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

284 ETFs · AUM: $241.06B

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.

284 ETFs found

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Symbol▼	Fund Name▼	Category	Type	AUM▲	Expense Ratio▼	Price▼	YTD▼
ILDR	First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF	Technology	Technology	$218.1M	0.75%	$30.37	-6.73%
FDM	First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	Financial Services	Financial Services	$218.3M	0.65%	$80.20	+1.56%
SCIO	First Trust Structured Credit Income Opportunities ETF	—	Income Long-Term Bond	$219.2M	0.70%	$20.73	-0.10%
FAN	First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF	Utilities	Clean Energy ESG	$232.7M	0.61%	$23.58	+15.44%
FJP	First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Japan Technology	$232.9M	0.80%	$71.97	+8.21%
FUMB	First Trust Ultra Short Duration Municipal ETF	Cash & Others	Income Municipal Bond Inverse	$234.3M	0.29%	$20.13	—
FXG	First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund	Consumer Defensive	Consumer Defensive	$238.5M	0.63%	$64.58	+6.25%
IFV	First Trust Dorsey Wright International Focus 5 ETF	Industrials	International	$243.0M	1.14%	$25.24	+3.22%
FMF	First Trust Managed Futures Strategy Fund	—	Active Income	$245.1M	0.99%	$50.77	+8.71%
GAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - April	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$254.4M	0.85%	$40.24	+0.62%
FEMS	First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Small Cap Emerging Markets Technology	$257.9M	0.80%	$44.56	+6.58%
FXD	First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund	Consumer Cyclical	Consumer Cyclical	$258.3M	0.60%	$63.50	-6.80%
LQTI	FT Vest Investment Grade & Target Income ETF	Cash & Others	Income Treasury Corporate Bond	$268.6M	0.65%	$19.42	-3.13%
DJUN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$278.5M	0.85%	$47.15	-0.21%
EDOW	First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	Technology	Equal Weight	$287.4M	0.50%	$41.26	+0.07%
DMAY	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$289.8M	0.85%	$45.06	-0.31%
DAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - April	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$292.0M	0.85%	$39.59	+0.64%
GAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$294.5M	0.85%	$38.92	-0.69%
GMAY	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - May	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$294.5M	0.85%	$41.28	+0.09%
BUFG	FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF	Technology	Multi-Asset Buffer S&P 500 Growth	$295.2M	1.13%	$27.12	-1.16%
GNOV	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$301.6M	0.85%	$39.21	-0.91%
GOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$322.4M	0.85%	$38.86	-0.84%
GJUN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$326.9M	0.85%	$39.46	-0.25%
DSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$333.0M	0.85%	$44.36	-1.04%
FXZ	First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund	Basic Materials	Basic Materials	$334.2M	0.64%	$74.08	+17.30%
GFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - February	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$341.9M	0.85%	$41.34	-0.29%
DAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$344.8M	0.85%	$43.87	-0.87%
GMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$348.4M	0.85%	$41.41	+1.12%
FXN	First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund	Energy	Energy	$361.5M	0.63%	$20.82	+25.80%
DOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$370.4M	0.85%	$43.72	-0.84%
DNOV	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$376.6M	0.85%	$48.17	-1.04%
DMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - March	Cash & Others	Buffer S&P 500	$378.6M	0.85%	$42.12	+1.09%
DJUL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - July	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$389.5M	0.85%	$47.06	-0.78%
GJUL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - July	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$390.1M	0.85%	$40.98	-0.56%
FEMB	First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF	Cash & Others	Income Emerging Markets	$391.1M	0.85%	$29.14	-1.24%
FAD	First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Growth Technology	$401.1M	0.63%	$158.73	-1.65%
MDIV	Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund	Energy	Multi-Asset Income Technology	$407.5M	0.83%	$16.33	+3.98%
DDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$408.1M	0.85%	$44.48	-1.13%
DFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - February	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$410.5M	0.85%	$47.64	+0.12%
NXTG	First Trust Indxx NextG ETF	Technology	5G Technology	$429.6M	0.70%	$113.79	+5.50%
DJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$444.5M	0.85%	$42.84	-1.23%
GJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$453.3M	0.85%	$42.08	-1.29%
QMAR	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Technology	$468.3M	0.90%	$33.51	+1.42%
GSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$468.8M	0.85%	$38.27	-0.88%
FEP	First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Europe Technology	$480.3M	0.80%	$53.24	+1.35%
FNY	First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Mid Cap Growth Technology	$485.4M	0.73%	$90.20	-0.54%
AFLG	First Trust Active Factor Large Cap ETF	Technology	Momentum Low Volatility Active Large Cap Value VIX	$485.5M	0.55%	$38.94	+0.10%
GDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$494.1M	0.85%	$37.30	-1.22%
EIPX	FT Energy Income Partners Strategy ETF	Energy	Income	$498.2M	0.95%	$31.60	+18.97%
QSPT	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Technology	$501.2M	0.90%	$31.06	-1.26%

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First Trust ETFs

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