- ISIN
- US33718M1053
- CUSIP
- 33718M105
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Inception Date
- Sep 27, 2005
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Small Cap Blend Equities
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- Dow Jones Select Microcap Index
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Micro-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Blend
- Assets Under Management
- $256M
Share Price Chart
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Performance
FDM Performance Chart
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) is up 13.0% since the beginning of the year. FDM is currently trading at $90 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of FDM shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,581.
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Returns By Period
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) has returned 13.00% so far this year and 31.34% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, FDM has returned 12.20% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% annually.
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund
- 1D
- 0.29%
- 1M
- 3.86%
- YTD
- 13.00%
- 6M
- 10.95%
- 1Y
- 31.34%
- 3Y*
- 19.66%
- 5Y*
- 9.59%
- 10Y*
- 12.20%
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%
FDM Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Sep 30, 2005, FDM's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +0.89%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 6.5 years.
Historically, 58% of months were positive and 42% were negative. The best month was Apr 2009 with a return of +19.6%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -26.9%. The longest winning streak lasted 6 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, FDM closed higher 52% of trading days. The best single day was Oct 18, 2010 with a return of +10.7%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -13.4%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5.53% | 1.25% | -3.24% | 7.43% | -1.07% | 2.85% | 13.00% | ||||||
| 2025 | 2.48% | -2.03% | -8.74% | -1.46% | 9.08% | 7.51% | -0.84% | 5.72% | 1.21% | -2.83% | 5.74% | 2.76% | 18.64% |
| 2024 | -4.40% | 3.65% | 3.36% | -4.99% | 4.85% | -3.31% | 12.26% | -4.41% | 0.00% | 0.64% | 13.03% | -6.15% | 13.00% |
| 2023 | 7.55% | -1.02% | -8.87% | -4.02% | 0.35% | 9.63% | 7.13% | -5.32% | -3.46% | -4.65% | 6.24% | 10.97% | 12.76% |
| 2022 | -6.14% | 1.03% | -0.41% | -7.08% | 1.49% | -7.41% | 11.16% | -4.30% | -9.79% | 13.80% | 4.40% | -6.00% | -11.61% |
| 2021 | 4.98% | 12.15% | 6.83% | -1.11% | 3.21% | 0.79% | -3.60% | 2.33% | -1.39% | 4.01% | -1.96% | 5.24% | 35.08% |
Benchmark Metrics
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund has an annualized alpha of 0.72%, beta of 1.02, and R2 of 0.62 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since September 30, 2005.
- This ETF participated in 109.09% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 107.77% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
- With beta of 1.02 and R2 of 0.62, this ETF moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- 0.72%
- Beta
- 1.02
- R²
- 0.62
- Upside Capture
- 107.77%
- Downside Capture
- 109.09%
Expense Ratio
FDM has an expense ratio of 0.60%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
FDM ranks 55 for risk / return — on par with similar ETFs. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) 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.
| FDM | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.36 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.32 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.37 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.39 | 2.78 | +0.60 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.21 | 12.44 | -2.23 |
Dividends
Dividend History
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund provided a 1.22% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $1.09 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $1.09 | $1.14 | $1.06 | $1.11 | $1.00 | $0.69 | $0.80 | $0.70 | $0.51 | $0.46 | $0.50 | $0.48 |
Dividend yield | 1.22% | 1.43% | 1.56% | 1.81% | 1.80% | 1.08% | 1.68% | 1.37% | 1.26% | 0.97% | 1.13% | 1.45% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index 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 | $0.23 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.23 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.28 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.22 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.26 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.38 | $1.14 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.06 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.50 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.21 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.29 | $1.06 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.42 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.28 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.24 | $1.11 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.16 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.25 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.26 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.34 | $1.00 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.09 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.08 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.36 | $0.69 |
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 Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index 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 Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund was 63.45%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 994 trading sessions.
The current First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund drawdown is 0.51%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -63.45%Mar 2009 | 1y 8mo | 3y 11mo | 5y 7moJul 2007 - Feb 2013 |
COVID crash2020 | -47.76%Mar 2020 | 1y 6mo | 9mo 25d | 2y 4moAug 2018 - Jan 2021 |
2023 bear market2023 | -23.74%May 2023 | 1y 5mo | 1y 2mo | 2y 8moNov 2021 - Jul 2024 |
2025 selloff2025 | -23.47%Apr 2025 | 3mo 27d | 2mo 25d | 6mo 22dDec 2024 - Jul 2025 |
2016 correction2016 | -17.78%Feb 2016 | 7mo 22d | 5mo 2d | 1y 19dJun 2015 - Jul 2016 |
Drawdown Indicators
| FDM | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.45% | -56.78% | -6.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.30% | -9.10% | -0.20% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.47% | -18.90% | -4.57% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -23.74% | -25.43% | +1.69% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -47.76% | -33.92% | -13.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.51% | -1.80% | +1.29% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.32% | -10.71% | -0.61% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.08% | 2.03% | +1.05% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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