First Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF (LMBS) Performance
LMBS total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +0.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +2.0% total return
- 5 years
- +3.1% a year
- 10 years
- +2.4% a year
- Since first price
- +2.9% a year since 2014
LMBS trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | LMBS total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.3% | −0.4% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.2% | −1.2% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −0.3% | −2.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +0.9% | −2.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +2.0% | −2.4% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +19.2%+6.0%/yr | +4.2% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +16.7%+3.1%/yr | −3.2% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +26.7%+2.4%/yr | −7.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionNov 5, 2014 | +40.9%+2.9%/yr | −2.6% | — | — | — |
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: LMBS vs SPY
From Nov 5, 2014: LMBS grew to $14,091, SPY to $45,835.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
LMBS returns by calendar year
9 of 11 full years positive. Best 2025 (+7.4%), worst 2022 (−3.1%). 2026 is year to date.
LMBS annual returns table
| Year | LMBS | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +0.9% | −2.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +7.4% | −1.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +5.2% | −1.5% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +6.1% | −1.7% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −3.1% | −5.2% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −0.9% | −1.4% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +1.6% | −5.3% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +4.1% | −0.5% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | +1.6% | −0.4% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +1.7% | −0.5% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +6.5% | −0.9% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +2.6% | −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.
LMBS risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +5.4% | +2.9% | +2.3% | +2.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.0% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.31 | -0.25 | 0.03 | 0.37 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.45 | -0.33 | 0.04 | 0.51 |
| Best month | +2.3% | +2.3% | +2.3% | +2.3% |
| Worst month | −1.7% | −1.8% | −2.5% | −2.5% |
| Best 12 months | +9.5% | +9.5% | +9.5% | +9.5% |
| Worst 12 months | +1.7% | −5.3% | −5.3% | −5.3% |
| Positive months | 75% | 60% | 67% | 70% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.12 | 0.09 | 0.06 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.49 | 0.47 | 0.42 | — |
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.
LMBS rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 132 | −5.3% | +2.9% | +9.5% | 86% |
| 3-year (a year) | 108 | −1.2% | +2.5% | +6.4% | 84% |
| 5-year (a year) | 84 | +0.3% | +1.9% | +3.5% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 24 | +2.3% | +2.7% | +3.0% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2014. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
LMBS performance overview
First Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF (LMBS) returned +2.0% over the past year and +2.4% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2014 it has returned +2.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $14,091. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
Related: LMBS chart, LMBS dividends. See the LMBS overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
LMBS performance FAQ
What is the LMBS return over the past year?
LMBS returned +2.0% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 2.4%.
What is the average annual return of LMBS?
LMBS has returned +3.1% a year over 5 years, +2.4% a year over 10 years, +2.9% a year since November 5, 2014 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in LMBS be worth?
$10,000 invested in LMBS at its first recorded close on November 5, 2014 would be worth about $14,091 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for LMBS?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −3.1%. The best was 2025 at +7.4%.
How volatile is LMBS?
Over the past 3 years LMBS had an annualized volatility of 3.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.31 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).