First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector… (QTEC) Performance
QTEC total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +30.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +26.9% total return
- 5 years
- +12.4% a year
- 10 years
- +20.0% a year
- Since first price
- +14.8% a year since 2006
QTEC trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | QTEC total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −9.0% | −9.0% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.7% | −0.7% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +17.7% | +17.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +30.5% | +30.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +26.9% | +26.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +110.9%+28.2%/yr | +110.8% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +79.4%+12.4%/yr | +78.8% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +519.7%+20.0%/yr | +497.7% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +1,247.3%+18.9%/yr | +1,133.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +1,617.8%+15.3%/yr | +1,460.6% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionApr 25, 2006 | +1,583.7%+14.8%/yr | +1,429.6% | — | — | — |
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: QTEC vs SPY
From Apr 25, 2006: QTEC grew to $168,370, SPY to $84,769.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
QTEC returns by calendar year
14 of 19 full years positive. Best 2009 (+79.7%), worst 2008 (−45.1%). 2026 is year to date.
QTEC annual returns table
| Year | QTEC | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +30.5% | −16.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +22.3% | −29.0% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +7.3% | −17.3% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +67.0% | −12.4% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −39.8% | −43.9% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +26.9% | −15.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +38.8% | −32.3% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +48.2% | −14.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −4.6% | −22.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +37.8% | −7.5% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +25.3% | −13.5% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −1.5% | −17.4% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +25.1% | −11.9% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +38.2% | −5.1% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +8.0% | −18.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −5.9% | −26.4% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +21.7% | −16.7% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +79.7% | −17.5% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −45.1% | −55.3% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +7.5% | −14.3% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
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.
QTEC largest drawdowns
Now 11.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2007 | −58.9% | Nov 20, 2008 | Oct 27, 2010 | 1.1 years | 3.0 years |
| Nov 16, 2021 | −45.5% | Oct 14, 2022 | Jan 19, 2024 | 11 months | 2.2 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −32.3% | Mar 16, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | 26 days | 4 months |
| Feb 18, 2025 | −29.0% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 26, 2025 | 49 days | 4 months |
| Feb 18, 2011 | −26.4% | Aug 19, 2011 | Mar 15, 2012 | 6 months | 1.1 years |
| Mar 12, 2018 | −22.7% | Dec 24, 2018 | Mar 15, 2019 | 9 months | 1.0 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
QTEC risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +31.4% | +16.0% | +21.0% | +15.3% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.7% | 27.1% | 23.1% | 22.3% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.02 | 0.55 | 0.85 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 2.25 | 0.94 | 1.45 | — |
| Best month | +23.5% | +23.5% | +23.5% | +23.5% |
| Worst month | −10.8% | −14.8% | −14.8% | −20.7% |
| Best 12 months | +65.3% | +67.0% | +71.3% | +82.1% |
| Worst 12 months | −9.0% | −39.8% | −39.8% | −47.4% |
| Positive months | 64% | 60% | 64% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.71 | 1.43 | 1.26 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.83 | 0.83 | 0.84 | — |
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.
QTEC rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 235 | −47.4% | +20.7% | +82.1% | 77% |
| 3-year (a year) | 211 | −8.8% | +17.1% | +37.7% | 94% |
| 5-year (a year) | 187 | +0.7% | +16.7% | +30.6% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 127 | +8.2% | +18.0% | +23.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2006. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
QTEC performance overview
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector… (QTEC) returned +26.9% over the past year and +20.0% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2006 it has returned +14.8% a year, turning $10,000 into about $168,370. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −58.9%, from Oct 18, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 1.9 years to get back to the old high. QTEC finished 14 of its 19 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+79.7%) and the worst 2008 (−45.1%). Volatility has been 22.3% a year.
Related: QTEC chart, QTEC holdings, QTEC dividends, QTEC valuation. See the QTEC overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
QTEC performance FAQ
What is the QTEC return over the past year?
QTEC returned +26.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 26.9%.
What is the average annual return of QTEC?
QTEC has returned +12.4% a year over 5 years, +20.0% a year over 10 years, +14.8% a year since April 25, 2006 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in QTEC be worth?
$10,000 invested in QTEC at its first recorded close on April 25, 2006 would be worth about $168,370 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for QTEC?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −45.1%. The best was 2009 at +79.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of QTEC?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −58.9% between October 18, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on October 27, 2010, 1.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is QTEC?
Over the past 3 years QTEC had an annualized volatility of 25.7% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.02 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).