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

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Symbol▼	Fund Name▼	Category	Type	AUM▼	Expense Ratio▼	Price▼	YTD▼
GJAN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - January	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$437.9M	0.85%	$45.96	+7.39%
DDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$437.2M	0.85%	$48.42	+7.40%
ACYS	FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Resilient Income ETF	—	—	$431.9M	0.75%	$20.46	—
MDIV	Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund	Energy	Multi-Asset Income Technology	$430.3M	0.83%	$16.58	+5.66%
GDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$426.1M	0.85%	$40.68	+7.56%
DAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$422.0M	0.85%	$47.52	+7.12%
GJUL	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - July	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$409.7M	0.85%	$44.51	+7.62%
FXZ	First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund	Basic Materials	Basic Materials	$407.7M	0.64%	$83.54	+29.18%
FXN	First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund	Energy	Energy	$405.1M	0.63%	$24.00	+45.78%
DNOV	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$403.2M	0.85%	$52.48	+7.45%
GAUG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - August	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$400.0M	0.85%	$42.06	+7.18%
GMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$396.5M	0.85%	$45.05	+10.12%
DOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$394.7M	0.85%	$47.83	+7.90%
FEMB	First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF	Cash & Others	Income Emerging Markets	$392.8M	0.85%	$29.49	-0.67%
GFEB	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - February	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$379.9M	0.85%	$44.90	+8.13%
DMAY	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$377.6M	0.85%	$47.89	+5.82%
DSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - September	—	Buffer S&P 500	$357.2M	0.85%	$48.68	+8.40%
DJUN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June	—	Buffer S&P 500	$357.1M	0.85%	$50.06	+5.71%
LALT	First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF	Technology	Active Income S&P 500 Long-Term Bond	$354.1M	0.20%	$24.73	+8.60%
GSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$342.6M	0.85%	$42.00	+8.34%
BUFG	FT Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF	Technology	Multi-Asset Buffer S&P 500 Growth	$332.7M	0.20%	$29.93	+8.65%
ILDR	First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF	Technology	Technology	$327.5M	0.75%	$38.64	+16.96%
EDOW	First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	Technology	Equal Weight	$320.0M	0.50%	$45.62	+10.29%
DAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - April	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$319.1M	0.85%	$41.61	+5.81%
FTXO	First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF	Financial Services	Technology	$299.8M	0.60%	$42.20	+11.70%
GNOV	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - November	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$296.2M	0.85%	$42.73	+7.50%
GAPR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - April	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$293.7M	0.85%	$42.45	+6.20%
FPXI	First Trust International Equity Opportunities ETF	Technology	International	$292.4M	0.70%	$69.03	+16.87%
FMF	First Trust Managed Futures Strategy Fund	—	Active Income	$280.0M	0.98%	$52.01	+11.14%
FDM	First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	Financial Services	Financial Services	$270.9M	0.65%	$91.89	+15.54%
FJP	First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Japan Technology	$270.5M	0.80%	$78.42	+17.41%
GOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$261.9M	0.85%	$42.49	+8.16%
FUMB	First Trust Ultra Short Duration Municipal ETF	Cash & Others	Income Municipal Bond Inverse	$255.5M	0.29%	$20.03	-0.15%
FXD	First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund	Consumer Cyclical	Consumer Cyclical	$249.9M	0.60%	$66.22	-3.13%
FAN	First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF	Utilities	Clean Energy ESG	$245.3M	0.61%	$23.64	+15.55%
LQTI	FT Vest Investment Grade & Target Income ETF	Cash & Others	Income Treasury Corporate Bond	$242.3M	0.65%	$18.40	-8.64%
FEMS	First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund	Technology	Small Cap Emerging Markets Technology	$239.4M	0.80%	$46.26	+9.73%
IFV	First Trust Dorsey Wright International Focus 5 ETF	Industrials	International	$235.0M	0.30%	$25.99	+4.79%
FNK	First Trust Mid Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Mid Cap Value Technology	$228.7M	0.74%	$63.08	+14.10%
FXG	First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund	Consumer Defensive	Consumer Defensive	$222.0M	0.63%	$61.99	+2.27%
FCAL	First Trust California Municipal High Income ETF	—	Income Long-Term Bond Municipal Bond	$217.6M	0.49%	$47.52	-3.70%
FAAR	First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF	Financial Services	Active Long-Term Bond	$217.4M	0.98%	$32.00	+18.06%
AFMC	First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF	Industrials	Momentum Low Volatility Active Mid Cap Value VIX	$216.5M	0.68%	$40.71	+18.18%
FICS	First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF	Financial Services	Real Estate International	$205.1M	0.70%	$41.24	+2.79%
XDEC	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - December	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$203.9M	0.85%	$43.64	+6.71%
FYT	First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Small Cap Value Technology	$198.1M	0.70%	$70.69	+24.82%
FFLX	FIRST TRUST FLEXIBLE INCOME ETF	—	—	$195.5M	0.75%	$9.56	—
FRI	First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	Real Estate	Real Estate	$194.8M	0.51%	$30.86	+13.00%
BUFS	FT Vest Laddered Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF	—	Buffer Small Cap	$192.1M	0.10%	$25.08	+9.81%
FAI	First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II - First Trust Bloomberg Artificial Intelligence ETF	—	—	$188.6M	0.65%	$54.45	—

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First Trust ETFs

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