First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF (RCTR) Performance
RCTR total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −6.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −12.1% total return
- Since first price
- +0.1% since 2025
RCTR trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | RCTR total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −7.6% | −7.6% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −9.4% | −9.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −20.0% | −20.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −6.6% | −7.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −12.1% | −12.8% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| Since inceptionJul 31, 2025 | +0.1% | −0.7% | — | — | — |
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: RCTR vs SPY
From Jul 31, 2025: RCTR grew to $10,010, SPY to $12,187.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
RCTR returns by calendar year
2026 is year to date.
RCTR annual returns table
| Year | RCTR | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −6.6% | −22.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
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.
RCTR largest drawdowns
Now 22.3% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2026 | −22.3% | Oct 23, 2026 | not yet | 6 months | 6 months so far |
| Oct 15, 2025 | −14.7% | Nov 21, 2025 | Jan 27, 2026 | 37 days | 3 months |
| Mar 2, 2026 | −12.0% | Mar 30, 2026 | May 6, 2026 | 28 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.
RCTR risk statistics
| Statistic | Since 2025 |
|---|---|
| Annualized return | +5.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.17 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.27 |
| Best month | +11.2% |
| Worst month | −9.0% |
| Best 12 months | +11.7% |
| Worst 12 months | −2.0% |
| Positive months | 43% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | — |
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.
RCTR rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 4 | −15.9% | +2.9% | +11.7% | 50% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2025. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
RCTR performance overview
First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF (RCTR) returned −12.1% over the past year, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price on Jul 31, 2025 it has returned +0.1%. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −22.3%, from May 6, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026; the fund has not yet regained that high. Volatility has been 25.2% a year.
Related: RCTR chart, RCTR holdings, RCTR dividends. See the RCTR overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
RCTR performance FAQ
What is the RCTR return over the past year?
RCTR returned −12.1% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 12.8%.
How much would $10,000 invested in RCTR be worth?
$10,000 invested in RCTR at its first recorded close on July 31, 2025 would be worth about $10,010 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What is the biggest drawdown of RCTR?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −22.3% between May 6, 2026 and October 23, 2026. It has not yet recovered to that high; it is 22.3% below its peak.
How volatile is RCTR?
Over the past history RCTR had an annualized volatility of 25.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.17 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).