First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) Performance
QABA total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +20.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +26.8% total return
- 5 years
- +5.1% a year
- 10 years
- +7.3% a year
- Since first price
- +9.3% a year since 2009
QABA trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | QABA total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +3.0% | +2.4% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +9.1% | +8.0% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +20.0% | +18.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +26.8% | +23.7% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +91.0%+24.1%/yr | +77.0% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +28.3%+5.1%/yr | +13.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +103.0%+7.3%/yr | +61.7% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +316.8%+10.0%/yr | +206.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 1, 2009 | +363.8%+9.3%/yr | +232.4% | — | — | — |
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: QABA vs SPY
From Jul 1, 2009: QABA grew to $46,377, SPY to $111,691.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
QABA returns by calendar year
11 of 16 full years positive. Best 2013 (+43.5%), worst 2018 (−16.5%). 2026 is year to date.
QABA annual returns table
| Year | QABA | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +20.0% | −12.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +4.6% | −21.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +14.5% | −14.2% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −2.2% | −35.9% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −9.0% | −23.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +34.2% | −15.0% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −10.7% | −44.9% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +22.9% | −13.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −16.5% | −28.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +0.8% | −14.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +37.4% | −13.9% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +7.6% | −10.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +2.8% | −12.3% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +43.5% | −6.5% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +13.5% | −11.7% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −6.9% | −27.5% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +13.2% | −26.6% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
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.
QABA largest drawdowns
Now 4.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 2018 | −49.3% | Mar 23, 2020 | Feb 24, 2021 | 1.8 years | 2.7 years |
| Jan 14, 2022 | −42.9% | May 11, 2023 | Nov 6, 2024 | 1.3 years | 2.8 years |
| Apr 23, 2010 | −32.6% | Oct 3, 2011 | Jan 22, 2013 | 1.4 years | 2.8 years |
| Nov 25, 2024 | −25.8% | Apr 11, 2025 | Jan 21, 2026 | 5 months | 1.2 years |
| Dec 1, 2015 | −22.5% | Feb 11, 2016 | Aug 30, 2016 | 2 months | 9 months |
| Mar 12, 2021 | −15.0% | Jul 19, 2021 | Nov 1, 2021 | 4 months | 8 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
QABA risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +20.4% | +5.3% | +6.9% | +8.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.1% | 24.7% | 25.1% | 22.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.73 | 0.18 | 0.30 | 0.42 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.52 | 0.29 | 0.46 | 0.66 |
| Best month | +19.5% | +19.5% | +19.5% | +19.5% |
| Worst month | −9.6% | −19.2% | −23.7% | −23.7% |
| Best 12 months | +49.1% | +49.1% | +80.5% | +80.5% |
| Worst 12 months | −7.0% | −29.5% | −31.6% | −31.6% |
| Positive months | 53% | 50% | 55% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.85 | 0.78 | 0.95 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 0.58 | — |
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.
QABA rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 196 | −31.6% | +7.6% | +80.5% | 72% |
| 3-year (a year) | 172 | −13.6% | +8.7% | +23.3% | 90% |
| 5-year (a year) | 148 | −5.7% | +8.4% | +19.9% | 91% |
| 10-year (a year) | 88 | +3.3% | +7.2% | +13.4% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2009. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
QABA performance overview
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) returned +26.8% over the past year and +7.3% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2009 it has returned +9.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $46,377. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −49.3%, from Jun 8, 2018 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 11 months to get back to the old high. QABA finished 11 of its 16 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+43.5%) and the worst 2018 (−16.5%). Volatility has been 22.5% a year.
Related: QABA chart, QABA holdings, QABA dividends, QABA valuation. See the QABA overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
QABA performance FAQ
What is the QABA return over the past year?
QABA returned +26.8% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 23.7%.
What is the average annual return of QABA?
QABA has returned +5.1% a year over 5 years, +7.3% a year over 10 years, +9.3% a year since July 1, 2009 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in QABA be worth?
$10,000 invested in QABA at its first recorded close on July 1, 2009 would be worth about $46,377 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for QABA?
The worst calendar year was 2018, with a total return of −16.5%. The best was 2013 at +43.5%.
What is the biggest drawdown of QABA?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −49.3% between June 8, 2018 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on February 24, 2021, 11 months after the bottom.
How volatile is QABA?
Over the past 3 years QABA had an annualized volatility of 23.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.73 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).