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ISIN
US33740F5089
Inception Date
Sep 27, 2016
Region
North America (U.S.)
Leveraged
1x (No leverage)
Index Tracked
No Index (Active)
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Bond
Assets Under Management
$19M

Share Price Chart


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Performance

MFLX Performance Chart

First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF (MFLX) is up 3.2% since the beginning of the year. MFLX is currently trading at $17 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of MFLX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $997.


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S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF (MFLX) has returned 3.15% so far this year and 8.70% over the past 12 months.


First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF

1D
-0.23%
1M
0.53%
YTD
3.15%
6M
3.63%
1Y
8.70%
3Y*
5.61%
5Y*
-0.06%
10Y*

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
-2.64%
1M
0.25%
YTD
7.86%
6M
7.47%
1Y
3Y*
5Y*
10Y*
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

MFLX Monthly Returns History

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Sep 29, 2016, MFLX's average daily return is +0.01%, while the average monthly return is +0.20%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 28.9 years.

Historically, 62% of months were positive and 38% were negative. The best month was May 2020 with a return of +6.0%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -8.1%. The longest winning streak lasted 10 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 4 months.

On a daily basis, MFLX closed higher 47% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 25, 2020 with a return of +6.6%, while the worst single day was Mar 18, 2020 at -13.9%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20260.94%1.87%-3.00%2.29%1.07%0.02%3.15%
20250.75%1.45%-1.86%-1.77%0.10%0.65%-0.89%1.36%2.74%1.28%0.04%0.11%3.94%
2024-0.64%0.72%0.24%-0.99%-0.30%2.44%1.35%1.39%0.97%-1.36%1.91%-1.94%3.74%
20232.85%-1.30%1.31%0.57%-1.42%1.75%0.51%-3.87%-0.64%-0.57%4.75%5.04%8.98%
2022-8.09%-2.00%-4.21%-6.03%1.91%-2.66%4.01%-3.20%-5.80%-0.62%4.41%1.14%-19.94%
20211.09%-1.81%2.09%2.03%1.83%2.06%1.21%0.50%-3.28%-0.71%1.76%1.52%8.43%

Benchmark Metrics

First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF has an annualized alpha of 7.26%, beta of 0.09, and R2 of 0.07 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since September 30, 2016.

  • This ETF participates in less of S&P 500 Index's moves in both directions, but captures a larger share of gains (28.81%) than losses (13.45%) - typical of diversified or defensive assets.
  • Beta of 0.09 may look defensive, but with R2 of 0.07 this ETF is largely uncorrelated with S&P 500 Index - low beta reflects independence, not downside protection. See the Volatility section for a true picture of this ETF's risk.
  • R2 of 0.07 means this ETF moves largely independently of S&P 500 Index - capture ratios reflect limited market correlation rather than active downside protection. Consider using a more representative benchmark.

Alpha
7.26%
Beta
0.09
0.07
Upside Capture
28.81%
Downside Capture
13.45%

Expense Ratio

MFLX has an expense ratio of 0.88%, placing it in the medium range.


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

MFLX ranks 74 for risk / return — better than 74% 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.


MFLX Risk / Return Rank: 7474
Overall Rank
MFLX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7373
Sharpe Ratio Rank
MFLX Sortino Ratio Rank: 8181
Sortino Ratio Rank
MFLX Omega Ratio Rank: 8484
Omega Ratio Rank
MFLX Calmar Ratio Rank: 6262
Calmar Ratio Rank
MFLX Martin Ratio Rank: 6868
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

Return / Risk — by metrics

The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF (MFLX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.


MFLXBenchmarkDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.46

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.81

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

11.28

Dividends

Dividend History

First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF provided a 4.08% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.70 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 2 consecutive years.


1.00%2.00%3.00%4.00%$0.00$0.20$0.40$0.60$0.802016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Dividend$0.70$0.69$0.65$0.62$0.70$0.78$0.65$0.58$0.64$0.71$0.18

Dividend yield

4.08%4.06%3.81%3.65%4.27%3.69%3.21%2.94%3.74%3.80%0.98%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.00$0.30
2025$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.69
2024$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.65
2023$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.62
2022$0.07$0.07$0.07$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.05$0.70
2021$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.06$0.09$0.78

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 Flexible Municipal High Income 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 Flexible Municipal High Income ETF was 26.76%, occurring on Mar 18, 2020. Recovery took 176 trading sessions.

The current First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF drawdown is 3.95%.


Related event

Drawdown

Fall

Recovery

Underwater

COVID crash2020
-26.76%Mar 2020
22d8mo 12d
9mo 4dFeb 2020 - Nov 2020
Bear market2022
-25.88%Oct 2022
1y 2mo
4y 9moAug 2021 - now
2016 correction2016
-10.10%Dec 2016
2mo 2d2y 3mo
2y 5moSep 2016 - Mar 2019
2021 pullback2021
-4.45%Feb 2021
12d1mo 19d
2mo 1dFeb 2021 - Apr 2021
2019 pullback2019
-3.82%Sep 2019
11d2mo 26d
3mo 7dSep 2019 - Dec 2019

Drawdown Indicators


MFLXBenchmarkDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-26.76%

-9.10%

-17.66%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-3.11%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-8.18%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.88%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.95%

-2.97%

-0.98%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-8.17%

-1.13%

-7.04%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

0.77%

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


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Portfolio Analyzer

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