Should You Invest in the First Trust Financials AlphaDEX ETF (FXO)?

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Financials AlphaDEX ETF (FXO) is a passively managed ETF that provides broad exposure to the Financials sector, appealing to both institutional and retail investors due to its low costs and tax efficiency [1][2]. Group 1: Fund Overview - Launched on May 8, 2007, FXO has accumulated over $2.17 billion in assets, positioning it among the larger ETFs in the Financials sector [3]. - FXO aims to match the performance of the StrataQuant Financials Index, which utilizes a modified equal-dollar weighted methodology to select stocks from the Russell 1000 Index [4]. Group 2: Costs and Performance - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.61% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.95% [5]. - FXO has increased approximately 5.81% year-to-date and 23.62% over the past year, with a trading range between $45.9 and $59 in the last 52 weeks [8]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - FXO has a significant allocation in the Financials sector, comprising about 99.7% of its portfolio [6]. - The top holdings include Bank Ozk (1.68% of total assets), Invesco Ltd., and Interactive Brokers Group, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 16.07% of total assets [7]. Group 4: Alternatives and Market Position - FXO carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to the Financials sector [9]. - Other alternatives include the Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH) and the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [10].