Is First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX ETF (FXG) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX ETF (FXG) is a smart beta ETF that aims to provide broad exposure to the Consumer Staples sector, utilizing a modified equal-dollar weighted index to potentially outperform traditional passive indices [1][5][6]. Fund Overview - FXG was launched on May 8, 2007, and has accumulated assets exceeding $284.05 million, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in the Consumer Staples sector [1][5]. - The fund is managed by First Trust Advisors and seeks to match the performance of the StrataQuant Consumer Staples Index before fees and expenses [5]. Investment Strategy - FXG employs the AlphaDEX screening methodology to select stocks from the Russell 1000 Index, aiming to identify those with better risk-return performance based on fundamental characteristics [6][3]. - The fund's operating expenses are 0.62%, making it one of the more expensive options in the ETF space, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.24% [7]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The fund has a significant allocation to the Consumer Staples sector, representing 87.7% of the portfolio, with Healthcare and Materials as the next largest sectors [8]. - Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) is the largest holding at approximately 4.56% of total assets, followed by The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) and Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP). The top 10 holdings constitute about 40.2% of total assets [9]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, FXG has returned approximately 1.03% and is down about -3.4% over the last 12 months as of September 11, 2025. The fund has traded between $61.21 and $70.06 in the past 52 weeks [11]. - FXG has a beta of 0.57 and a standard deviation of 12.82% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk with more concentrated exposure than its peers [11]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Consumer Staples space include the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP), which have significantly larger asset bases of $7.46 billion and $15.98 billion, respectively, and lower expense ratios of 0.09% and 0.08% [13].