9% | +2.7% | +9.3% | 78% |
| 3-year (a year) | 58 | −1.4% | +1.2% | +6.0% | 72% |
| 5-year (a year) | 34 | +1.0% | +2.1% | +2.6% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2019. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
LDSF performance overview
First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus (LDSF) returned +1.7% over the past year and +2.5% a year over five years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2019 it has returned +2.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $12,072. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
Related: LDSF chart, LDSF dividends. See the LDSF overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
LDSF performance FAQ
What is the LDSF return over the past year?
LDSF returned +1.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 3.3%.
What is the average annual return of LDSF?
LDSF has returned +2.5% a year over 5 years, +2.4% a year since January 7, 2019 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in LDSF be worth?
$10,000 invested in LDSF at its first recorded close on January 7, 2019 would be worth about $12,072 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for LDSF?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −5.5%. The best was 2025 at +7.2%.
How volatile is LDSF?
Over the past 3 years LDSF had an annualized volatility of 3.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.19 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).