Should First Trust Growth Strength ETF (FTGS) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Insights - The First Trust Growth Strength ETF (FTGS) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market and has amassed over $1.23 billion in assets since its launch on October 25, 2022 [1] Group 1: Large Cap Growth Overview - Large cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion, offering a stable investment option with less risk and more reliable cash flows compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Growth stocks are characterized by higher sales and earnings growth rates, but they also come with higher valuations and risks compared to other equity types [3] Group 2: Costs and Performance - The FTGS ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.6%, which is considered relatively high, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.33% [4] - The ETF has gained approximately 12.13% year-to-date and 14.89% over the past year, with a trading range between $26.62 and $35.51 in the last 52 weeks [7] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Information Technology sector, comprising about 30.6% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Financials [5] - Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) represents about 2.91% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 24.93% of total assets under management [6] Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - FTGS has a beta of 1.13 and a standard deviation of 17.78% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk with about 51 holdings [8] - Alternatives to FTGS include the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [10]