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

289 ETFs · AUM: $270.93B

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.

289 ETFs found

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Symbol▼	Fund Name▼	Category	Type	AUM▼	Expense Ratio▼	Price▼	YTD▼
RFDI	First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF	Financial Services	Active Real Estate International	$159.4M	0.83%	$88.77	+10.03%
YDEC	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December	Financial Services	Buffer International	$159.1M	0.90%	$27.43	+4.85%
YMAR	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF – March	Financial Services	Buffer International	$152.6M	0.90%	$28.57	+5.72%
BUFT	FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF	Technology	Multi-Asset Buffer S&P 500	$146.1M	1.21%	$25.89	+5.24%
DHDG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$142.8M	0.85%	$36.24	+6.58%
FAB	First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Value Technology	$141.0M	0.66%	$101.45	+13.89%
FEUZ	First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX ETF	Industrials	Europe Technology	$140.7M	0.80%	$69.29	+12.48%
FPA	First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Japan Technology	$137.6M	0.80%	$54.11	+45.65%
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Financial Services	Equal Weight India	$130.8M	0.80%	$52.96	-9.30%
LEGR	First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF	Financial Services	Cryptocurrency Technology	$130.7M	0.65%	$65.95	+10.90%
FTRI	First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF	Basic Materials	Income	$129.1M	0.70%	$17.00	+8.35%
XMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$128.4M	0.85%	$42.47	+6.48%
YJUN	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - June	Financial Services	Buffer International	$127.7M	0.90%	$26.89	+5.02%
CU	First Trust ISE Global Copper ETF	Cash & Others	—	$125.3M	—	$9.61	—
YSEP	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Financial Services	Buffer International	$124.1M	0.90%	$27.43	+5.52%
XSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$123.4M	0.85%	$44.16	+4.19%
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	Technology	Emerging Markets	$123.1M	0.75%	$48.94	+47.09%
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities ETF	Cash & Others	Convertible Active	$117.7M	0.95%	$52.96	+22.73%
SNOV	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer Small Cap	$112.5M	0.90%	$26.77	+8.35%
DALI	First Trust Dorsey Wright DALI Equity ETF	Industrials	Technology	$112.5M	0.91%	$30.42	+6.08%
FVC	First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF	Energy	Diversified	$111.4M	0.87%	$42.27	+16.60%
MARM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - March	—	Buffer S&P 500	$107.2M	0.85%	$34.09	+3.15%
MGOV	First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF	—	Mortgage Floating Rate Treasury Long-Term Bond	$105.2M	0.50%	$20.15	-1.59%
AFSM	First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF	Technology	Momentum Low Volatility Active Small Cap Value VIX	$103.2M	0.75%	$39.44	+19.77%
CRPT	First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry and Digital Economy ETF	Financial Services	Bitcoin Cryptocurrency	$101.9M	0.85%	$13.48	-11.39%
SMAY	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May	Industrials	Buffer Small Cap	$101.9M	0.90%	$27.95	+7.59%
FCA	First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	China Technology	$99.4M	0.80%	$30.46	+8.31%
LALT	First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF	Financial Services	Active Income S&P 500 Long-Term Bond	$98.7M	1.18%	$24.44	+7.03%
FGM	First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Technology	$98.7M	0.80%	$64.20	+3.19%
HISF	First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF	—	Income	$97.7M	0.83%	$44.40	-1.87%
MMLG	First Trust Multi-Manager Large Growth ETF	Technology	Large Cap Growth Long-Term Bond	$93.2M	0.85%	$36.08	—
AFGR	First Trust Multi-Manager Large Growth ETF	—	—	$90.1M	0.65%	$36.13	—
HYTI	FT Vest High Yield & Target Income ETF	Cash & Others	Income Treasury Corporate Bond High Yield Bond	$89.5M	0.65%	$19.09	-3.21%
ACYS	FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Resilient Income ETF	—	—	$89.2M	0.75%	$20.43	—
QABA	First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund	Financial Services	Technology	$81.2M	0.63%	$65.63	+16.13%
FTCE	First Trust New Constructs Core Earnings Leaders ETF	Technology	Technology	$79.8M	0.60%	$27.31	+9.57%
RFEM	First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF	Technology	Active Real Estate Emerging Markets	$79.5M	0.99%	$94.47	+19.80%
FCEF	First Trust Income Opportunities ETF	Financial Services	Income Value Inverse	$76.4M	3.69%	$23.57	+2.78%
FNI	First Trust Chindia ETF	Consumer Cyclical	Large Cap China India	$76.3M	0.59%	$43.54	—
DOGG	FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF	Healthcare	Dividend Income Large Cap Treasury Inverse	$75.3M	0.75%	$21.86	+5.39%
XOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$74.5M	0.85%	$39.26	+4.14%
DVOL	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	Financial Services	Momentum Low Volatility Technology VIX	$72.6M	0.60%	$36.60	+4.47%
HUSV	First Trust Horizon Managed Volatility Domestic ETF	Technology	Active VIX	$72.6M	0.70%	$39.36	+1.81%
DDIV	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF	Energy	Momentum High Dividend Dividend Income Technology	$67.4M	0.60%	$45.38	+9.26%
FHDG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Dynamic Buffer ETF	—	Buffer S&P 500	$66.4M	0.85%	$36.05	+6.11%
DEED	First Trust Securitized Plus ETF	—	Mortgage Long-Term Bond	$65.2M	0.66%	$21.29	-1.25%
JUNM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$63.1M	0.85%	$34.99	+2.30%
KNGZ	First Trust S&P 500 Diversified Dividend Aristocrats ETF	Financial Services	Dividend S&P 500	$62.6M	0.50%	$41.54	+15.69%
FSCS	First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF	Financial Services	Mid Cap	$57.5M	0.60%	$36.18	+1.02%
AGQI	First Trust Active Global Quality Income ETF	Technology	Real Estate Income Growth Long-Term Bond	$56.4M	0.85%	$18.30	+10.95%

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First Trust ETFs

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