First Trust NASDAQ Smartphone (NXTG) Performance
NXTG total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +38.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +38.7% total return
- 5 years
- +15.8% a year
- 10 years
- +15.5% a year
- Since first price
- +12.1% a year since 2011
NXTG trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | NXTG total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −5.3% | −5.7% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +1.6% | +1.1% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +15.0% | +14.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +38.3% | +36.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +38.7% | +36.7% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +137.8%+33.5%/yr | +125.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +108.0%+15.8%/yr | +90.6% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +324.2%+15.5%/yr | +267.1% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +623.9%+14.1%/yr | +491.3% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 18, 2011 | +500.5%+12.1%/yr | +388.5% | — | — | — |
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: NXTG vs SPY
From Feb 18, 2011: NXTG grew to $60,047, SPY to $74,421.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
NXTG returns by calendar year
11 of 14 full years positive. Best 2013 (+34.3%), worst 2022 (−24.7%). 2026 is year to date.
NXTG annual returns table
| Year | NXTG | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +38.3% | −15.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +28.5% | −17.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +12.9% | −9.2% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +28.7% | −11.6% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −24.7% | −33.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +20.4% | −8.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +27.6% | −29.9% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +29.6% | −10.9% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −17.2% | −23.6% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +28.0% | −6.2% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +15.5% | −11.2% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −3.8% | −21.9% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +15.6% | −13.4% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +34.3% | −6.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +7.2% | −25.4% | +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.
NXTG largest drawdowns
Now 11.2% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3, 2022 | −33.6% | Oct 14, 2022 | Mar 6, 2024 | 9 months | 2.2 years |
| Feb 18, 2011 | −30.5% | Jul 23, 2012 | Jul 16, 2013 | 1.4 years | 2.4 years |
| Feb 12, 2020 | −29.9% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jul 20, 2020 | 40 days | 5 months |
| Jan 17, 2018 | −23.6% | Dec 24, 2018 | Dec 16, 2019 | 11 months | 1.9 years |
| Apr 23, 2015 | −23.5% | Jan 20, 2016 | Sep 22, 2016 | 9 months | 1.4 years |
| Feb 20, 2025 | −17.8% | Apr 8, 2025 | May 15, 2025 | 47 days | 3 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
NXTG risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +33.7% | +17.1% | +15.8% | +12.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.8% | 20.2% | 17.6% | 17.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.35 | 0.71 | 0.80 | 0.70 |
| Sortino ratio | 3.46 | 1.29 | 1.38 | 1.16 |
| Best month | +21.2% | +21.2% | +21.2% | +21.2% |
| Worst month | −7.2% | −12.1% | −12.1% | −12.1% |
| Best 12 months | +77.7% | +77.7% | +77.7% | +77.7% |
| Worst 12 months | +8.7% | −25.6% | −25.6% | −25.6% |
| Positive months | 69% | 63% | 65% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.24 | 1.04 | 0.94 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.78 | 0.81 | 0.82 | — |
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.
NXTG rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 177 | −25.6% | +15.8% | +77.7% | 76% |
| 3-year (a year) | 153 | +1.3% | +10.9% | +34.3% | 100% |
| 5-year (a year) | 129 | +3.5% | +11.9% | +19.6% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 69 | +8.6% | +11.3% | +17.4% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2011. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
NXTG performance overview
First Trust NASDAQ Smartphone (NXTG) returned +38.7% over the past year and +15.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2011 it has returned +12.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $60,047. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −33.6%, from Jan 3, 2022 to Oct 14, 2022, and it took 1.4 years to get back to the old high. NXTG finished 11 of its 14 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+34.3%) and the worst 2022 (−24.7%). Volatility has been 17.2% a year.
Related: NXTG chart, NXTG holdings, NXTG dividends. See the NXTG overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
NXTG performance FAQ
What is the NXTG return over the past year?
NXTG returned +38.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 36.7%.
What is the average annual return of NXTG?
NXTG has returned +15.8% a year over 5 years, +15.5% a year over 10 years, +12.1% a year since February 18, 2011 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in NXTG be worth?
$10,000 invested in NXTG at its first recorded close on February 18, 2011 would be worth about $60,047 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for NXTG?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −24.7%. The best was 2013 at +34.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of NXTG?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −33.6% between January 3, 2022 and October 14, 2022. It recovered to the old high on March 6, 2024, 1.4 years after the bottom.
How volatile is NXTG?
Over the past 3 years NXTG had an annualized volatility of 19.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.35 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).