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▼
FEMB	First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF	Cash & Others	Income Emerging Markets	$383.1M	0.85%	$28.68	-3.76%
DMAY	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$388.3M	0.85%	$48.34	+6.91%
DNOV	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$399.7M	0.85%	$53.12	+8.69%
DOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$401.9M	0.85%	$48.55	+9.62%
MDIV	Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund	Energy	Multi-Asset Income Technology	$409.2M	0.83%	$15.92	+1.43%
GJUL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - July	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$413.2M	0.85%	$44.84	+8.62%
GAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$421.1M	0.85%	$42.42	+8.07%
DSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September	—	Buffer S&P 500	$421.2M	0.85%	$49.23	+9.72%
LALT	First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF	Technology	Active Income S&P 500 Long-Term Bond	$425.7M	0.20%	$24.82	+9.13%
GMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$426.9M	0.85%	$45.47	+11.10%
DDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$431.1M	0.85%	$49.01	+8.58%
GDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$438.0M	0.85%	$41.09	+8.75%
GJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$441.3M	0.85%	$46.45	+8.57%
DAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$443.3M	0.85%	$47.90	+8.06%
GMAY	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - May	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$446.1M	0.85%	$44.24	+7.33%
DFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - February	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$450.4M	0.85%	$52.04	+9.05%
DJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$453.6M	0.85%	$46.99	+8.28%
DMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$465.6M	0.85%	$45.98	+10.28%
FEP	First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Europe Technology	$483.5M	0.80%	$56.61	+5.35%
DJUL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - July	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$488.0M	0.85%	$51.57	+8.52%
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund	Technology	ESG Technology	$497.0M	0.59%	$45.42	+1.81%
GJUN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$506.2M	0.85%	$42.25	+6.81%
SCIO	First Trust Structured Credit Income Opportunities ETF	—	Income Long-Term Bond	$545.4M	0.70%	$19.98	-3.85%
ACYS	FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Resilient Income ETF	—	—	$548.5M	0.75%	$20.54	—
NXTG	First Trust Indxx NextG ETF	Technology	5G Technology	$548.9M	0.70%	$150.44	+40.01%
FNY	First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund	Healthcare	Mid Cap Growth Technology	$554.1M	0.73%	$98.77	+8.26%
EIPX	FT Energy Income Partners Strategy ETF	Energy	Income	$571.1M	0.95%	$33.14	+25.15%
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Cash & Others	Gold Income Treasury	$587.3M	0.85%	$20.06	-19.79%
FAD	First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Growth Technology	$587.4M	0.63%	$180.52	+11.46%
LGOV	First Trust Long Duration Opportunities ETF	—	Income Treasury Long-Term Bond	$596.8M	0.49%	$19.99	-8.06%
QMAR	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Technology	$611.0M	0.90%	$38.43	+16.45%
FIIG	First Trust Intermediate Duration Investment Grade Corporate ETF	Cash & Others	Floating Rate Income Long-Term Bond Corporate Bond Inverse	$628.5M	0.49%	$19.75	-6.84%
TDVI	FT Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF	—	—	$640.8M	0.75%	$30.84	+12.40%
FSMB	First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF	Cash & Others	Income Municipal Bond Inverse	$648.8M	0.34%	$19.61	-2.14%
FCG	First Trust Natural Gas ETF	Energy	Natural Gas Oil & Gas	$663.4M	0.59%	$31.32	+33.53%
MISL	First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF	Industrials	Defense Aerospace & Defense	$671.7M	0.60%	$41.22	-3.32%
FXR	First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Industrials	$675.9M	0.60%	$84.20	+5.53%
QDEC	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Technology	$699.9M	0.90%	$36.84	+13.16%
QSPT	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - September	Financial Services	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Technology	$713.2M	0.90%	$36.24	+14.33%
QJUN	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Technology	$730.3M	0.90%	$33.87	+6.33%
FXU	First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund	Utilities	Utilities	$736.8M	0.61%	$46.92	+4.02%
ROBT	First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF	Technology	Artificial Intelligence Technology	$754.9M	0.65%	$57.97	+11.71%
AFLG	First Trust Active Factor Large Cap ETF	Technology	Momentum Low Volatility Active Large Cap Value VIX	$797.9M	0.55%	$45.32	+15.98%
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Emerging Markets Technology	$804.7M	0.80%	$32.52	+18.91%
SDVD	FT Vest SMID Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF	—	—	$868.7M	0.85%	$22.13	+3.40%
FDD	First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund	Financial Services	Dividend Europe	$879.2M	0.56%	$19.19	+9.83%
FMHI	First Trust Municipal High Income ETF	Cash & Others	Active Income Municipal Bond	$1.01B	0.49%	$45.30	-5.32%
FTQI	First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF	Technology	Covered Call Income Nasdaq 100 Technology	$1.02B	0.75%	$22.09	+6.05%
FXO	First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Financial Services	$1.03B	0.60%	$63.81	+5.75%
EIPI	FT Energy Income Partners Enhanced Income ETF	Energy	Income	$1.08B	1.11%	$22.34	+12.23%

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First Trust ETFs

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