First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector… (QQXT) Performance
QQXT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +0.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +0.7% total return
- 5 years
- +3.4% a year
- 10 years
- +10.3% a year
- Since first price
- +9.1% a year since 2007
QQXT trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | QQXT total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +2.5% | +2.3% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +2.0% | +1.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −0.6% | −1.0% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +0.5% | −0.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +0.7% | −0.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +31.0%+9.4%/yr | +26.8% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +18.0%+3.4%/yr | +12.2% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +167.3%+10.3%/yr | +149.7% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +405.7%+11.4%/yr | +356.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionFeb 15, 2007 | +453.8%+9.1%/yr | +393.9% | — | — | — |
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: QQXT vs SPY
From Feb 15, 2007: QQXT grew to $55,378, SPY to $74,717.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
QQXT returns by calendar year
13 of 18 full years positive. Best 2009 (+46.7%), worst 2008 (−43.3%). 2026 is year to date.
QQXT annual returns table
| Year | QQXT | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +0.5% | −8.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +8.0% | −14.9% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +6.7% | −6.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +16.8% | −13.8% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −13.1% | −23.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +12.0% | −7.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +36.8% | −30.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +28.0% | −7.2% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −5.7% | −19.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +20.7% | −4.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | −2.2% | −13.8% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +4.1% | −14.2% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +16.1% | −9.6% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +41.6% | −6.3% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +20.2% | −9.9% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −1.2% | −20.6% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +20.4% | −16.6% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +46.7% | −22.7% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −43.3% | −52.8% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
QQXT largest drawdowns
Now 5.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 2007 | −57.4% | Nov 20, 2008 | Apr 6, 2011 | 1.1 years | 3.5 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −30.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jun 5, 2020 | 33 days | 4 months |
| Nov 3, 2021 | −24.7% | Jun 16, 2022 | Jan 29, 2024 | 7 months | 2.2 years |
| Jul 7, 2011 | −20.6% | Oct 3, 2011 | Mar 26, 2012 | 3 months | 9 months |
| Aug 5, 2015 | −20.0% | Feb 9, 2016 | Feb 13, 2017 | 6 months | 1.5 years |
| Sep 21, 2018 | −19.0% | Dec 24, 2018 | Apr 1, 2019 | 3 months | 6 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
QQXT risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +6.7% | +3.2% | +9.7% | +9.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9% | 15.3% | 15.7% | 17.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.24 | 0.05 | 0.52 | 0.52 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.35 | 0.07 | 0.84 | 0.78 |
| Best month | +7.4% | +9.5% | +13.8% | +15.2% |
| Worst month | −6.2% | −8.3% | −11.6% | −20.9% |
| Best 12 months | +21.9% | +21.9% | +64.0% | +68.5% |
| Worst 12 months | −1.9% | −18.1% | −18.1% | −47.2% |
| Positive months | 58% | 52% | 61% | 60% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.67 | 0.83 | 0.91 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.70 | 0.85 | 0.89 | — |
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.
QQXT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 224 | −47.2% | +10.6% | +68.5% | 80% |
| 3-year (a year) | 200 | −6.9% | +10.6% | +31.0% | 96% |
| 5-year (a year) | 176 | +1.4% | +11.8% | +28.6% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 116 | +7.8% | +11.4% | +17.8% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
QQXT performance overview
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector… (QQXT) returned +0.7% over the past year and +10.3% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +9.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $55,378. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −57.4%, from Oct 5, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 2.4 years to get back to the old high. QQXT finished 13 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+46.7%) and the worst 2008 (−43.3%). Volatility has been 17.0% a year.
Related: QQXT chart, QQXT holdings, QQXT dividends, QQXT valuation. See the QQXT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
QQXT performance FAQ
What is the QQXT return over the past year?
QQXT returned +0.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 0.6%.
What is the average annual return of QQXT?
QQXT has returned +3.4% a year over 5 years, +10.3% a year over 10 years, +9.1% a year since February 15, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in QQXT be worth?
$10,000 invested in QQXT at its first recorded close on February 15, 2007 would be worth about $55,378 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for QQXT?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −43.3%. The best was 2009 at +46.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of QQXT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −57.4% between October 5, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on April 6, 2011, 2.4 years after the bottom.
How volatile is QQXT?
Over the past 3 years QQXT had an annualized volatility of 11.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.24 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).