- ISIN
- US33733F1012
- CUSIP
- 33733F101
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Inception Date
- May 8, 2007
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Mid Cap Growth Equities
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- NASDAQ AlphaDEX Multi Cap Growth Index
- Domicile
- United States
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Mid-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Growth
- Assets Under Management
- $566M
Share Price Chart
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Performance
FAD Performance Chart
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) is up 22.0% since the beginning of the year. FAD is currently trading at $197 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of FAD shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,715.
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Returns By Period
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) has returned 22.02% so far this year and 40.18% over the past 12 months. Looking at the last ten years, FAD has achieved an annualized return of 15.21%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% per year.
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund
- 1D
- 1.04%
- 1M
- 7.38%
- YTD
- 22.02%
- 6M
- 18.82%
- 1Y
- 40.18%
- 3Y*
- 25.41%
- 5Y*
- 11.39%
- 10Y*
- 15.21%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
FAD Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since May 11, 2007, FAD's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +1.00%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 5.8 years.
Historically, 62% of months were positive and 38% were negative. The best month was Apr 2020 with a return of +14.2%, while the worst month was Oct 2008 at -23.7%. The longest winning streak lasted 13 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.
On a daily basis, FAD closed higher 54% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +9.7%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -13.0%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.67% | 1.36% | -5.64% | 11.93% | 6.04% | 4.68% | 22.02% | ||||||
| 2025 | 4.99% | -4.48% | -6.67% | -0.01% | 7.80% | 5.34% | 2.33% | 3.24% | 3.56% | 2.25% | -1.09% | -0.32% | 17.23% |
| 2024 | -0.46% | 8.17% | 3.13% | -6.00% | 4.32% | 0.82% | 3.23% | 2.28% | 3.08% | 0.39% | 11.68% | -7.53% | 23.85% |
| 2023 | 6.11% | -1.79% | -0.67% | -0.61% | -0.85% | 9.47% | 3.64% | -3.47% | -5.08% | -5.73% | 10.59% | 7.72% | 19.07% |
| 2022 | -12.36% | -0.95% | 2.97% | -9.50% | -0.14% | -9.64% | 11.03% | -3.03% | -8.97% | 10.16% | 2.98% | -6.45% | -24.06% |
| 2021 | 2.79% | 3.15% | -1.55% | 3.94% | -0.07% | 6.27% | 0.01% | 3.66% | -4.58% | 6.65% | -2.30% | 2.01% | 21.17% |
Benchmark Metrics
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund has an annualized alpha of 3.89%, beta of 0.84, and R2 of 0.62 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since May 11, 2007.
- This ETF captured 111.69% of S&P 500 Index gains and 102.57% of its losses - amplifying both gains and losses, but participating more in upside than downside.
- This ETF generated an annualized alpha of 3.89% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- Alpha
- 3.89%
- Beta
- 0.84
- R²
- 0.62
- Upside Capture
- 111.69%
- Downside Capture
- 102.57%
Expense Ratio
FAD has an expense ratio of 0.63%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
FAD ranks 68 for risk / return — better than 68% of ETFs on our site. You're getting solid returns for the risk taken. A good sign, especially for investors who want growth without excessive volatility.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FAD) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| FAD | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.04 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.37 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.79 | 2.78 | +1.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.43 | 12.44 | +1.99 |
Dividends
Dividend History
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund provided a 0.09% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.17 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $0.17 | $0.15 | $0.81 | $0.58 | $0.57 | $0.11 | $0.33 | $0.37 | $0.13 | $0.15 | $0.33 | $0.20 |
Dividend yield | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.59% | 0.51% | 0.60% | 0.09% | 0.32% | 0.48% | 0.20% | 0.22% | 0.64% | 0.41% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.02 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.02 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.07 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.08 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.01 | $0.15 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.06 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.05 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.38 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.31 | $0.81 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.20 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.11 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.07 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.19 | $0.58 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.06 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.28 | $0.57 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.11 | $0.11 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund was 54.33%, occurring on Mar 6, 2009. Recovery took 488 trading sessions.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -54.33%Mar 2009 | 1y 4mo | 1y 11mo | 3y 4moOct 2007 - Feb 2011 |
COVID crash2020 | -37.25%Mar 2020 | 27d | 4mo 14d | 5mo 11dFeb 2020 - Jul 2020 |
Bear market2022 | -31.99%Jun 2022 | 7mo 1d | 2y 1mo | 2y 8moNov 2021 - Jul 2024 |
Rate-hike selloffLate 2018 | -27.00%Dec 2018 | 3mo 8d | 12mo 1d | 1y 3moSep 2018 - Dec 2019 |
2011 bear market2011 | -24.87%Oct 2011 | 2mo 27d | 1y 3mo | 1y 6moJul 2011 - Jan 2013 |
Drawdown Indicators
| FAD | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.33% | -56.78% | +2.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.66% | -9.10% | -1.56% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.55% | -18.90% | -4.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.99% | -25.43% | -6.56% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.25% | -33.92% | -3.33% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -1.80% | +1.80% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.62% | -10.71% | +1.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.79% | 2.03% | +0.76% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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