First Trust Multi-Asset Diversified Income… (MDIV) Performance
MDIV total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +8.8% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +10.3% total return
- 5 years
- +6.0% a year
- 10 years
- +5.0% a year
- Since first price
- +4.8% a year since 2012
MDIV trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | MDIV total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +0.6% | −0.5% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −1.7% | −3.4% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | +1.7% | −2.2% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | +8.8% | +2.6% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | +10.3% | +2.2% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +39.2%+11.7%/yr | +13.0% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +33.5%+6.0%/yr | −4.6% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +62.4%+5.0%/yr | −13.7% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionAug 14, 2012 | +94.3%+4.8%/yr | −19.7% | — | — | — |
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: MDIV vs AGG
From Aug 14, 2012: MDIV grew to $19,435, AGG to $12,660.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
MDIV returns by calendar year
9 of 13 full years positive. Best 2019 (+18.6%), worst 2020 (−14.8%). 2026 is year to date.
MDIV annual returns table
| Year | MDIV | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +8.8% | −6.0% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +4.2% | −9.2% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +10.0% | −5.2% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +12.0% | −13.0% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −3.9% | −12.6% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +16.5% | −5.6% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | −14.8% | −48.5% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +18.6% | −4.1% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −5.8% | −12.4% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +5.6% | −2.8% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +11.2% | −10.6% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | −7.7% | −14.2% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +8.1% | −6.1% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | +10.7% | −8.2% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
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.
MDIV largest drawdowns
Now 3.2% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2020 | −48.5% | Mar 18, 2020 | Jan 11, 2022 | 2 months | 2.0 years |
| Aug 29, 2014 | −19.8% | Feb 11, 2016 | Aug 29, 2016 | 1.5 years | 2.0 years |
| Feb 2, 2023 | −13.0% | Mar 23, 2023 | Dec 4, 2023 | 49 days | 10 months |
| Apr 20, 2022 | −12.6% | Sep 29, 2022 | Feb 2, 2023 | 5 months | 9 months |
| Aug 21, 2018 | −12.4% | Dec 24, 2018 | Feb 19, 2019 | 4 months | 6 months |
| Nov 29, 2024 | −9.6% | Apr 8, 2025 | Aug 22, 2025 | 4 months | 9 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
MDIV risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +10.0% | +6.2% | +4.6% | +4.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.6% | 11.9% | 15.0% | 13.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.64 | 0.26 | 0.23 | 0.29 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.05 | 0.38 | 0.30 | 0.38 |
| Best month | +7.0% | +8.4% | +15.0% | +15.0% |
| Worst month | −4.8% | −8.6% | −28.8% | −28.8% |
| Best 12 months | +22.2% | +22.2% | +45.7% | +45.7% |
| Worst 12 months | +0.6% | −9.2% | −32.0% | −32.0% |
| Positive months | 64% | 58% | 62% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.38 | 0.55 | 0.75 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.55 | 0.73 | 0.77 | — |
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.
MDIV rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 159 | −32.0% | +5.8% | +45.7% | 76% |
| 3-year (a year) | 135 | −10.2% | +3.9% | +14.4% | 89% |
| 5-year (a year) | 111 | −5.3% | +3.2% | +13.7% | 94% |
| 10-year (a year) | 51 | +2.0% | +3.6% | +5.8% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
MDIV performance overview
First Trust Multi-Asset Diversified Income… (MDIV) returned +10.3% over the past year and +5.0% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +4.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $19,435. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −48.5%, from Jan 16, 2020 to Mar 18, 2020, and it took 1.8 years to get back to the old high. MDIV finished 9 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2019 (+18.6%) and the worst 2020 (−14.8%). Volatility has been 13.5% a year.
Related: MDIV chart, MDIV holdings, MDIV dividends, MDIV bond profile. See the MDIV overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
MDIV performance FAQ
What is the MDIV return over the past year?
MDIV returned +10.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 2.2%.
What is the average annual return of MDIV?
MDIV has returned +6.0% a year over 5 years, +5.0% a year over 10 years, +4.8% a year since August 14, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in MDIV be worth?
$10,000 invested in MDIV at its first recorded close on August 14, 2012 would be worth about $19,435 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for MDIV?
The worst calendar year was 2020, with a total return of −14.8%. The best was 2019 at +18.6%.
What is the biggest drawdown of MDIV?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −48.5% between January 16, 2020 and March 18, 2020. It recovered to the old high on January 11, 2022, 1.8 years after the bottom.
How volatile is MDIV?
Over the past 3 years MDIV had an annualized volatility of 8.6% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.64 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).