The takeaway
First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF shows a moderate seasonal pattern over 10 years of data — strongest in November (+2.4%) and softest in February (−1.0%).
Right now
In July, the fund has risen 90% of years, averaging +1.9% — essentially in line with the S&P 500.
The full picture
First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF's most dependable month has been November, higher in 10 of 10 years; February has been its least reliable, up just 40% of the time.
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Month by month
The fund's clearest edge over the S&P 500 lands in January (+1.5 pts); it has trailed the market most in March (−1.6 pts).
“vs S&P” is First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF’s average for a month minus the S&P 500’s average for that same month — isolating First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF’s own seasonal edge from broad market drift.
Reality check
Over the last 5 years, November has closed higher 100% of the time versus 100% across the last 10 years — the pattern is holding.
Figures are the typical (median) November return and how often it rose — the last 5 years versus the last 10(the heatmap’s default window). This verdict stays anchored to that 10-year window even if you zoom the chart, so it never disagrees with the badges above.
In plain English
Dependability is the through-line here. November stands out, higher in all 10 Novembers, but it heads a clutch of months that pull the year reliably upward.
Its average (+2.4%) and median (+2.1%) land within a hair of each other — the tell of steady, year-after-year gains rather than one outlier doing the work. It is among its calmest months, too, its returns swinging least from year to year (a 1.9% spread), and even its worst November in 10 years lost only 0.3% — the gentlest downside anywhere on its calendar. Set against the S&P 500, mind, November is close to a wash — the gain mirrors the market more than it beats it. That consistency sets it apart from the field, where the average stock manages November only about 62% of the time.
The strength clusters rather than stands alone — October–January forms a firm stretch that carries much of the year. At the other end of the calendar, February has been the soft spot — the weakest of 2 months that average a loss (−1.0%), and the edge isn't year-round — the fund has trailed the S&P 500 in March, April, and October.
November has now closed higher 10 years running. Reassuringly, the tendency has held its shape: the recent five years still track the years behind them.
The takeaway is less about when to buy than what to expect: November aside, the fund's months offer little reliable tilt.
Short answers on the fund's best month (November), its worst (February), and whether it really trades seasonally.
Yes, to a moderate degree. Since 2016 its best month (November, +2.4%) has run well ahead of its worst (February, −1.0%) — the heatmap above shows how steady that gap has been year to year.
November has been the strongest, averaging +2.4% and closing higher in all 10 years on record since 2016.
It's the weakest, averaging −1.0% — historically a soft spot, though it still varies from year to year.
Explore
These names have the strongest July track records on record — a starting point for comparison.
Before you trade