Should First Trust Mid Cap Value AlphaDEX ETF (FNK) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Mid Cap Value AlphaDEX ETF (FNK) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Value segment of the US equity market, with a focus on balancing growth potential and stability [1][2]. Group 1: Fund Overview - Launched on April 19, 2011, FNK has accumulated assets over $204.79 million, categorizing it as one of the smaller ETFs in its segment [1]. - The ETF is passively managed and sponsored by First Trust Advisors [1]. Group 2: Investment Characteristics - Mid cap companies, with market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, are generally seen as having higher growth prospects compared to large cap companies while being less risky than small cap companies [2]. - Value stocks, which FNK focuses on, typically have lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, and have historically outperformed growth stocks in long-term performance [3]. Group 3: Costs and Performance - FNK has annual operating expenses of 0.7%, making it one of the more expensive ETFs in its category, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.62% [4]. - The ETF aims to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Mid Cap Value Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 5.62% and a one-year return of about 7.56% as of August 25, 2025 [7]. Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Consumer Discretionary sector, comprising about 22.1% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Industrials [5]. - Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) is the largest individual holding at approximately 1.18% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 9.23% of total assets under management [6]. Group 5: Risk and Alternatives - FNK has a beta of 1.08 and a standard deviation of 21.97% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8]. - Alternatives to FNK include the iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and the Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [10].