Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG) Performance
NUMG total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −5.4% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −7.5% total return
- 5 years
- −2.4% a year
- Since first price
- +8.6% a year since 2016
NUMG trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | NUMG total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.1% | −2.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.2% | −0.2% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +3.7% | +3.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −5.4% | −5.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −7.5% | −7.5% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +29.0%+8.9%/yr | +28.7% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | −11.6%−2.4%/yr | −22.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| Since inceptionDec 14, 2016 | +126.2%+8.6%/yr | +80.5% | — | — | — |
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: NUMG vs SPY
From Dec 14, 2016: NUMG grew to $22,620, SPY to $39,397.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
NUMG returns by calendar year
7 of 9 full years positive. Best 2020 (+45.7%), worst 2022 (−28.3%). 2026 is year to date.
NUMG annual returns table
| Year | NUMG | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −5.4% | −19.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +0.8% | −25.0% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +12.0% | −11.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +20.5% | −16.8% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −28.3% | −33.8% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +12.3% | −11.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +45.7% | −33.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +34.9% | −8.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −5.8% | −24.8% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +19.0% | −5.2% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
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.
NUMG largest drawdowns
Now 13.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 16, 2021 | −38.8% | Oct 14, 2022 | not yet | 11 months | 4.9 years so far |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −33.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | May 29, 2020 | 33 days | 3 months |
| Sep 14, 2018 | −24.8% | Dec 24, 2018 | May 3, 2019 | 3 months | 8 months |
| Feb 12, 2021 | −11.5% | Mar 8, 2021 | Apr 15, 2021 | 24 days | 2 months |
| Apr 26, 2021 | −10.3% | May 12, 2021 | Jun 25, 2021 | 16 days | 2 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
NUMG risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | Since 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +7.4% | −1.2% | +8.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0% | 20.6% | 19.7% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.24 | -0.13 | 0.41 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.39 | -0.19 | 0.63 |
| Best month | +13.4% | +13.4% | +15.8% |
| Worst month | −7.6% | −12.6% | −12.6% |
| Best 12 months | +30.4% | +30.4% | +77.9% |
| Worst 12 months | −8.9% | −32.7% | −32.7% |
| Positive months | 56% | 48% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.30 | 1.16 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.85 | 0.88 | — |
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.
NUMG rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 107 | −32.7% | +10.9% | +77.9% | 73% |
| 3-year (a year) | 83 | −5.1% | +8.4% | +30.2% | 83% |
| 5-year (a year) | 59 | −2.4% | +8.8% | +19.9% | 86% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2016. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
NUMG performance overview
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG) returned −7.5% over the past year and −2.4% a year over five years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2016 it has returned +8.6% a year, turning $10,000 into about $22,620. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −38.8%, from Nov 16, 2021 to Oct 14, 2022; the fund has not yet regained that high. NUMG finished 7 of its 9 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2020 (+45.7%) and the worst 2022 (−28.3%). Volatility has been 19.7% a year.
Related: NUMG chart, NUMG holdings, NUMG dividends, NUMG valuation. See the NUMG overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
NUMG performance FAQ
What is the NUMG return over the past year?
NUMG returned −7.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 7.5%.
What is the average annual return of NUMG?
NUMG has returned −2.4% a year over 5 years, +8.6% a year since December 14, 2016 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in NUMG be worth?
$10,000 invested in NUMG at its first recorded close on December 14, 2016 would be worth about $22,620 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for NUMG?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −28.3%. The best was 2020 at +45.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of NUMG?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −38.8% between November 16, 2021 and October 14, 2022. It has not yet recovered to that high; it is 13.9% below its peak.
How volatile is NUMG?
Over the past 3 years NUMG had an annualized volatility of 19.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.24 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).