What is smart beta and how do First Trust ETFs use it?

Smart beta ETFs use alternative weighting or selection methodologies instead of traditional market-cap weighting to target specific investment factors or outcomes. First Trust's smart beta ETFs may weight stocks by fundamentals like revenue or dividends, screen for quality metrics, or use multi-factor scoring systems. The goal is to capture specific return drivers or reduce concentrated risk while maintaining the transparency and liquidity benefits of the ETF structure.

Are First Trust ETFs more expensive than index ETFs?

First Trust ETFs generally have higher expense ratios than basic market-cap-weighted index ETFs because their strategies involve more complex screening, weighting, and rebalancing. However, they are typically cheaper than traditional actively managed funds. Investors should evaluate whether the specific strategy and potential for differentiated returns justify the incremental cost compared to simpler, cheaper index alternatives.

What types of investors use First Trust ETFs?

First Trust ETFs appeal to investors and financial advisors seeking more targeted exposure than basic index funds provide. They are popular with advisors building customized portfolios who want specific factor tilts, thematic exposure, or alternative weighting methodologies. Income-focused investors also use First Trust's dividend and covered call ETFs. The firm's products tend to attract investors who are comfortable paying somewhat higher fees for a more refined investment approach.

First Trust ETFs

367 ETFs · AUM: $291.79B

First Trust Advisors is known for its smart beta and thematic ETF strategies that go beyond traditional market-cap-weighted indexing. The firm offers a wide range of ETFs built on proprietary index methodologies designed to capture specific investment factors, themes, or market segments. First Trust's approach often incorporates fundamental screening, sector rotation, or unique weighting schemes to differentiate its products from plain-vanilla index funds, appealing to investors who want more targeted or actively designed exposure.

Among First Trust's most popular ETFs, FDN focuses on internet commerce and services companies, providing concentrated exposure to digital economy leaders. FTEC offers broad technology sector exposure at a competitive expense ratio. FV uses a multi-factor approach to select U.S. large-cap value stocks, combining value screening with quality and momentum factors. First Trust's lineup also includes a substantial range of fixed income, dividend, and sector-specific ETFs that use active or enhanced index strategies.

367 ETFs found

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Symbol▼	Fund Name▼	Category	Type	AUM▲	Expense Ratio▼	Price▼	YTD▼
XFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - February	—	—	$61.4M	0.85%	$38.49	+7.64%
QCOC	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - October	—	—	$62.8M	0.90%	$24.86	+10.88%
AUGM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - August	Technology	—	$65.7M	0.85%	$35.59	+4.47%
KNGZ	First Trust S&P 500 Diversified Dividend Aristocrats ETF	Technology	Dividend S&P 500	$65.8M	0.50%	$42.42	+18.77%
JUNM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$67.5M	0.85%	$35.54	+3.86%
DLFE	First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII - FT Vest U.S. Equity Dual Directional Buffer ETF - February	—	—	$68.5M	0.85%	$32.71	—
BUFH	FT Vest Laddered Max Buffer ETF	—	—	$70.6M	0.10%	$21.75	+4.39%
DDIV	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF	Financial Services	Momentum High Dividend Dividend Income Technology	$70.8M	0.60%	$45.12	+8.80%
XJAN	First Trust Exchange Traded Fund VIII - FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - January	—	—	$71.0M	0.85%	$39.55	+7.26%
DVOL	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	Financial Services	Momentum Low Volatility Technology VIX	$74.3M	0.60%	$36.14	+3.20%
QCJA	First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII - FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - January	—	—	$74.4M	0.90%	$23.97	+8.73%
FHDG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Dynamic Buffer ETF	—	Buffer S&P 500	$75.6M	0.85%	$37.53	+10.46%
FNI	First Trust Chindia ETF	Consumer Cyclical	Large Cap China India	$76.3M	0.59%	$43.54	—
DHDG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$78.1M	0.85%	$37.99	+11.85%
FCEF	First Trust Income Opportunities ETF	Financial Services	Income Value Inverse	$79.9M	0.85%	$22.79	-0.85%
AFEM	First Trust Active Factor Emerging Markets ETF	Technology	—	$80.8M	0.85%	$93.93	—
QABA	First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund	Financial Services	Technology	$82.8M	0.63%	$65.13	+14.83%
HYTI	FT Vest High Yield & Target Income ETF	Cash & Others	Income Treasury Corporate Bond High Yield Bond	$83.0M	0.65%	$18.30	-7.30%
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities ETF	Cash & Others	Convertible Active	$83.3M	0.95%	$45.85	+6.82%
RFEM	First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF	Technology	Active Real Estate Emerging Markets	$83.7M	0.85%	$99.66	—
RSJN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Equal Weight Buffer ETF - June	—	Buffer Equal Weight S&P 500	$83.9M	0.85%	$37.97	+10.66%
FTCE	First Trust New Constructs Core Earnings Leaders ETF	Technology	Technology	$85.2M	0.60%	$27.70	+11.16%
FGM	First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Technology	$88.4M	0.80%	$57.99	-7.10%
DOGG	FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF	Healthcare	Dividend Income Large Cap Treasury Inverse	$88.9M	0.75%	$22.05	+6.30%
AFGR	First Trust Active Factor Large Cap Growth ETF	—	—	$90.7M	0.65%	$37.41	—
MMLG	First Trust Multi-Manager Large Growth ETF	Technology	Large Cap Growth Long-Term Bond	$93.2M	0.85%	$36.08	—
DALI	First Trust Dorsey Wright DALI Equity ETF	Industrials	Technology	$95.1M	0.30%	$27.47	-4.05%
MGOV	First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF	—	Mortgage Floating Rate Treasury Long-Term Bond	$96.2M	0.50%	$19.21	-6.08%
HISF	First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF	—	Income	$97.9M	0.10%	$42.55	-5.98%
QMAG	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Moderate Buffer ETF - August	—	—	$98.2M	0.90%	$26.11	+10.55%
XSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$99.0M	0.85%	$45.54	+7.59%
ACYQ	FT Vest Autocallable Barrier & High Income ETF	—	—	$99.1M	0.75%	$20.57	—
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Financial Services	Equal Weight India	$100.1M	0.80%	$51.39	-11.90%
QCJL	First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII - FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July	—	—	$104.0M	0.90%	$25.96	+9.53%
CRPT	First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry and Digital Economy ETF	Financial Services	Bitcoin Cryptocurrency	$106.3M	0.85%	$14.73	-0.80%
MARM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - March	—	Buffer S&P 500	$106.5M	0.85%	$34.69	+4.96%
SMAY	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May	Healthcare	Buffer Small Cap	$109.3M	0.90%	$27.60	+6.27%
FVC	First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF	Healthcare	Diversified	$110.6M	0.30%	$43.28	+19.14%
SNOV	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - November	Healthcare	Buffer Small Cap	$112.2M	0.90%	$27.36	+10.72%
FEUZ	First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX ETF	Financial Services	Europe Technology	$113.5M	0.80%	$63.69	+3.86%
FPA	First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Japan Technology	$113.7M	0.80%	$45.13	+21.65%
FTRI	First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF	Basic Materials	Income	$117.5M	0.70%	$17.05	+8.78%
CU	First Trust ISE Global Copper ETF	Basic Materials	—	$125.3M	—	$9.61	—
SFEB	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - February	—	—	$125.6M	0.90%	$25.64	+9.10%
SAUG	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - August	—	—	$126.2M	0.90%	$27.11	+6.19%
QCAP	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April	—	—	$126.3M	0.90%	$25.48	+7.51%
LEGR	First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF	Financial Services	Cryptocurrency Technology	$126.9M	0.65%	$65.59	+10.19%
AFSM	First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF	Healthcare	Momentum Low Volatility Active Small Cap Value VIX	$127.7M	0.75%	$39.94	+21.34%
YSEP	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Financial Services	Buffer International	$131.8M	0.90%	$28.35	+8.96%
QQXT	First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	Industrials	Nasdaq 100 Technology	$132.4M	0.57%	$99.87	+0.47%

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First Trust ETFs

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