First Trust (Wed.)
Published: Apr 30, 2025
This content is for informational purposes only. This should not be construed as solicitation. The general public should consult their financial advisor for additional information related to investment decisions.

There were no changes to any of the First Trust Models this week.

Currently the only NDW Sector/Industry Group (among 40) that sees both its bullish percent (BP) above 50% and positive trend (PT) in a column of Xs is the Aerospace Airline industry. Among the higher scoring ETFs within the industry is the First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF MISL which possesses a strong 5.32 fund score and outpaces funds within the broader cyclical sector (2.97) and all US listed funds (2.93). The ETF’s fund score increased earlier this month after moving into a column of Xs on its market RS chart against the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index (SPXEWI), suggesting a near-term trend of outperformance. Action this week on the trend chart saw MISL return to a buy signal by breaking a double top at $31.50, completing a bearish signal reversal pattern, and moving above major moving averages.

Those seeking exposure to the Aerospace industry could consider MISL here on the breakout or on a pullback to the middle of the 10-week trading band at $30. Note that resistance lies at $32.50 and $34, the funds all-time chart high from November last year. Initial support on the default chart can be found at $26.50, the bullish support line and April chart low. Support close to current prices can be found on the more sensitive 0.25 point per box chart at $29.25 and $27.50.

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.

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.

First Trust Market Matrix Summary

Ticker Name Buys Xs Tech
Attribute/
Score
FDD First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund 14 16 5.95
FTC First Trust Large Cap Growth Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund 14 9 3.41
FNX First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 13 6 2.15
QQEW First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSMFund 11 4 3.70
FAD First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund 10 8 2.98
FPX First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF 9 12 5.07
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend LeadersSM Index Fund 9 12 3.55
FEX First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 9 9 1.73
FAB First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund 8 3 1.42
FTCS First Trust Capital Strength ETF 7 10 3.05
FTDS First Trust Dividend Strength ETF 6 6 1.53
FTA First Trust Large Cap Value Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund 6 6 0.53
FYX First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 6 0 2.69
FVD First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund 4 8 2.54
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM Fund 4 3 1.89
FGD First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund 3 15 4.72
FTSM First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF 2 9 2.89

First Trust  Sector Matrix Summary

Ticker Name Buys Xs Tech
Attribute/
Score
ISHP First Trust S-Network E-Commerce ETF 28 25 5.30
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund 23 29 4.61
RBLD First Trust Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure ETF 23 20 3.21
FDN First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund 23 16 4.29
FXR First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund 23 12 3.31
FIW First Trust Water ETF 22 20 2.80
FTXO First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF 22 11 3.14
QQXT First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund 20 22 3.37
FXO First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund 20 20 3.85
FXL First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund 19 14 1.29
SKYY First Trust Cloud Computing ETF 19 7 3.54
QABA First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund 18 14 1.35
FXG First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund 16 22 2.54
FRI First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund 15 20 2.33
FTXR First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF 15 6 0.17
QTEC First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector IndexSMFund 14 11 2.92
FBT First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund 13 19 2.45
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF 13 0 1.31
FXD First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund 12 8 1.27
FTXN First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF 11 2 0.35
FXH First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund 10 13 1.61
FAN First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF 9 26 2.18
FTXG First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF 9 17 2.36
FTXH First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF 9 10 0.80
DTRE First Trust Alerian Disruptive Technology Real Estate ETF 8 22 2.05
CARZ First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF 7 16 0.53
FXN First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund 7 1 0.29
FTXL First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF 4 14 1.17
QCLN First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund 2 7 0.39
FXZ First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund 0 12 0.19

**This matrix is a relative strength ranking of the First Trust Sector ETFs. It is not used in the evaluation of the First Trust Focus Five Model or Index.

 

 

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:  The were no changes to any of the First Trust Models covered within the report this week.

First Trust Sector Model FTRUST

ETF Name Symbol NDW Suggested Weighting Yield Date Added
First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund FDN 14.286% 0.0000 06/13/2023
First Trust Water ETF FIW 14.286% 0.7426 11/15/2016
First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund FXR 14.286% 0.8270 01/12/2021
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 14.286% 2.3106 04/01/2025
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund QABA 14.286% 2.5933 07/30/2024
First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF FTXG 14.286% 2.7083 04/08/2025
First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF FTXO 14.286% 2.3330 11/12/2024

* - 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 NDW Suggested Weighting Yield Date Added
First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund FDN 20.000% 0.0000 06/06/2023
First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund FXO 20.000% 2.1883 12/10/2024
First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund FXR 20.000% 0.8270 01/19/2021
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 20.000% 2.3106 03/25/2025
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund QQXT 20.000% 0.8716 04/08/2025

* - The next evaluation date for the Focus Five Model is Wednesday, May 7th, 2025. 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 Thematic Focus Five Model TR FTTHEME5.TR

ETF Name Symbol NDW Suggested Weighting Yield Date Added
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF TR CIBR.TR 20.000% 0.2578 04/22/2025
First Trust Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure ETF TR RBLD.TR 20.000% 1.3101 09/05/2023
First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund TR FDN.TR 20.000% 0.0000 09/05/2023
First Trust S-Network Streaming and Gaming ETF TR BNGE.TR 20.000% 0.0000 09/05/2023
First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF TR FDNI.TR 20.000% 0.9430 04/22/2025

* - The next evaluation date for the Thematic Focus Five Model is Wednesday, May 7th, 2025. Dates prior to 9/13/2023, which is when the First Trust Thematic 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 NDW Suggested Weighting Yield Date Added
First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund FCA 20.000% 4.5515 12/03/2024
First Trust United Kingdom Alphadex Fund FKU 20.000% 3.8019 01/16/2024
First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund FSZ 20.000% 1.7271 11/01/2022
First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX Fund FEUZ 20.000% 1.9761 03/04/2025
First Trust India Nifty 50 Equal Weight ETF NFTY 20.000% 0.0000 04/13/2021

* - The next evaluation date for the International Focus Five Model is Wednesday, May 14th, 2025. 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 NDW Suggested Weighting Yield Date Added
First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund FNX 33.333% 1.4225 04/22/2025
First Trust Large Cap Growth Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund FTC 33.333% 0.3568 06/20/2023
First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund FEX 33.333% 1.2928 10/24/2023

First Trust Income Model FTINCOME

ETF Name Symbol NDW Suggested Weighting Yield Date Added
First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund FDD 20.000% 6.5517 04/01/2025
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 20.000% 2.3106 03/11/2025
First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund EMLP 20.000% 3.1398 04/12/2022
First Trust Nasdaq Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF DDIV 20.000% 2.3373 04/30/2024
First Trust S&P International Dividend Aristocrats ETF FID 20.000% 4.1067 04/22/2025

First Trust Fixed Income Model (TR) FTFIXINC.TR

ETF Name Symbol NDW Suggested Weighting Yield Date Added
First Trust Tactical High Yield ETF TR HYLS.TR 25.000% 6.2485 08/23/2022
First Trust Senior Loan Fund TR FTSL.TR 25.000% 7.3803 03/23/2021
First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF TR FPE.TR 25.000% 5.6392 08/22/2023
First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF TR FEMB.TR 25.000% 5.4194 04/22/2025

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.
 

First Trust ETF vs. Mutual Fund Analysis
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)

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