First Trust (Wed.)
Published: Aug 06, 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 covered within the report this week.

With the first month of Q3 wrapping up last week, investors may have been surprised to see Utilities as the best performing broad sector, outpacing rallies within Industrials and Technology. Within the First Trust ETF lineup, the First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) gained 4.9% and outperformed the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by more than 2.5% during July. The fund has maintained a buy signal since the latter part of April, completing a second buy signal by breaking a double top at $43.50 during July. Action at the beginning of August brought the fund to a new all-time chart high at $45.50.

FXU maintains a fund score of 4.61, which is higher than the average score for the Utilities group (4.35), and the ETF has sustained a fund score above 4 for more than 12 months. Recent action has brought the chart of FXU into overbought territory, so those seeking exposure to the fund will look for a pullback to the lower $44 to upper $43 range before adding. Initial support can be found on the default chart at $41.50, while additional support can be found at $39.50 and $38, the bullish support line.

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
FPX First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF 15 16 5.96
FDD First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund 15 12 5.58
FTC First Trust Large Cap Growth Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund 14 15 5.77
FNX First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 13 7 3.72
FAD First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund 11 13 5.69
QQEW First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSMFund 11 9 5.14
FEX First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 7 11 3.22
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend LeadersSM Index Fund 7 7 2.93
FTCS First Trust Capital Strength ETF 7 5 3.40
FAB First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund 7 4 3.31
FYX First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 6 4 3.82
FTA First Trust Large Cap Value Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund 6 4 2.96
FTDS First Trust Dividend Strength ETF 6 3 3.13
FGD First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund 4 13 4.68
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM Fund 4 11 5.48
FVD First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund 2 2 2.64
FTSM First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF 1 0 1.41

First Trust  Sector Matrix Summary

Ticker Name Buys Xs Tech
Attribute/
Score
FDN First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund 27 25 5.62
ISHP First Trust S-Network E-Commerce ETF 27 21 5.59
FTXL First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF 25 29 5.32
QTEC First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector IndexSMFund 23 26 5.40
SKYY First Trust Cloud Computing ETF 22 24 5.57
FTXO First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF 22 20 5.61
RBLD First Trust Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure ETF 22 17 4.51
FXR First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund 22 15 5.21
QQXT First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund 22 14 3.90
FXL First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund 21 23 4.44
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund 21 14 4.61
FIW First Trust Water ETF 20 13 3.72
FXO First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund 18 18 5.26
CARZ First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF 15 27 4.62
QABA First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund 15 13 2.59
FAN First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF 14 24 4.53
FXD First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund 14 13 4.28
FTXR First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF 11 11 2.43
FXG First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund 11 2 1.32
QCLN First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund 10 26 4.13
FRI First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund 10 7 1.62
FBT First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund 8 5 2.24
FTXG First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF 7 0 1.12
DTRE First Trust Alerian Disruptive Technology Real Estate ETF 6 6 1.64
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF 5 6 1.74
FXH First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund 5 5 1.78
FTXN First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF 3 7 0.62
FTXH First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF 3 4 1.22
FXZ First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund 2 11 1.30
FXN First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund 1 7 0.74

**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:  There 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 12.500% 0.0000 06/13/2023
First Trust Water ETF FIW 12.500% 0.7116 11/15/2016
First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund FXR 12.500% 0.6873 01/12/2021
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 12.500% 2.0994 04/01/2025
First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF FAN 12.500% 1.0560 06/17/2025
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund QABA 12.500% 2.2109 07/30/2024
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF FTXL 12.500% 0.4528 07/01/2025
First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF FTXO 12.500% 2.0599 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% 1.9420 12/10/2024
First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund FXR 20.000% 0.6873 01/19/2021
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 20.000% 2.0994 03/25/2025
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund QQXT 20.000% 0.7333 04/08/2025

* - The next evaluation date for the Focus Five Model is Wednesday, August 20th, 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% 0.2562 04/22/2025
First Trust Cloud Computing ETF TR SKYY.TR 20.000% 0.0000 07/08/2025
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% 0.7154 09/05/2023
First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF TR FDNI.TR 20.000% 0.6599 04/22/2025

* - The next evaluation date for the Thematic Focus Five Model is Wednesday, August 20th, 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% 3.6798 12/03/2024
First Trust United Kingdom Alphadex Fund FKU 20.000% 3.5154 01/16/2024
First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund FGM 20.000% 0.7381 06/17/2025
First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund FSZ 20.000% 1.6685 11/01/2022
First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX Fund FEUZ 20.000% 2.7748 03/04/2025

* - The next evaluation date for the International Focus Five Model is Wednesday, August 13th, 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 Large Cap Growth Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund FTC 33.333% 0.3398 06/20/2023
First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund FEX 33.333% 1.1971 10/24/2023
First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund FNY 33.333% 0.5652 06/24/2025

First Trust Income Model FTINCOME

ETF Name Symbol NDW Suggested Weighting Yield Date Added
First Trust Morningstar Dividend LeadersSM Index Fund FDL 20.000% 4.0085 05/13/2025
First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund FDD 20.000% 4.8208 04/01/2025
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 20.000% 2.0994 03/11/2025
First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund EMLP 20.000% 3.0397 04/12/2022
First Trust S&P International Dividend Aristocrats ETF FID 20.000% 3.8273 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% 6.1795 07/22/2025
First Trust Senior Loan Fund TR FTSL.TR 25.000% 7.0262 03/23/2021
First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities ETF TR FCVT.TR 25.000% 2.0236 05/20/2025
First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF TR FEMB.TR 25.000% 5.6207 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)

Most Requested Symbols