- ISIN
- US3373441050
- CUSIP
- 337344105
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Inception Date
- Apr 19, 2006
- Region
- North America (U.S.)
- Category
- Nasdaq-100, Equal Weight
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Large-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Growth
- Assets Under Management
- $2B
Share Price Chart
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Performance
QQEW Performance Chart
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW) is up 7.6% since the beginning of the year. QQEW is currently trading at $153 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of QQEW shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,418.
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Returns By Period
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW) has returned 7.64% so far this year and 15.59% over the past 12 months. Looking at the last ten years, QQEW has achieved an annualized return of 14.69%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.71% per year.
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund
- 1D
- -2.19%
- 1M
- 1.60%
- YTD
- 7.64%
- 6M
- 6.22%
- 1Y
- 15.59%
- 3Y*
- 14.33%
- 5Y*
- 7.24%
- 10Y*
- 14.69%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -1.44%
- 1M
- -1.45%
- YTD
- 7.60%
- 6M
- 6.59%
- 1Y
- 22.24%
- 3Y*
- 19.20%
- 5Y*
- 11.54%
- 10Y*
- 13.71%
QQEW Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since May 2, 2006, QQEW's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +1.03%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 5.6 years.
Historically, 60% of months were positive and 40% were negative. The best month was Apr 2009 with a return of +14.6%, while the worst month was Oct 2008 at -22.7%. The longest winning streak lasted 8 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, QQEW closed higher 54% of trading days. The best single day was Oct 13, 2008 with a return of +12.4%, 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 | -2.14% | -3.58% | -5.30% | 8.20% | 13.64% | -2.03% | 7.64% | ||||||
| 2025 | 4.77% | -1.41% | -6.20% | 0.57% | 6.98% | 5.01% | -0.01% | -0.35% | 3.84% | 2.09% | -1.50% | 0.29% | 14.22% |
| 2024 | 0.69% | 3.87% | 1.04% | -5.41% | 2.82% | 2.49% | -0.32% | 1.20% | 0.97% | -1.40% | 6.32% | -4.88% | 7.00% |
| 2023 | 9.48% | -1.21% | 5.02% | -2.00% | 2.98% | 5.39% | 4.91% | -3.11% | -4.15% | -4.73% | 10.64% | 7.45% | 33.31% |
| 2022 | -9.07% | -2.96% | 2.81% | -10.56% | -0.95% | -8.00% | 10.64% | -4.48% | -9.19% | 6.00% | 7.37% | -6.61% | -24.59% |
| 2021 | -0.42% | 1.47% | 1.39% | 3.61% | -0.11% | 5.04% | 1.91% | 2.31% | -4.87% | 5.40% | -1.76% | 2.93% | 17.75% |
Benchmark Metrics
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund has an annualized alpha of 2.36%, beta of 1.02, and R2 of 0.84 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since May 02, 2006.
- This ETF captured 117.23% of S&P 500 Index gains and 106.61% of its losses - amplifying both gains and losses, but participating more in upside than downside.
- This ETF generated an annualized alpha of 2.36% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering returns beyond what market exposure alone would predict.
- With beta of 1.02 and R2 of 0.84, 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
- 2.36%
- Beta
- 1.02
- R²
- 0.84
- Upside Capture
- 117.23%
- Downside Capture
- 106.61%
Expense Ratio
QQEW has an expense ratio of 0.58%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
QQEW ranks 24 for risk / return — below 24% of ETFs on our site. The returns aren't fully compensating for the risk involved. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but factor it into your decision — especially if you're risk-averse.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW) 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.
| QQEW | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.91 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.32 | -0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.00 | 2.46 | -1.46 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.98 | 10.92 | -7.94 |
Dividends
Dividend History
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund provided a 0.29% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.45 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $0.45 | $0.58 | $0.71 | $0.82 | $0.59 | $0.28 | $0.35 | $0.35 | $0.30 | $0.28 | $0.34 | $0.27 |
Dividend yield | 0.29% | 0.41% | 0.57% | 0.70% | 0.66% | 0.24% | 0.34% | 0.48% | 0.56% | 0.48% | 0.73% | 0.61% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted 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 | $0.02 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.02 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.11 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.19 | $0.58 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.22 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.22 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.13 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.14 | $0.71 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.16 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.32 | $0.82 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.11 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.18 | $0.59 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.08 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.06 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.10 | $0.28 |
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 Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted 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 Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund was 58.16%, occurring on Nov 20, 2008. Recovery took 534 trading sessions.
The current First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund drawdown is 5.49%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -58.16%Nov 2008 | 1y 1mo | 2y 1mo | 3y 2moOct 2007 - Jan 2011 |
Bear market2022 | -32.12%Oct 2022 | 11mo 1d | 1y 3mo | 2y 2moNov 2021 - Jan 2024 |
COVID crash2020 | -30.80%Mar 2020 | 29d | 2mo 17d | 3mo 16dFeb 2020 - Jun 2020 |
2025 selloff2025 | -21.43%Apr 2025 | 1mo 18d | 2mo 23d | 4mo 11dFeb 2025 - Jun 2025 |
2011 bear market2011 | -20.95%Oct 2011 | 4mo 23d | 4mo 16d | 9mo 9dMay 2011 - Feb 2012 |
Drawdown Indicators
| QQEW | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.16% | -56.78% | -1.38% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.74% | -9.10% | -6.64% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.43% | -18.90% | -2.53% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.12% | -25.43% | -6.69% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.12% | -33.92% | +1.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.49% | -3.21% | -2.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.29% | -10.71% | +2.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.25% | 2.04% | +3.21% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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