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

288 ETFs · AUM: $272.86B

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.

288 ETFs found

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Symbol▼	Fund Name▼	Category	Type	AUM▼	Expense Ratio▼	Price▼	YTD▼
YDEC	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December	Financial Services	Buffer International	$158.4M	0.90%	$27.48	+4.69%
RFDI	First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF	Financial Services	Active Real Estate International	$157.9M	0.83%	$88.77	+9.50%
YMAR	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF – March	Financial Services	Buffer International	$151.9M	0.90%	$28.57	+5.52%
BUFT	FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF	Technology	Multi-Asset Buffer S&P 500	$146.2M	1.21%	$25.89	+5.22%
DHDG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly 2.5 to 15 Buffer ETF	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$143.9M	0.85%	$36.24	+6.32%
FEUZ	First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX ETF	Industrials	Europe Technology	$140.7M	0.80%	$68.82	+11.96%
FPA	First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Japan Technology	$139.7M	0.80%	$54.32	+46.05%
FAB	First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Value Technology	$139.2M	0.66%	$100.51	+12.96%
LEGR	First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF	Financial Services	Cryptocurrency Technology	$137.3M	0.65%	$66.14	+9.89%
FTRI	First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF	Basic Materials	Income	$134.4M	0.70%	$17.01	+6.41%
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Financial Services	Equal Weight India	$132.4M	0.80%	$53.08	-9.85%
XMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$130.1M	0.85%	$42.47	+6.34%
YJUN	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - June	Financial Services	Buffer International	$127.6M	0.90%	$26.96	+4.92%
CU	First Trust ISE Global Copper ETF	Cash & Others	—	$125.3M	—	$9.61	—
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	Technology	Emerging Markets	$125.2M	0.75%	$48.69	+46.99%
YSEP	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Financial Services	Buffer International	$124.5M	0.90%	$27.37	+5.21%
XSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$123.9M	0.85%	$44.12	+4.00%
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities ETF	Cash & Others	Convertible Active	$121.8M	0.95%	$52.87	+20.99%
DALI	First Trust Dorsey Wright DALI Equity ETF	Industrials	Technology	$114.4M	0.91%	$30.36	+5.55%
FVC	First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF	Technology	Diversified	$113.5M	0.87%	$42.27	+15.62%
SNOV	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - November	Industrials	Buffer Small Cap	$112.6M	0.90%	$26.76	+7.97%
MARM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - March	—	Buffer S&P 500	$107.4M	0.85%	$34.09	+3.02%
FCA	First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	China Technology	$103.7M	0.80%	$30.31	+6.54%
CRPT	First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry and Digital Economy ETF	Financial Services	Bitcoin Cryptocurrency	$102.7M	0.85%	$13.48	-11.73%
SMAY	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May	Industrials	Buffer Small Cap	$102.1M	0.90%	$27.96	+7.06%
AFSM	First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF	Technology	Momentum Low Volatility Active Small Cap Value VIX	$101.8M	0.75%	$39.54	+18.49%
FGM	First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Technology	$100.9M	0.80%	$64.13	+1.96%
MGOV	First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF	—	Mortgage Floating Rate Treasury Long-Term Bond	$100.8M	0.50%	$20.18	-1.29%
HISF	First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF	—	Income	$95.3M	0.83%	$44.43	-1.85%
MMLG	First Trust Multi-Manager Large Growth ETF	Technology	Large Cap Growth Long-Term Bond	$93.2M	0.85%	$36.08	—
HYTI	FT Vest High Yield & Target Income ETF	Cash & Others	Income Treasury Corporate Bond High Yield Bond	$89.9M	0.65%	$19.14	-3.31%
LALT	First Trust Multi-Strategy Alternative ETF	Financial Services	Active Income S&P 500 Long-Term Bond	$84.0M	1.18%	$24.42	+6.97%
FTCE	First Trust New Constructs Core Earnings Leaders ETF	Technology	Technology	$83.1M	0.60%	$27.38	+8.56%
RFEM	First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF	Technology	Active Real Estate Emerging Markets	$80.8M	0.99%	$94.47	+18.78%
FCEF	First Trust Income Opportunities ETF	Financial Services	Income Value Inverse	$78.6M	3.69%	$23.67	+2.25%
QABA	First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund	Financial Services	Technology	$78.4M	0.63%	$65.54	+14.66%
FNI	First Trust Chindia ETF	Consumer Cyclical	Large Cap China India	$76.3M	0.59%	$43.54	—
ACYS	FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Resilient Income ETF	—	—	$76.1M	0.75%	$20.44	—
XOCT	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - October	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$74.9M	0.85%	$39.23	+3.98%
HUSV	First Trust Horizon Managed Volatility Domestic ETF	Technology	Active VIX	$72.4M	0.70%	$39.33	+1.45%
DOGG	FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF	Consumer Cyclical	Dividend Income Large Cap Treasury Inverse	$71.8M	0.75%	$21.93	+5.17%
DVOL	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	Financial Services	Momentum Low Volatility Technology VIX	$71.6M	0.60%	$36.56	+3.64%
DDIV	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF	Energy	Momentum High Dividend Dividend Income Technology	$67.5M	0.60%	$45.36	+8.10%
FHDG	FT Vest U.S. Equity Quarterly Dynamic Buffer ETF	—	Buffer S&P 500	$65.3M	0.85%	$36.02	+5.85%
DEED	First Trust Securitized Plus ETF	—	Mortgage Long-Term Bond	$65.0M	0.66%	$21.27	-1.18%
KNGZ	First Trust S&P 500 Diversified Dividend Aristocrats ETF	Financial Services	Dividend S&P 500	$64.6M	0.50%	$41.65	+14.48%
JUNM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$63.0M	0.85%	$35.03	+2.32%
FCTR	First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	Technology	Large Cap	$57.9M	0.65%	$40.58	+12.61%
FSCS	First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF	Financial Services	Mid Cap	$56.5M	0.60%	$36.19	+0.44%
AGQI	First Trust Active Global Quality Income ETF	Technology	Real Estate Income Growth Long-Term Bond	$56.4M	0.85%	$18.27	+10.45%

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First Trust ETFs

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