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

333 ETFs · AUM: $287.02B

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.

333 ETFs found

Page 5 of 7

Symbol▼	Fund Name▼	Category	Type	AUM▲	Expense Ratio▼	Price▼	YTD▼
FUMB	First Trust Ultra Short Duration Municipal ETF	Cash & Others	Income Municipal Bond Inverse	$255.5M	0.29%	$20.03	-0.15%
GOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$261.9M	0.85%	$42.49	+8.16%
FJP	First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Japan Technology	$270.5M	0.80%	$78.42	+17.41%
FDM	First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	Financial Services	Financial Services	$270.9M	0.65%	$91.89	+15.54%
FMF	First Trust Managed Futures Strategy Fund	—	Active Income	$280.0M	0.98%	$52.01	+11.14%
FPXI	First Trust International Equity Opportunities ETF	Technology	International	$292.4M	0.70%	$69.03	+16.87%
GAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - April	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$293.7M	0.85%	$42.45	+6.20%
GNOV	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$296.2M	0.85%	$42.73	+7.50%
FTXO	First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF	Financial Services	Technology	$299.8M	0.60%	$42.20	+11.70%
DAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - April	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$319.1M	0.85%	$41.61	+5.81%
EDOW	First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	Technology	Equal Weight	$320.0M	0.50%	$45.62	+10.29%
ILDR	First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF	Technology	Technology	$327.5M	0.75%	$38.64	+16.96%
BUFG	FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF	Technology	Multi-Asset Buffer S&P 500 Growth	$332.7M	0.20%	$29.93	+8.65%
GSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$342.6M	0.85%	$42.00	+8.34%
LALT	First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF	Technology	Active Income S&P 500 Long-Term Bond	$354.1M	0.20%	$24.73	+8.60%
DJUN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June	—	Buffer S&P 500	$357.1M	0.85%	$50.06	+5.71%
DSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September	—	Buffer S&P 500	$357.2M	0.85%	$48.68	+8.40%
DMAY	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$377.6M	0.85%	$47.89	+5.82%
GFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - February	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$379.9M	0.85%	$44.90	+8.13%
FEMB	First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF	Cash & Others	Income Emerging Markets	$392.8M	0.85%	$29.49	-0.67%
DOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$394.7M	0.85%	$47.83	+7.90%
GMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$396.5M	0.85%	$45.05	+10.12%
GAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$400.0M	0.85%	$42.06	+7.18%
DNOV	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$403.2M	0.85%	$52.48	+7.45%
FXN	First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund	Energy	Energy	$405.1M	0.63%	$24.00	+45.78%
FXZ	First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund	Basic Materials	Basic Materials	$407.7M	0.64%	$83.54	+29.18%
GJUL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - July	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$409.7M	0.85%	$44.51	+7.62%
DAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$422.0M	0.85%	$47.52	+7.12%
GDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$426.1M	0.85%	$40.68	+7.56%
MDIV	Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund	Energy	Multi-Asset Income Technology	$430.3M	0.83%	$16.58	+5.66%
ACYS	FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Resilient Income ETF	—	—	$431.9M	0.75%	$20.46	—
DDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$437.2M	0.85%	$48.42	+7.40%
GJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$437.9M	0.85%	$45.96	+7.39%
DFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - February	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$446.1M	0.85%	$51.51	+7.85%
DMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$465.4M	0.85%	$45.55	+9.34%
DJUL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - July	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$480.2M	0.85%	$51.17	+7.53%
DJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$484.7M	0.85%	$46.53	+7.08%
GMAY	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - May	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$515.4M	0.85%	$43.85	+6.12%
GJUN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$530.2M	0.85%	$41.90	+5.76%
FEP	First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Europe Technology	$537.4M	0.80%	$59.64	+10.80%
SCIO	First Trust Structured Credit Income Opportunities ETF	—	Income Long-Term Bond	$566.3M	0.70%	$20.34	-2.21%
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund	Technology	ESG Technology	$567.6M	0.59%	$49.47	+10.98%
FNY	First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund	Healthcare	Mid Cap Growth Technology	$572.4M	0.73%	$101.00	+10.68%
NXTG	First Trust Indxx NextG ETF	Technology	5G Technology	$573.1M	0.70%	$155.98	+44.80%
EIPX	FT Energy Income Partners Strategy ETF	Energy	Income	$589.1M	0.95%	$33.53	+26.93%
FAD	First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Growth Technology	$593.9M	0.63%	$182.16	+12.51%
QMAR	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer Nasdaq 100 Technology	$595.4M	0.90%	$37.95	+14.94%
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Cash & Others	Gold Income Treasury	$597.6M	0.85%	$21.12	-15.23%
FSMB	First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF	Cash & Others	Income Municipal Bond Inverse	$621.7M	0.34%	$19.75	-1.50%
LGOV	First Trust Long Duration Opportunities ETF	—	Income Treasury Long-Term Bond	$624.2M	0.49%	$20.36	-6.83%

PreviousPage 5 of 7Next

First Trust ETFs

Frequently Asked Questions