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

294 ETFs · AUM: $287.72B

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.

294 ETFs found

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Symbol▼	Fund Name▼	Category	Type	AUM▲	Expense Ratio▼	Price▼	YTD▼
FJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.46B	0.85%	$56.40	+8.80%
FPX	First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	Technology	Diversified	$1.51B	0.57%	$183.53	+10.96%
FSIG	First Trust Limited Duration Investment Grade Corporate ETF	Cash & Others	Floating Rate Income Corporate Bond Inverse	$1.53B	0.44%	$18.80	-2.01%
FCBRF	First Trust Global Funds PLC - First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity UCITS ETF	—	Cybersecurity Technology	$1.54B	0.60%	—	—
BUFQ	FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Large Cap Technology	$1.59B	0.10%	$39.53	+10.16%
ACYN	FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF	—	—	$1.62B	0.75%	$20.79	—
FGD	First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund	Financial Services	Dividend	$1.62B	0.55%	$35.72	+18.27%
FEX	First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Large Cap Technology	$1.62B	0.57%	$140.09	+17.58%
HYLS	First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF	Cash & Others	Active Income Corporate Bond High Yield Bond	$1.64B	0.69%	$40.59	-2.89%
QQEW	First Trust Nasdaq-100 Select Equal Weight ETF	Technology	Equal Weight Nasdaq 100 Technology	$1.86B	0.55%	$164.34	+15.39%
WCMI	First Trust WCM International Equity ETF	Technology	International Europe Long-Term Bond	$1.87B	0.85%	$19.89	+17.31%
FIW	First Trust Water ETF	Industrials	Water ESG	$1.92B	0.50%	$111.25	+1.72%
FPEI	First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & Income ETF	Financial Services	Preferred Stock Active Income	$1.95B	0.85%	$19.09	-1.50%
BUFD	FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer S&P 500 Large Cap	$2.02B	0.10%	$30.24	+6.94%
FMB	First Trust Managed Municipal ETF	Cash & Others	Income Municipal Bond	$2.06B	0.39%	$50.15	-1.73%
FTSL	First Trust Senior Loan Fund	Basic Materials	Floating Rate Active Income	$2.35B	0.70%	$44.78	-2.42%
FTHI	First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF	Technology	Covered Call Income Value	$2.48B	0.75%	$23.93	+0.93%
FTLS	First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF	Technology	Inverse	$2.51B	0.95%	$76.73	+7.48%
FTCB	First Trust Core Investment Grade ETF	—	Long-Term Bond Corporate Bond	$2.62B	0.56%	$20.59	-2.87%
FXL	First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Technology	$2.76B	0.60%	$213.68	+26.30%
FBT	First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund	Healthcare	Biotech	$2.95B	0.55%	$272.71	+31.89%
FTGC	First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund	Cash & Others	Active Commodity	$3.18B	0.98%	$30.36	+30.09%
FIXD	First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF	Cash & Others	Income Long-Term Bond	$3.24B	0.65%	$42.98	-2.87%
UCON	First Trust Smith Unconstrained Bond ETF	Cash & Others	Income Long-Term Bond	$3.29B	0.86%	$24.66	-1.95%
SKYY	First Trust Cloud Computing ETF	Technology	Cloud Computing	$3.29B	0.60%	$159.84	+21.93%
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF	Consumer Defensive	Dividend Income S&P 500	$3.49B	0.74%	$51.95	+5.33%
RDVI	FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF	Financial Services	Dividend Income S&P 500 Technology	$3.72B	0.75%	$29.40	+11.81%
FV	First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF	Healthcare	Financial Services	$3.84B	0.30%	$73.88	+17.32%
EMLP	First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund	Energy	Active Clean Energy Infrastructure Natural Gas Oil Oil & Gas Dividend Income	$4.19B	0.95%	$44.44	+15.90%
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology	Dividend Technology	$4.33B	0.50%	$114.68	+17.94%
QTEC	First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	Technology	Nasdaq 100 Technology	$4.70B	0.55%	$312.82	+35.48%
FDN	First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	Technology	Internet	$5.28B	0.49%	$288.54	+6.82%
FPE	First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF	Financial Services	Preferred Stock Active Income Corporate Bond High Yield Bond	$6.32B	0.83%	$17.68	-2.85%
LMBS	First Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF	—	Active Income	$6.44B	0.66%	$49.59	-0.78%
FTSM	First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF	Real Estate	Active Income Inverse	$6.52B	0.29%	$59.89	-0.03%
FTCS	First Trust Capital Strength ETF	Financial Services	Diversified	$8.05B	0.53%	$102.02	+10.21%
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	Consumer Defensive	Dividend	$8.13B	0.43%	$53.52	+20.28%
FVD	First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund	Financial Services	Dividend Value	$8.32B	0.62%	$51.06	+10.59%
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial RenaissanceTM ETF	Industrials	Mid Cap	$10.37B	0.69%	$112.66	+13.10%
BUFR	FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer S&P 500 Large Cap	$10.40B	0.10%	$37.34	+8.90%
SDVY	First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Financial Services	Dividend Mid Cap Growth Technology	$11.67B	0.58%	$44.12	+14.43%
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund	Industrials	Infrastructure ESG Technology	$11.92B	0.56%	$180.92	+17.25%
CIBR	First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF	Technology	Cybersecurity Technology	$15.19B	0.58%	$93.68	+29.41%
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Financial Services	Dividend Growth Technology	$25.47B	0.47%	$82.57	+18.58%

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First Trust ETFs

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