ILDR Performance — First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF
Data updated: 2026-07-22
ILDR returned +20.28% year to date and +48.43% over one year to May 2026. Annualised returns are +32.26% over 3 years and +14.21% over 5 years. The fund beat its Thematic Equity category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $231, against $175 for the category, and to $148 over one year, against $125. Volatility over the past three years was 21.93% a year. In the 12 months to May 2026 the fund took in a net $158.6M, and assets reached $286.85M.
ILDR Growth of $100
What $100 invested in First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the Thematic Equity category average over the same months.
| Period | ILDR | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Jun 2025 – May 2026) | $148 | $125 |
| 3 years (Jun 2023 – May 2026) | $231 | $175 |
| 5 years (Jun 2021 – May 2026) | $194 | $149 |
| Since data start (May 2021 – May 2026) | $197 | $149 |
ILDR Trailing Returns
Total returns to May 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +20.28% |
| 1 year | +48.43% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +32.26% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +14.21% |
ILDR Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–May) | +20.28% |
| 2025 | +29.22% |
| 2024 | +29.36% |
| 2023 | +39.15% |
| 2022 | −34.92% |
| 2021 (May–Dec) | +8.43% |
ILDR Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | −0.1% | −5.4% | −3.9% | +16.4% | +13.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +6.0% | −3.9% | −10.1% | +3.3% | +10.7% | +10.2% | +3.3% | −0.5% | +7.0% | +6.1% | −4.0% | −0.1% |
| 2024 | +2.6% | +8.6% | +1.7% | −6.1% | +3.4% | +8.3% | −2.3% | +3.1% | +2.8% | +1.2% | +7.1% | −3.3% |
| 2023 | +9.9% | −1.3% | +5.1% | −1.6% | +7.8% | +6.0% | +4.0% | −3.3% | −6.0% | −4.6% | +13.9% | +5.8% |
| 2022 | −13.0% | −2.0% | +2.5% | −17.2% | −5.4% | −7.3% | +11.8% | −1.4% | −7.4% | +3.7% | +3.4% | −6.2% |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — | +1.6% | +8.1% | −0.2% | +4.4% | −5.6% | +4.8% | −3.5% | −0.7% |
ILDR Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Jun 2023 – May 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 21.93%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 1.27 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +16.35% (Apr 2026)
- Worst month: −10.10% (Mar 2025)
ILDR Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $158.6M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $209.4M
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 4.12×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $14.7M | $5.6M | $9.1M |
| Apr 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mar 2026 | $1.5M | $4.3M | −$2.8M |
| Feb 2026 | $11.1M | $3.2M | $7.9M |
| Jan 2026 | $16.8M | $6.7M | $10.0M |
| Dec 2025 | $23.3M | $13.4M | $9.9M |
| Nov 2025 | $11.7M | $0 | $11.7M |
| Oct 2025 | $38.8M | $8.3M | $30.5M |
| Sep 2025 | $36.1M | $4.8M | $31.3M |
| Aug 2025 | $25.7M | $0 | $25.7M |
| Jul 2025 | $24.1M | $4.4M | $19.6M |
| Jun 2025 | $5.6M | $0 | $5.6M |
ILDR Assets Under Management
Net assets of First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | $286.85M |
| 2026-02-28 | $220.60M |
| 2025-11-30 | $205.73M |
| 2025-08-31 | $120.80M |
| 2025-05-31 | $61.32M |
| 2025-02-28 | $66.14M |
| 2024-11-30 | $52.64M |
| 2024-08-31 | $40.15M |
| 2024-05-31 | $28.16M |
| 2024-02-29 | $29.61M |
| 2023-11-30 | $18.61M |
| 2023-08-31 | $15.49M |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.