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▼
FTXH	First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF	Healthcare	Pharma Technology	$1.09B	0.60%	$42.72	+29.78%
BUFZ	FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer Large Cap	$1.10B	0.10%	$28.75	+8.56%
FXH	First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund	Healthcare	Healthcare	$1.11B	0.61%	$134.93	+18.47%
FTXN	First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF	Energy	Oil Oil & Gas Technology	$1.18B	0.60%	$42.36	+51.55%
FMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.20B	0.85%	$54.05	+13.77%
FOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.22B	0.85%	$55.04	+12.40%
FNOV	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.27B	0.85%	$60.74	+10.92%
FTGS	First Trust Growth Strength ETF	Technology	Real Estate Growth	$1.28B	0.60%	$38.49	+8.86%
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Technology	Semiconductors Technology	$1.29B	0.60%	$228.36	+76.24%
FTC	First Trust Large Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Large Cap Growth Technology	$1.31B	0.58%	$176.22	+9.97%
FNX	First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Mid Cap Technology	$1.32B	0.62%	$139.00	+10.22%
FYC	First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund	Healthcare	Small Cap Growth Technology	$1.32B	0.70%	$114.53	+19.21%
FYX	First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Small Cap Technology	$1.32B	0.58%	$136.55	+20.75%
FDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.34B	0.85%	$56.56	+10.35%
FAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.34B	0.85%	$48.23	+8.65%
FTA	First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Large Cap Value Technology	$1.36B	0.58%	$101.06	+17.36%
FFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.38B	0.85%	$63.17	+11.54%
FDT	First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	International Technology	$1.38B	0.80%	$90.58	+13.97%
FPX	First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	Technology	Diversified	$1.39B	0.57%	$175.65	+7.30%
FJUL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - July	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.41B	0.85%	$61.75	+10.56%
FSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.42B	0.85%	$57.63	+11.89%
FJUN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.43B	0.85%	$61.71	+8.21%
FAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.44B	0.85%	$58.17	+9.94%
FMAY	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - May	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.48B	0.85%	$57.88	+8.44%
FJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$1.48B	0.85%	$57.05	+10.43%
FSIG	First Trust Limited Duration Investment Grade Corporate ETF	Cash & Others	Floating Rate Income Corporate Bond Inverse	$1.52B	0.44%	$18.41	-4.01%
FGD	First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund	Financial Services	Dividend	$1.55B	0.55%	$33.34	+10.21%
FEX	First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Large Cap Technology	$1.56B	0.57%	$137.39	+15.79%
HYLS	First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF	Cash & Others	Active Income Corporate Bond High Yield Bond	$1.58B	0.69%	$39.33	-6.02%
BUFQ	FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Large Cap Technology	$1.68B	0.10%	$40.27	+12.44%
FIW	First Trust Water ETF	Industrials	Water ESG	$1.73B	0.50%	$108.28	-0.29%
QQEW	First Trust Nasdaq-100 Select Equal Weight ETF	Technology	Equal Weight Nasdaq 100 Technology	$1.85B	0.55%	$158.49	+11.43%
FPEI	First Trust Institutional Preferred Securities & Income ETF	Cash & Others	Preferred Stock Active Income	$1.86B	0.85%	$18.36	-5.16%
FMB	First Trust Managed Municipal ETF	Cash & Others	Income Municipal Bond	$1.95B	0.39%	$48.48	-5.07%
FCBRF	First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity UCITS ETF	—	Cybersecurity Technology	$1.97B	0.60%	—	—
WCMI	First Trust WCM International Equity ETF	Technology	International Europe Long-Term Bond	$2.04B	0.85%	$18.62	+9.41%
BUFD	FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer S&P 500 Large Cap	$2.18B	0.10%	$30.62	+8.46%
ACYN	FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF	—	—	$2.46B	0.75%	$20.79	—
FTSL	First Trust Senior Loan Fund	Basic Materials	Floating Rate Active Income	$2.48B	0.70%	$44.34	-3.29%
FTHI	First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF	Technology	Covered Call Income Value	$2.57B	0.75%	$23.61	-0.04%
FTLS	First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF	Technology	Inverse	$2.64B	0.95%	$77.67	+9.54%
FTCB	First Trust Core Investment Grade ETF	—	Long-Term Bond Corporate Bond	$2.71B	0.56%	$19.89	-6.17%
FXL	First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Technology	$2.77B	0.60%	$221.48	+31.93%
FIXD	First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF	Cash & Others	Income Long-Term Bond	$2.86B	0.65%	$41.53	-6.23%
FBT	First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund	Healthcare	Biotech	$2.89B	0.55%	$273.27	+31.93%
UCON	First Trust Smith Unconstrained Bond ETF	Cash & Others	Income Long-Term Bond	$3.12B	0.86%	$23.82	-5.40%
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF	Consumer Defensive	Dividend Income S&P 500	$3.30B	0.74%	$50.32	+2.52%
SKYY	First Trust Cloud Computing ETF	Technology	Cloud Computing	$3.40B	0.60%	$166.70	+28.10%
FTGC	First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund	Cash & Others	Active Commodity	$3.42B	0.98%	$30.84	+32.72%
RDVI	FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ETF	Financial Services	Dividend Income S&P 500 Technology	$3.76B	0.75%	$28.16	+7.36%

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First Trust ETFs

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