
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.
Symbol
Name
Price
Fund Score
PnF Signal
RS Col.
PnF Trend
Weekly Mom
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF
87.98
5.86
Buy
X
Positive
-
1W
DDIV
First Trust Nasdaq Dorsey Wright Momentum & Dividend ETF
38.51
3.64
Sell
X
Positive
-
2W
DTRE
First Trust Alerian Disruptive Technology Real Estate ETF
39.41
1.64
Buy
X
Positive
-
6W
EMLP
First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund
38.01
4.12
Buy
O
Positive
+
3W
FAB
First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund
82.71
3.31
Buy
O
Negative
-
2W
FAD
First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund
150.00
5.69
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FAN
First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF
18.97
4.53
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FBT
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund
164.47
2.24
Buy
O
Positive
+
3W
FCG
First Trust Natural Gas ETF
23.04
1.74
Buy
O
Positive
-
4W
FDD
First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund
15.55
5.58
Buy
X
Positive
-
10W
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend LeadersSM Index Fund
42.43
2.93
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FDM
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM Fund
70.53
5.48
Buy
X
Positive
-
3W
FDN
First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund
266.88
5.62
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FEX
First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund
111.68
3.21
Buy
O
Positive
-
2W
FGD
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund
27.99
4.68
Buy
X
Positive
-
8W
FIW
First Trust Water ETF
110.59
3.72
Buy
O
Positive
-
2W
FNX
First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund
117.11
3.72
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FPX
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF
151.49
5.96
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FRI
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund
27.14
1.62
Sell
O
Negative
-
6W
FTA
First Trust Large Cap Value Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund
79.26
2.96
Buy
O
Positive
-
2W
FTC
First Trust Large Cap Growth Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund
155.10
5.77
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FTDS
First Trust Dividend Strength ETF
53.39
3.13
Buy
O
Positive
-
1W
FTGC
First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund
24.67
2.49
Buy
O
Positive
-
4W
FTRI
First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF
14.41
4.18
Buy
X
Positive
-
4W
FVD
First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund
45.29
2.64
Sell
O
Positive
-
1W
FXD
First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund
64.66
4.28
Buy
O
Positive
-
2W
FXG
First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund
63.66
1.32
Sell
O
Negative
-
1W
FXH
First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund
100.41
1.78
Buy
O
Negative
-
5W
FXL
First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund
158.03
4.44
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FXN
First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund
15.44
0.74
Buy
O
Positive
-
4W
FXO
First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund
56.73
5.26
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
FXR
First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund
77.14
5.21
Buy
X
Positive
-
1W
FXU
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund
45.04
4.61
Buy
X
Positive
+
4W
FXZ
First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund
57.98
1.30
Buy
O
Negative
-
2W
FYX
First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund
99.53
3.82
Buy
O
Positive
-
2W
MDIV
Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund
15.97
1.63
Buy
O
Positive
-
1W
QABA
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund
53.88
2.59
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund
34.82
4.13
Buy
X
Positive
-
1W
QQEW
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSMFund
135.49
5.14
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
QQXT
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund
98.61
3.90
Buy
O
Positive
-
2W
QTEC
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector IndexSMFund
210.42
5.40
Buy
X
Positive
-
2W
RBLD
First Trust Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure ETF
73.74
4.51
Buy
X
Positive
-
1W
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund
90.17
5.52
Buy
X
Positive
-
3W
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 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.
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)