- ISIN
- US33733E2037
- CUSIP
- 33733E203
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Inception Date
- Jun 23, 2006
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Health & Biotech Equities
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index
- Distribution Policy
- Accumulating
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Multi-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Growth
- Assets Under Management
- $3B
Share Price Chart
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Performance
FBT Performance Chart
First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index (FBT) is up 11.3% since the beginning of the year. FBT is currently trading at $230 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of FBT shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,357.
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Returns By Period
First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index (FBT) has returned 11.27% so far this year and 44.08% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, FBT has returned 10.45% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% annually.
First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index
- 1D
- 0.41%
- 1M
- 7.91%
- YTD
- 11.27%
- 6M
- 6.83%
- 1Y
- 44.08%
- 3Y*
- 13.78%
- 5Y*
- 6.30%
- 10Y*
- 10.45%
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%
FBT Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Jun 23, 2006, FBT's average daily return is +0.06%, while the average monthly return is +1.25%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 4.6 years.
Historically, 58% of months were positive and 42% were negative. The best month was Jul 2009 with a return of +24.8%, while the worst month was Jan 2016 at -24.1%. The longest winning streak lasted 7 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 4 months.
On a daily basis, FBT closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Jul 20, 2009 with a return of +15.8%, while the worst single day was Aug 4, 2011 at -10.5%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3.10% | -1.99% | -3.77% | 2.01% | 8.74% | 3.16% | 11.27% | ||||||
| 2025 | 8.74% | -2.92% | -3.05% | -4.23% | -1.01% | 0.03% | 1.82% | 4.70% | 4.25% | 7.65% | 11.09% | -3.68% | 24.25% |
| 2024 | -5.77% | 1.22% | 2.01% | -6.41% | 3.54% | 3.34% | 8.75% | 1.87% | 0.79% | -1.02% | 2.31% | -3.88% | 5.88% |
| 2023 | 6.12% | -5.91% | 0.73% | -0.91% | -0.55% | 0.24% | 1.74% | -0.81% | -5.31% | -9.15% | 6.27% | 11.87% | 2.55% |
| 2022 | -8.16% | -1.60% | 1.90% | -8.96% | -0.68% | 0.53% | 3.38% | -2.70% | -3.21% | 8.68% | 8.49% | -0.95% | -4.83% |
| 2021 | 4.33% | -4.03% | -4.58% | 2.29% | -0.76% | 5.95% | -2.71% | 3.53% | -4.49% | -0.10% | -5.54% | 4.77% | -2.26% |
Benchmark Metrics
First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index has an annualized alpha of 6.29%, beta of 0.88, and R2 of 0.45 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since June 23, 2006.
- This ETF captured 115.41% of S&P 500 Index gains but only 98.85% of its losses - a favorable profile for investors.
- R2 of 0.45 means the benchmark explains less than half of this ETF's behavior - treat beta with caution or consider switching to a more representative benchmark.
- Alpha
- 6.29%
- Beta
- 0.88
- R²
- 0.45
- Upside Capture
- 115.41%
- Downside Capture
- 98.85%
Expense Ratio
FBT has an expense ratio of 0.57%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
FBT ranks 63 for risk / return — better than 63% 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 Amex Biotechnology Index (FBT) 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.
| FBT | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.08 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.37 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.11 | 2.78 | +0.32 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.19 | 12.44 | -3.25 |
Dividends
Dividend History
First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index provided a 0.00% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.00 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.17 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2.21 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 |
Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.71% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.37% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.12% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index. 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 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.17 | $1.17 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2.21 | $2.21 |
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 Amex Biotechnology Index. 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 Amex Biotechnology Index was 40.51%, occurring on Feb 11, 2016. Recovery took 484 trading sessions.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 bear market2016 | -40.51%Feb 2016 | 6mo 26d | 1y 11mo | 2y 5moJul 2015 - Jan 2018 |
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -39.83%Nov 2008 | 3mo 8d | 8mo 16d | 11mo 24dAug 2008 - Aug 2009 |
2011 bear market2011 | -34.04%Nov 2011 | 7mo | 7mo 26d | 1y 2moApr 2011 - Jul 2012 |
Bear market2022 | -32.37%Jun 2022 | 1y 4mo | 2y 7mo | 3y 11moFeb 2021 - Jan 2025 |
Rate-hike selloffLate 2018 | -28.05%Dec 2018 | 2mo 27d | 1y 4mo | 1y 7moSep 2018 - May 2020 |
Drawdown Indicators
| FBT | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.51% | -56.78% | +16.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.26% | -9.10% | -5.16% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.05% | -18.90% | -1.15% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.98% | -25.43% | -3.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.37% | -33.92% | +1.55% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -1.80% | +1.80% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.14% | -10.71% | -0.43% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.81% | 2.03% | +2.78% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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Build a portfolio with FBT
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