- ISIN
- US33738R7465
- CUSIP
- 33738R746
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Inception Date
- Jun 20, 2017
- Category
- Small Cap Growth Equities
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- SMID Growth Strength Index
- Distribution Policy
- Accumulating
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Small-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Growth
- Assets Under Management
- $28M
Share Price Chart
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Performance
FSGS Performance Chart
First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF (FSGS) is up 1.7% since the beginning of the year. FSGS is currently trading at $31 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of FSGS shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,145.
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Returns By Period
First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF (FSGS) has returned 1.70% so far this year and 7.77% over the past 12 months.
First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF
- 1D
- -0.01%
- 1M
- 0.31%
- YTD
- 1.70%
- 6M
- -0.75%
- 1Y
- 7.77%
- 3Y*
- 7.52%
- 5Y*
- 2.75%
- 10Y*
- —
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%
FSGS Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Jun 22, 2017, FSGS's average daily return is +0.04%, while the average monthly return is +0.73%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 7.9 years.
Historically, 59% of months were positive and 41% were negative. The best month was Nov 2020 with a return of +19.0%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -22.3%. The longest winning streak lasted 8 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 4 months.
On a daily basis, FSGS closed higher 47% of trading days. The best single day was Apr 9, 2025 with a return of +9.2%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -11.8%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1.90% | -1.06% | -4.80% | 4.96% | 0.80% | 0.15% | 1.70% | ||||||
| 2025 | 2.80% | -6.31% | -4.47% | 0.55% | 6.03% | 1.75% | 2.57% | 3.61% | -0.94% | -2.75% | 1.30% | -1.06% | 2.41% |
| 2024 | -3.41% | 2.49% | 1.80% | -6.20% | 4.56% | -1.87% | 10.70% | -1.21% | 0.65% | -2.65% | 10.40% | -7.30% | 6.38% |
| 2023 | 11.25% | -1.12% | -4.47% | -2.28% | -3.16% | 7.91% | 4.98% | -4.21% | -5.21% | -5.25% | 7.93% | 10.86% | 15.98% |
| 2022 | -4.46% | 0.44% | 1.59% | -7.03% | 2.15% | -8.84% | 11.00% | -5.32% | -11.70% | 12.76% | 4.58% | -5.99% | -13.17% |
| 2021 | 2.44% | 10.21% | 4.09% | 2.22% | 3.29% | -1.60% | -1.31% | 0.37% | -1.77% | 2.61% | -2.33% | 5.48% | 25.56% |
Benchmark Metrics
First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF has an annualized alpha of -3.70%, beta of 0.91, and R2 of 0.57 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since June 22, 2017.
- This ETF participated in 112.74% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 88.02% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
- This ETF had an annualized alpha of -3.70% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering less than market exposure alone would predict.
- With beta of 0.91 and R2 of 0.57, 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
- -3.70%
- Beta
- 0.91
- R²
- 0.57
- Upside Capture
- 88.02%
- Downside Capture
- 112.74%
Expense Ratio
FSGS has an expense ratio of 0.60%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
FSGS ranks 16 for risk / return — in the bottom 16% of ETFs on our site. This means you're taking on significantly more risk than the returns justify. Consider whether the potential upside is worth the volatility, or explore alternatives with better risk / return profiles.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF (FSGS) 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.
| FSGS | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.52 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.92 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.37 | -0.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.69 | 2.78 | -2.09 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.94 | 12.44 | -10.50 |
Dividends
Dividend History
First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.80 | $0.66 | $0.50 | $0.40 | $0.32 | $0.39 | $0.40 | $0.25 |
Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% | 2.71% | 2.29% | 1.95% | 1.35% | 1.32% | 1.77% | 2.13% | 1.15% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF. 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 | $0.04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.23 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.14 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.39 | $0.80 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.17 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.26 | $0.66 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.11 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.20 | $0.50 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.40 |
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 SMID Growth Strength ETF. 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 SMID Growth Strength ETF was 43.26%, occurring on Mar 18, 2020. Recovery took 175 trading sessions.
The current First Trust SMID Growth Strength ETF drawdown is 4.33%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
COVID crash2020 | -43.26%Mar 2020 | 1y 6mo | 8mo 11d | 2y 2moSep 2018 - Nov 2020 |
2025 selloff2025 | -24.08%Apr 2025 | 4mo 13d | — | 1y 6moNov 2024 - now |
Bear market2022 | -23.77%Sep 2022 | 10mo 26d | 1y 9mo | 2y 8moNov 2021 - Jul 2024 |
2018 correction2018 | -10.17%Feb 2018 | 16d | 3mo 11d | 3mo 27dJan 2018 - May 2018 |
2021 pullback2021 | -9.31%Jul 2021 | 1mo 10d | 3mo 17d | 4mo 27dJun 2021 - Nov 2021 |
Drawdown Indicators
| FSGS | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.26% | -56.78% | +13.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.31% | -9.10% | -2.21% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.08% | -18.90% | -5.18% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.08% | -25.43% | +1.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.92% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.33% | -1.80% | -2.53% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.00% | -10.71% | +2.71% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.01% | 2.03% | +1.98% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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