Most Requested Symbols
There are changes in both the First Trust Fixed Income ETF Model as well as the First Trust Size & Style Model.
In the First Trust Fixed Income Model the First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities ETF FCVT is being removed after having been a member of the model since April 2020, over which time FCVT is up more than 65% while the Core Bond ETF AGG is actually down a little over 2% over that time period. Nonetheless, FCVT has fallen in it’s relative strength rankings down to the bottom of the matrix. As a result, FCVT is being removed from the Fixed Income Model and is being replaced with the First Trust Senior Loan Fund FTSL, which is joining Preferreds FPE, High Yield HYLS, and Emerging Market Bonds FEMB as the four holdings of the Model. FTSL has a positive technical picture with a score above 3, and has a yield of 3.33%, which is more than twice the yield of FCVT. The Fixed Income Model is up 0.3% so far this year compared to -3.5% return for the Cored Bond ETF AGG and the Model is up more than 37% over the past year versus 5.5% for AGG.
The other model that is seeing a change this week is the First Trust Size & Style Model. For the second time this year the Size & Style model is seeing a change, and once again the change is increasing the Small Cap exposure. Small Cap Value moved into the top three style boxes within the DALI rankings over the course of the month pushing Mid Cap Growth back to number four in the Style Box rankings. As a result, the First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX FNY is being removed from the Size & Style Model and is being replaced with the First Trust Small Cap Value ETF FYT. With this change, 100% of the model is allocated to Small Caps and so far this year (through 3/23) the Model is up more than 12% versus 5% for the S&P 500.
This weekly overview is designed to be used as a "radar" screen to bring your attention to potentially important technical changes that may require your attention and potential action. When evaluating the Fund Score, the strongest issues have scores of 4 or higher while those ETFs with scores below a 3 are no longer considered solid citizens.
Symbol
Name
Price
Fund Score
PnF Signal
RS Col.
PnF Trend
Weekly Mom
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF
38.50
5.76
Buy
X
Positive
-1W
BICK
First Trust BICK Index Fund
37.87
4.37
Sell
X
Positive
-13W
DDIV
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF
28.59
4.52
Buy
X
Positive
-1W
EMLP
First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund
22.44
3.03
Buy
O
Positive
+3W
FAB
First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund
67.42
5.85
Buy
X
Positive
-1W
FAD
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund
107.03
4.27
Sell
X
Positive
-6W
FAN
First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF
21.53
4.07
Sell
O
Positive
-9W
FBT
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund
159.53
1.90
Sell
O
Negative
-6W
FCG
First Trust Natural Gas ETF
12.33
4.95
Buy
X
Positive
-1W
FDD
First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund
13.89
4.06
Buy
O
Positive
+4W
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend LeadersSM Index Fund
32.24
3.30
Buy
O
Positive
+4W
FDM
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM Fund
58.69
5.51
Buy
X
Positive
-2W
FDN
First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund
220.24
2.94
Buy
X
Positive
-5W
FEX
First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund
78.85
3.79
Buy
X
Positive
-13W
FFR
First Trust FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Mkts Real Estate Index
46.15
3.17
Buy
O
Positive
-1W
FGD
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund
24.83
3.67
Buy
O
Positive
+4W
FIW
First Trust Water ETF
75.67
5.02
Buy
X
Positive
-9W
FLM
First Trust Global Engineering and Construction ETF
53.80
3.49
Buy
O
Positive
+4W
FNI
First Trust Chindia ETF
63.94
4.92
Sell
X
Positive
-5W
FNX
First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund
91.70
4.62
Buy
X
Positive
-13W
FPX
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF
121.04
4.16
Sell
X
Positive
-5W
FRI
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund
24.91
3.24
Buy
O
Positive
-2W
FTA
First Trust Large Cap Value Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund
62.60
3.96
Buy
O
Positive
+4W
FTC
First Trust Large Cap Growth Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund
96.46
3.64
Sell
X
Positive
-5W
FTGC
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund
20.89
2.55
Buy
O
Positive
-3W
FTRI
First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF
13.00
4.13
Sell
X
Positive
-1W
FVD
First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund
37.35
3.08
Buy
O
Positive
+4W
FVL
First Trust Value Line 100 Exchange-Traded Fund
23.16
2.50
Buy
O
Positive
-13W
FXD
First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund
59.05
5.82
Buy
X
Positive
-2W
FXG
First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund
56.51
3.32
Buy
O
Positive
+4W
FXH
First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund
107.00
2.75
Buy
X
Positive
-9W
FXL
First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund
112.05
4.11
Sell
X
Positive
-5W
FXN
First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund
9.83
5.89
Buy
X
Positive
-1W
FXO
First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund
40.73
5.86
Buy
X
Positive
-1W
FXR
First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund
54.29
4.49
Buy
X
Positive
-2W
FXU
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund
29.09
2.53
Buy
O
Positive
+3W
FXZ
First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund
52.51
4.65
Buy
X
Positive
-1W
FYX
First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund
89.31
5.76
Buy
X
Positive
-6W
MDIV
Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund
15.94
2.07
Buy
O
Positive
+4W
QABA
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund
55.66
5.25
Buy
X
Positive
-1W
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund
66.60
4.63
Sell
O
Positive
-9W
QQEW
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSMFund
102.26
4.26
Buy
X
Positive
-5W
QQXT
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund
79.78
4.17
Buy
X
Positive
-13W
QTEC
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector IndexSMFund
141.72
3.86
Sell
X
Positive
-5W
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund
53.21
3.25
Buy
O
Positive
-6W
TUSA
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDex ETF
44.89
4.69
Buy
O
Positive
-13W
The ETFs with the most relative strength buy signals (suggesting outperformance) versus the others in the group are listed at the top. These ETFs should be overweighted in the portfolio. Those ETFs with the least amount of relative strength buy signals versus the others in the group are listed at the bottom. These ETFs should be underweighted in the portfolio.
The First Trust ETF Portfolios are designed to identify major sector themes in the market place through the use of the Point & Figure relative strength tools. For more information on the portfolio construction and back testing, see the model info file on the models page. To enter a portfolio amount and see shares to be purchased as well as modify the portfolio to your specifications, click here. (Note: The First Trust ETF Portfolios will be updated Wednesday mornings by 9:30 am EST)
Weekly Changes:
There are changes to the First Trust Fixed Income Model as well as the First Trust Size & Style Model. The Fixed Income model is selling Convertibles FCVT and buying Senior Loans FTSL while the Size & Style Model is selling Mid Cap Growth FNY and buying Small Cap Value FYT.
First Trust Sector Model FTRUST
| ETF Name | Symbol | DWA Suggested Weighting | Yield | Date Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund | FDN | 6.250% | 0.0000 | 02/25/2009 |
| First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund | FXN | 6.250% | 3.7563 | 11/24/2020 |
| First Trust Water ETF | FIW | 6.250% | 0.5304 | 11/15/2016 |
| First Trust Natural Gas ETF | FCG | 6.250% | 2.7318 | 11/17/2020 |
| First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund | FXL | 6.250% | 0.0417 | 06/02/2015 |
| First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund | FXZ | 6.250% | 1.4177 | 12/01/2020 |
| First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund | FXD | 6.250% | 0.3852 | 06/02/2020 |
| First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund | FXO | 6.250% | 2.2684 | 01/12/2021 |
| First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund | FXR | 6.250% | 0.9946 | 01/12/2021 |
| First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector IndexSMFund | QTEC | 6.250% | 0.4230 | 03/11/2009 |
| First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund | QQXT | 6.250% | 0.2811 | 08/09/2007 |
| First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund | QABA | 6.250% | 2.1463 | 11/10/2020 |
| First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF | FTXR | 6.250% | 0.3011 | 08/25/2020 |
| First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | FTXL | 6.250% | 0.4413 | 04/30/2019 |
| First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF | FTXO | 6.250% | 2.1785 | 11/10/2020 |
| First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF | FTXN | 6.250% | 1.3736 | 11/24/2020 |
* - Dates prior to 1/9/2008, which is when the First Trust Sector ETF Model Portfolio became available in the First Trust Weekly ETF Report, are representative of when the position was added to the backtested model.
First Trust Focus Five Model FTRUST5
| ETF Name | Symbol | DWA Suggested Weighting | Yield | Date Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund | FXL | 20.000% | 0.0417 | 11/07/2017 |
| First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund | FXD | 20.000% | 0.3852 | 06/09/2020 |
| First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund | FXR | 20.000% | 0.9946 | 01/19/2021 |
| First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector IndexSMFund | QTEC | 20.000% | 0.4230 | 11/08/2016 |
| First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF | FTXR | 20.000% | 0.3011 | 09/08/2020 |
* - The next evaluation date for the Focus Five Model is Wednesday April 7th, 2021. Dates prior to 10/20/2009, which is when the First Trust Focus Five ETF Model Portfolio became available in the First Trust Weekly ETF Report, are representative of when the position was added to the backtested model.
First Trust International Model FTRUSTINTL
| ETF Name | Symbol | DWA Suggested Weighting | Yield | Date Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Trust Chindia ETF | FNI | 20.000% | 0.2856 | 03/17/2020 |
| First Trust BICK Index Fund | BICK | 20.000% | 0.4101 | 05/16/2017 |
| First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund | FEP | 20.000% | 2.2771 | 12/15/2020 |
| First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund | FGM | 20.000% | 1.3365 | 05/22/2012 |
| First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund | FSZ | 20.000% | 1.5155 | 06/06/2011 |
* - The next evaluation date for the International Focus Five Model is Wednesday March 31st. Dates prior to 2/22/2012, which is when the First Trust International Focus Five ETF Model Portfolio became available in the First Trust Weekly ETF Report, are representative of when the position was added to the backtested model.
First Trust Size and Style Model FTSIZESTYLE
ETF Name
Symbol
DWA Suggested Weighting
Yield
Date Added
First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund
FYX
33.333%
0.5630
01/19/2021
First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund
FYC
33.333%
0.1022
10/20/2020
First Trust Small Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund
FYT
33.333%
0.8449
03/23/2021
First Trust Income Model FTINCOME
| ETF Name | Symbol | DWA Suggested Weighting | Yield | Date Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Trust Large Cap Value Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund | FTA | 20.000% | 1.8879 | 05/05/2020 |
| First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund | FDD | 20.000% | 3.8442 | 12/01/2020 |
| First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund | TDIV | 20.000% | 2.0118 | 05/14/2019 |
| First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF | DDIV | 20.000% | 2.3415 | 12/22/2020 |
| First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | RDVY | 20.000% | 1.4323 | 11/12/2019 |
First Trust Fixed Income Model (TR) FTFIXINC.TR
ETF Name
Symbol
DWA Suggested Weighting
Yield
Date Added
First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF TR
HYLS.TR
25.000%
5.2297
08/25/2020
First Trust Senior Loan Fund TR
FTSL.TR
25.000%
3.3341
03/23/2021
First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF TR
FPE.TR
25.000%
4.9060
04/21/2020
First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF TR
FEMB.TR
25.000%
5.5468
05/19/2020
Am I better off owning the managed mutual fund or the unmanaged ETF? The table below will help you answer that question. For each of the nine major asset classes and sectors, see the Top 20 mutual funds in NAV compared to the First Trust Universe of ETFs. The results are ordered by Fund Score, from highest to lowest. The Fund Score is a snapshot of the overall health of the fund based upon relative strength versus the broad market, relative strength versus its peers, and other trend measures. Those ETFs and Funds with a score above 3 are considered solid citizens with those having scores of 4 and above ideal candidates for purchase. Those ETFs and Funds with a score below 3 should be examined closer from a technical basis as they are not holding their ground versus the market and their peer group.
| Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Mid Cap Value | Mid Cap Blend | Mid Cap Growth |
| Small Cap Value | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Growth |
| Sectors | ||
(Click any link above to see the Fund Score of the First Trust ETFs and the funds with the largest Net Assets in that category)
