First Trust (Wed.)
Published: Oct 01, 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.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is a campaign by the National Cybersecurity Alliance to raise awareness of cyber threats and encourage proactive measures to consumers. A way to access the theme and sub-industry of technology is through the First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR).

CIBR maintains a strong 5.31 fund score, which is above the average score for a fund within technology (4.72) and large cap growth (4.66) groups. The fund has maintained a positive trend since 2023 and returned to a buy signal in April this year. While September’s action brought a second buy signal and a new all-time high chart high at $77.  From a relative strength perspective, CIBR has maintained both positive near and long-term market RS since December 2024.

The ETF is actionable at its current chart position as well as on a pullback to the middle of the 10-week trading band at $73. Initial support can be found at $71, while additional support may be found in the $59 to $60 range.

Year-to-date, CIBR is up 19.80% and is outperforming the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by more than 6%.

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 5.95
FDD First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index Fund 15 11 5.54
FTC First Trust Large Cap Growth Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund 14 15 5.58
FNX First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 13 8 3.94
FAD First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund 12 13 5.72
QQEW First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSMFund 11 8 4.99
FEX First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 8 11 4.15
FAB First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund 7 5 3.90
FDM First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM Fund 6 11 5.39
FYX First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund 6 9 5.41
FTDS First Trust Dividend Strength ETF 6 3 2.97
FTCS First Trust Capital Strength ETF 6 3 3.67
FDL First Trust Morningstar Dividend LeadersSM Index Fund 5 5 2.53
FTA First Trust Large Cap Value Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund 5 3 2.90
FGD First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund 4 13 4.22
FVD First Trust Value Line Dividend Index Fund 2 1 2.62
FTSM First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF 0 0 1.03

First Trust  Sector Matrix Summary

Ticker Name Buys Xs Tech
Attribute/
Score
FDN First Trust Dow Jones Internet IndexSM Fund 27 25 5.45
ISHP First Trust S-Network E-Commerce ETF 27 21 5.47
FTXL First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF 26 27 5.65
QTEC First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector IndexSMFund 24 19 5.45
SKYY First Trust Cloud Computing ETF 23 25 5.70
FTXO First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF 23 22 5.47
FXL First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund 22 21 5.37
QCLN First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund 21 29 5.69
CARZ First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF 21 27 4.80
RBLD First Trust Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure ETF 20 15 4.24
FXU First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund 20 10 4.66
FXR First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund 19 15 4.48
FXO First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund 17 19 5.34
FIW First Trust Water ETF 17 14 3.70
QQXT First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund 16 5 3.69
FAN First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF 15 12 3.68
FXD First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund 14 18 4.86
QABA First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund 13 13 3.53
FTXR First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF 11 16 2.95
FRI First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund 10 6 2.57
FBT First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund 8 16 3.29
FXG First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund 8 1 1.35
FTXH First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF 5 13 3.09
FXH First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund 5 12 2.99
DTRE First Trust Alerian Disruptive Technology Real Estate ETF 5 2 1.12
FCG First Trust Natural Gas ETF 4 5 1.71
FXZ First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund 3 12 2.64
FXN First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund 3 8 2.50
FTXN First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF 3 7 1.90
FTXG First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF 2 0 1.06

**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 11.111% 0.0000 06/13/2023
First Trust Water ETF FIW 11.111% 0.6794 11/15/2016
First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund FXR 11.111% 0.6692 01/12/2021
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 11.111% 2.1084 04/01/2025
First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF FAN 11.111% 1.0747 06/17/2025
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund QCLN 11.111% 0.4089 09/23/2025
First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund QABA 11.111% 2.0402 07/30/2024
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF FTXL 11.111% 0.4441 07/01/2025
First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF FTXO 11.111% 1.9348 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% 1.8661 12/10/2024
First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund FXR 20.000% 0.6692 01/19/2021
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 20.000% 2.1084 03/25/2025
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector IndexSMFund QQXT 20.000% 0.7353 04/08/2025

* - The next evaluation date for the Focus Five Model is Wednesday, October 8th, 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% 0.2544 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% 0.6908 09/05/2023
First Trust Dow Jones International Internet ETF TR FDNI.TR 20.000% 0.6354 04/22/2025

* - The next evaluation date for the Thematic Focus Five Model is Wednesday, October 8th, 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% 3.3944 12/03/2024
First Trust United Kingdom Alphadex Fund FKU 20.000% 3.3987 01/16/2024
First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund FGM 20.000% 0.7138 06/17/2025
First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund FSZ 20.000% 1.6256 11/01/2022
First Trust Eurozone AlphaDEX Fund FEUZ 20.000% 2.6791 03/04/2025

* - The next evaluation date for the International Focus Five Model is Wednesday, October 15th, 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% 0.3383 06/20/2023
First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund FEX 33.333% 1.1636 10/24/2023
First Trust Mid Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund FNY 33.333% 0.5420 06/24/2025

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% 4.6069 04/01/2025
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU 20.000% 2.1084 03/11/2025
First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund EMLP 20.000% 3.0629 04/12/2022
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund TDIV 20.000% 1.3951 08/12/2025
First Trust S&P International Dividend Aristocrats ETF FID 20.000% 3.7225 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% 6.2068 07/22/2025
First Trust Senior Loan Fund TR FTSL.TR 25.000% 6.9305 03/23/2021
First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities ETF TR FCVT.TR 25.000% 2.0064 05/20/2025
First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF TR FEMB.TR 25.000% 5.5671 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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