Is First Trust Large Cap Growth AlphaDEX ETF (FTC) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The First Trust Large Cap Growth AlphaDEX ETF (FTC) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Growth category and utilizes a smart beta strategy [1][5] - The ETF has amassed assets over $1.22 billion and seeks to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Large Cap Growth Index [5] - FTC has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.34% and an annual expense ratio of 0.58% [6] Fund Characteristics - FTC employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology, which selects stocks based on fundamental characteristics rather than market capitalization [5] - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Information Technology sector, accounting for approximately 23.2% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Financials [7] - The top 10 holdings represent about 10.66% of FTC's total assets, with Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) being the largest individual holding at 1.2% [8] Performance Metrics - As of September 2, 2025, FTC has returned approximately 13.46% year-to-date and 23.5% over the past year [10] - The fund has traded between $116.97 and $158.18 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.11 and a standard deviation of 18.39% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the large-cap growth space include Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and Invesco QQQ (QQQ), with VUG having an expense ratio of 0.04% and QQQ at 0.20% [11] - Investors seeking lower-cost options may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Style Box - Large Cap Growth [12]