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: $293.67B

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▼
BUFY	FT Vest Laddered International Moderate Buffer ETF	—	—	$174.7M	0.10%	$23.68	+6.47%
FYT	First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Small Cap Value Technology	$171.1M	0.70%	$69.80	+23.03%
FID	First Trust S&P International Dividend Aristocrats ETF	Financial Services	Multi-Asset Dividend Income International	$170.4M	0.60%	$22.47	+8.98%
FFLX	FIRST TRUST FLEXIBLE INCOME ETF	—	—	$168.5M	0.75%	$9.44	—
RFDI	First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF	Financial Services	Active Real Estate International	$166.6M	0.80%	$91.77	—
YDEC	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - December	Financial Services	Buffer International	$166.3M	0.90%	$27.79	+6.11%
BUFT	FT Vest Buffered Allocation Defensive ETF	Technology	Multi-Asset Buffer S&P 500	$164.4M	0.20%	$26.57	+7.54%
FTXR	First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF	Industrials	Technology	$163.2M	0.60%	$41.57	+7.05%
YMAR	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF – March	Financial Services	Buffer International	$161.4M	0.90%	$28.96	+7.26%
FAB	First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund	Financial Services	Value Technology	$160.7M	0.66%	$105.12	+18.01%
XMAR	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - March	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$159.9M	0.85%	$43.73	+9.55%
LDSF	First Trust Low Duration Strategic Focus ETF	Healthcare	Income	$158.6M	0.10%	$18.49	-3.53%
QMMY	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Moderate Buffer ETF - May	Technology	—	$154.2M	0.90%	$26.54	+5.96%
YJUN	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - June	Financial Services	Buffer International	$149.6M	0.90%	$26.82	+4.55%
AFDM	First Trust Active Factor International ETF	Financial Services	—	$149.6M	0.80%	$88.80	—
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	Technology	Emerging Markets	$140.5M	0.75%	$43.94	+32.71%
XJUN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - June	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$138.1M	0.85%	$45.45	+5.95%
QQXT	First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	Industrials	Nasdaq 100 Technology	$134.8M	0.57%	$99.47	+0.22%
YSEP	FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Financial Services	Buffer International	$134.0M	0.90%	$28.27	+8.25%
AFSM	First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF	Healthcare	Momentum Low Volatility Active Small Cap Value VIX	$129.6M	0.75%	$39.72	+20.65%
LEGR	First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF	Financial Services	Cryptocurrency Technology	$128.4M	0.65%	$65.21	+9.36%
SAUG	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - August	—	—	$127.4M	0.90%	$27.20	+6.19%
SFEB	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - February	—	—	$127.0M	0.90%	$25.73	+9.33%
QCAP	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - April	—	—	$126.2M	0.90%	$25.37	+6.86%
CU	First Trust ISE Global Copper ETF	Basic Materials	—	$125.3M	—	$9.61	—
FTRI	First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF	Basic Materials	Income	$116.0M	0.70%	$16.84	+7.55%
FEUZ	First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX ETF	Financial Services	Europe Technology	$115.1M	0.80%	$62.81	+2.41%
SNOV	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - November	Healthcare	Buffer Small Cap	$113.6M	0.90%	$27.46	+11.08%
FVC	First Trust Dorsey Wright Dynamic Focus 5 ETF	Healthcare	Diversified	$112.6M	0.30%	$43.27	+19.20%
FPA	First Trust Asia Pacific ex-Japan AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Japan Technology	$111.8M	0.80%	$44.23	+18.36%
SMAY	FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May	Healthcare	Buffer Small Cap	$110.4M	0.90%	$27.60	+6.37%
CRPT	First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry and Digital Economy ETF	Financial Services	Bitcoin Cryptocurrency	$109.0M	0.85%	$13.46	-10.13%
MARM	FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - March	—	Buffer S&P 500	$106.7M	0.85%	$34.68	+4.89%
QCJL	First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII - FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Conservative Buffer ETF - July	—	—	$105.1M	0.90%	$25.73	+8.62%
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Financial Services	Equal Weight India	$101.1M	0.80%	$50.67	-12.86%
ACYQ	FT Vest Autocallable Barrier & High Income ETF	—	—	$100.0M	0.75%	$20.49	—
QMAG	FT Vest Nasdaq-100 Moderate Buffer ETF - August	—	—	$99.2M	0.90%	$25.94	+9.54%
XSEP	FT Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September	Technology	Buffer S&P 500	$99.2M	0.85%	$45.37	+7.11%
DALI	First Trust Dorsey Wright DALI Equity ETF	Industrials	Technology	$95.2M	0.30%	$27.01	-5.88%
MGOV	First Trust Intermediate Government Opportunities ETF	—	Mortgage Floating Rate Treasury Long-Term Bond	$93.4M	0.50%	$19.43	-5.10%
MMLG	First Trust Multi-Manager Large Growth ETF	Technology	Large Cap Growth Long-Term Bond	$93.2M	0.85%	$36.08	—
DOGG	FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF	Healthcare	Dividend Income Large Cap Treasury Inverse	$90.4M	0.75%	$22.05	+6.50%
AFGR	First Trust Active Factor Large Cap Growth ETF	—	—	$89.9M	0.65%	$36.98	—
HISF	First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF	—	Income	$87.3M	0.10%	$42.79	-5.48%
FTCE	First Trust New Constructs Core Earnings Leaders ETF	Technology	Technology	$87.2M	0.60%	$27.60	+10.65%
FGM	First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund	Industrials	Technology	$87.1M	0.80%	$57.14	-8.51%
RSJN	FT Vest U.S. Equity Equal Weight Buffer ETF - June	—	Buffer Equal Weight S&P 500	$85.3M	0.85%	$38.11	+10.91%
QABA	First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund	Financial Services	Technology	$84.6M	0.63%	$67.16	+18.35%
RFEM	First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF	Technology	Active Real Estate Emerging Markets	$83.7M	0.85%	$99.66	—
HYTI	FT Vest High Yield & Target Income ETF	Cash & Others	Income Treasury Corporate Bond High Yield Bond	$83.2M	0.65%	$18.40	-7.23%

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First Trust ETFs

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