At a glance
FFTY charges 0.8% a year, above the 0.19% average of the 1 funds most like it. It has $85.9M in assets; it paid 1.43% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, annual. Over the past year it returned −17.7% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%); over three years it returned +17.9% a year. At its worst it fell 32.7% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 47.8% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 4 months and 45 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 35.7% of the fund, out of 50 in all.
The short version
Innovator IBD 50 ETF (FFTY) tracks the IBD 50 Index. Investor's Business Daily rebuilds the index every week as a computer-generated list of 50 growth stocks, scored on earnings, sales and price-momentum ratings. Because of that weekly rebuild, portfolio turnover was 1,209%. Its 0.80% expense ratio is more than four times the 0.19% charged by the iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF, and it lost 51.0% in 2022.
Price history
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FFTY -17.7% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFTY official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +23.53% | — | -2.07% | +5.26% | +3.72% |
| FFTY price data to Oct 27, 2026 | -5.7% | -17.7% | +17.9% | -6.5% | +4.7% | +2.9% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, FFTY returned -17.7%.
- Its 5-year annualized return was -6.5% and its 10-year +4.7%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 32.7% and regained its old high 4.3 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-51.1%); its best was 2017 (+37.6%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 59.5% (Sep 23, 2021 to Oct 27, 2023), not yet recovered.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | -5.8% | — |
| 2025 | +23.4% | +23.53% |
| 2024 | +18.4% | +18.43% |
| 2023 | +12.4% | +12.31% |
| 2022 | -51.1% | -51.03% |
| 2021 | +11.9% | +11.94% |
| 2020 | +18.2% | +18.00% |
| 2019 | +25.7% | +25.77% |
| 2018 | -16.8% | -16.63% |
| 2017 | +37.6% | +37.32% |
| 2016 | +8.9% | +9.10% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 32.7% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 32.7%, back to its old high 4.3 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 46.6% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 47.8%, back to its old high 44.8 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.4700 | +80.8% |
| 2024 | $0.2600 | +60.5% |
| 2023 | $0.1620 | -73.0% |
| 2022 | $0.6000 | +500.0% |
| 2021 | $0.1000 | +66.7% |
| 2017 | $0.0600 |
What's inside
As of Jan 31, 2026, the fund held 50 securities; the ten largest made up 35.66% of assets. It also reported 19.36% in a money-market fund, most likely cash collateral from lending out shares rather than uninvested money.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Mirum Pharmaceuticals Inc | 4.06% | |
| Micron Technology Inc | 3.91% | |
| AnaptysBio Inc | 3.72% | |
| Comfort Systems USA Inc | 3.65% | |
| FTAI Aviation Ltd | 3.48% | |
| IAMGOLD Corp | 3.46% | |
| PACS Group Inc | 3.43% | |
| Rocket Lab Corp | 3.34% | |
| Celestica Inc | 3.33% | |
| Coeur Mining Inc | 3.27% | |
| Sterling Infrastructure Inc | 3.10% | |
| Gold Fields Ltd | 3.07% | |
| Axsome Therapeutics Inc | 3.06% | |
| Dycom Industries Inc | 3.05% | |
| Applied Digital Corp | 3.04% |
By country
United States 65.73%Canada 24.16%South Africa 4.06%United Kingdom 2.88%Israel 2.07%By asset type
Stocks 99.96%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jan 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $13.0M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -11.97%, -1.24%, +2.63%.
How it works
FFTY aims to track the IBD 50 Index, which Investor's Business Daily compiles and publishes each week. The sub-adviser, Penserra Capital Management, normally keeps at least 80% of assets in index stocks. It aims for a correlation of 0.95 or better with the index, where 1.00 would mean the two move in lockstep. The screen starts with about 7,000 stocks listed on the NYSE, Nasdaq and NYSE American. It drops stocks that fail tests for minimum price, trading volume, upward price movement and moving averages. It also removes stocks whose prices have climbed too fast or too steadily.
The remaining stocks are scored on 11 factors. Five are IBD's own ratings, such as Earnings Per Share and Relative Price Strength. Six more adjust the score for earnings and sales growth, analyst estimates, liquidity and return on equity. The 50 highest scorers enter the index in tiers. The top 10 get 3.5% each, ranks 11–20 get 3.0%, ranks 21–30 get 2.0%, ranks 31–40 get 1.0% and ranks 41–50 get 0.5%. The index can hold companies of any size, including foreign firms through ADRs (US-listed shares of non-US companies).
The index is rebalanced and rebuilt every week after the market closes on the last trading day. That is why turnover reached 1,209%, which adds trading costs. The index also has a cash-equivalents portion that can respond to certain market signals during downturns. That feature did not prevent a 51.0% loss in 2022.
What it really costs
- FFTY charges 0.8% a year, versus an average of 0.19% for the similar funds below.
- Of that, 0.7% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
- The fee includes a 0.23% waiver from the adviser, which may end.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $82 in the first year and $1,239 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFTY | $82 | $305 | $546 | $1,239 |
In a retirement portfolio
FFTY is a concentrated, high-turnover momentum strategy that has had very deep losses, so it fits as a small add-on rather than a foundation.
FFTY could add exposure to fast-rising growth stocks, but its swings are severe. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 32.7% and recovered in about four months. In the 2022 bear market it dropped 47.8% and took nearly 45 months, until June 2026, to get back to its starting level. Its worst calendar year was 2022, a 51.0% loss. Its deepest decline, 59.5% from September 2021 to October 2023, had still not been recovered as of October 27, 2026. Anyone who had to sell shares for spending in a year like 2022 would have locked in steep losses. The trailing yield was 1.43% as of October 27, 2026, paid once a year, so the fund offers little income. In the SEC's standard example, the 0.80% expense ratio adds up to $1,239 over 10 years on a $10,000 investment. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want a rules-based list of 50 IBD-screened growth stocks, rebuilt weekly, as a small, higher-risk slice of a broader portfolio.
- People who follow Investor's Business Daily's ratings and want them applied mechanically, without picking individual stocks themselves.
- Those who can tolerate sharp swings, such as the 51.0% loss in 2022 and a one-year beta of 1.97 as of October 27, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-conscious investors: FFTY's 0.80% expense ratio compares with 0.19% for the iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF.
- Retirees who need steady income: the trailing yield was 1.43% as of October 27, 2026, paid only once a year.
- Anyone who may need to sell in a downturn: recovering from the 2022 drop took nearly 45 months.
Close alternatives
Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFTY this fund | — | 0.8% | $85.9M | -17.7% | +17.9% |
| IWF iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 7% | 0.19% | $128.90B | -3.7% | +20.3% |
Questions investors ask
Is FFTY good for retirement?
FFTY fits a retirement portfolio better as a small, higher-risk satellite than as a core holding. It lost 51.0% in 2022 and needed nearly 45 months, until June 2026, to recover from its 2022 bear-market drop. Its yield was 1.43% as of October 27, 2026, paid once a year. Its 0.80% expense ratio is well above broad growth funds. It may suit retirees only as a modest slice next to steadier holdings.
What's the difference between FFTY and IWF?
IWF follows the broad Russell 1000 Growth Index. FFTY holds just 50 stocks, picked weekly using IBD's ratings. Only about 7% of their holdings overlap. IWF charges 0.19% and FFTY charges 0.80%. IWF has about $128.9 billion in assets, against FFTY's $85.9 million. IWF returned -2.2% over one year and 22.3% a year over three years as of October 30, 2026. FFTY returned -17.7% and 17.9% a year as of October 27, 2026.
Does FFTY pay a dividend?
Yes, but only once a year, and the amount is small. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid about $0.47 per share, a trailing yield of 1.43%. The fund targets fast-growing companies, which often pay little in dividends, and its holdings change weekly. Investors who want regular income may find funds built around dividend-paying stocks more relevant.
Why is FFTY's turnover so high?
FFTY's turnover is high because its index is rebuilt every week. After the market closes on the last trading day of each week, Investor's Business Daily rescores stocks and resets the 50 holdings and their weights. The prospectus reports portfolio turnover of 1,209%, meaning the fund replaced its holdings many times over in a year. The prospectus warns this raises transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions and dealer markups. Those costs come on top of the 0.80% expense ratio.
What stocks are in FFTY?
As of January 31, 2026, FFTY held 50 stocks. The largest were Mirum Pharmaceuticals (4.1%), Micron Technology (3.9%), AnaptysBio (3.7%), Comfort Systems USA (3.6%) and FTAI Aviation (3.5%). The top 10 made up about 36% of assets. Gold miners IAMGOLD, Coeur Mining and Gold Fields also ranked high, and Canadian companies made up about 24% of the fund. Because the index resets weekly, the lineup can change sharply from one week to the next.