Core Viewpoint - The First Trust NASDAQ Semiconductor ETF (FTXL) is a smart beta ETF designed to provide exposure to the semiconductor industry, launched on September 20, 2016 [1]. Fund Overview - FTXL is managed by First Trust Advisors and has accumulated over $296.94 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF within the Technology ETFs sector [5]. - The fund aims to match the performance of the Nasdaq US Smart Semiconductor Index, which is a modified factor-weighted index focused on US semiconductor companies [5]. Cost and Expenses - The annual operating expenses for FTXL are 0.60%, which is comparable to most peer products in the sector [6]. - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.44% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - FTXL is fully allocated to the Information Technology sector, representing approximately 100% of its portfolio [7]. - The largest holding is Broadcom Inc. (AVGO), accounting for about 9.19% of total assets, followed by Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) and Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) [8]. - The top 10 holdings make up approximately 62.83% of the fund's total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - As of July 21, 2025, FTXL has increased by about 13.89% year-to-date but has decreased by approximately -0.66% over the past year [10]. - The ETF has traded between $62.37 and $101.42 in the past 52 weeks [10]. - FTXL has a beta of 1.34 and a standard deviation of 35.50% over the trailing three-year period, indicating more concentrated exposure compared to peers with only 31 holdings [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the semiconductor space include iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), with assets of $13.95 billion and $27.74 billion respectively [12]. - Both SOXX and SMH have a lower expense ratio of 0.35% [12].

Core Viewpoint - The ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF (IDOG) is a smart beta ETF launched to provide broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category, with a focus on high-yield securities [1][5]. Fund Overview - IDOG was launched on June 28, 2013, and is designed to match the performance of the S-Network International Sector Dividend Dogs Index, which identifies five high-yield securities in each of the ten Global Industry Classification Standard sectors [1][5]. - The fund is sponsored by Alps and has accumulated over $355.3 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [5]. Cost Structure - IDOG has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.50%, which is competitive with most peer products in the Foreign Large Value ETF space [6]. - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is reported at 4.19% [6]. Holdings and Sector Exposure - The fund's top holdings include Neste Oyj (2.41% of total assets), Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., and Enel Spa, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 22.48% of total assets [7][8]. - IDOG offers diversified exposure, minimizing single stock risk, and discloses its holdings daily [7]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, IDOG has increased by approximately 20.86%, and it has risen about 15.87% over the last 12 months as of July 21, 2025 [9]. - The fund has traded between $28.25 and $34.63 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.71 and a standard deviation of 15.74% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [9][10]. Alternatives - IDOG may not be suitable for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Value ETF segment, with alternatives such as the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) and Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) available [11][12]. - VYMI has $10.93 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.17%, while FNDF has $16.39 billion in assets with a 0.25% expense ratio [12].

Core Insights - The iShares Paris-Aligned Climate MSCI USA ETF (PABU) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Blend category and was launched on April 8, 2022 [1] Fund Overview - PABU is sponsored by Blackrock and has accumulated over $2.2 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the MSCI USA Climate Paris Aligned Benchmark Extended Select Index, which focuses on U.S. large and mid-cap stocks aligned with the Paris Agreement [6] Cost and Performance - PABU has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.10% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.98% [7] - The ETF has gained approximately 4.69% year-to-date and about 13% over the past year, with a trading range between $53.19 and $67.84 in the last 52 weeks [10] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The largest sector allocation for PABU is Information Technology, comprising about 39.5% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Healthcare [8] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) is the top holding at approximately 8.69% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 42.51% of total assets under management [9] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the space include Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU), with assets of $10.8 billion and $13.9 billion respectively [12]

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF (FNDA) is a smart beta ETF designed to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Value category, with a focus on fundamental characteristics for stock selection [1][3]. Fund Overview - FNDA was launched on August 13, 2013, and is managed by Charles Schwab, accumulating over $8.49 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [1][5]. - The fund aims to match the performance of the Russell RAFI US Small Co. Index, which evaluates small U.S. companies based on fundamental size and weight [5]. Cost Structure - FNDA has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.25%, positioning it as a cost-effective option in the ETF market [6]. - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.35% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Industrials sector, comprising approximately 20.2% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [7]. - The top holdings include Verisign Inc (0.39% of total assets), Urban Outfitters Inc, and Woodward Inc, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 3.31% of total assets [8]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, FNDA has experienced a loss of approximately -0.42%, while it has gained about 2.37% over the last 12 months as of July 21, 2025 [10]. - The fund has traded between $23.85 and $32.42 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.09 and a standard deviation of 21.00% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Small Cap Value space include iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) and Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR), with IWN having $10.95 billion in assets and VBR at $30.17 billion [12]. - IWN has an expense ratio of 0.24%, while VBR has a lower expense ratio of 0.07%, suggesting options for investors seeking lower-cost alternatives [12].

Core Insights - The First Trust Energy AlphaDEX ETF (FXN) is a smart beta ETF that provides broad exposure to the Energy sector, having debuted on May 8, 2007 [1] - The ETF industry has been traditionally dominated by market capitalization weighted indexes, but smart beta strategies aim to outperform through stock selection based on fundamental characteristics [2][3] - FXN is sponsored by First Trust Advisors and has assets totaling approximately $278.76 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in the Energy category [5] Fund Structure and Strategy - FXN seeks to match the performance of the StrataQuant Energy Index, which is a modified equal-dollar weighted index designed to identify stocks from the Russell 1000 Index that may generate positive alpha [6] - The fund has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.61% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.92%, which is competitive within its peer group [7] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The fund has a significant allocation to the Energy sector, representing 93.5% of its portfolio [8] - First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) is the largest holding at approximately 5.8%, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 41.17% of total assets [9] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, FXN has experienced a loss of approximately -3.71%, and over the last 12 months, it is down about -14.12% as of July 18, 2025 [11] - The fund has a beta of 0.90 and a standard deviation of 28.29% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile compared to peers [11] Alternatives in the Market - For investors seeking to outperform the Energy ETFs segment, alternatives such as the Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) are available, with VDE having $7.15 billion in assets and XLE at $27.57 billion [13] - VDE and XLE have lower expense ratios of 0.09% and 0.08% respectively, making them more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [13]

Core Insights - The SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) is a smart beta ETF that debuted on January 31, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Technology ETFs category [1] - Smart beta ETFs track non-cap weighted strategies, aiming to outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes by selecting stocks based on specific fundamental characteristics [3][4] - The fund is managed by State Street Global Advisors and has amassed over $1.32 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Technology sector [5] Fund Details - The XSD seeks to match the performance of the S&P Semiconductor Select Industry Index, which is a modified equal weight index representing the semiconductor sub-industry of the S&P Total Markets Index [6] - The annual operating expenses for XSD are 0.35%, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.28%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in its category [7] - The fund has a heavy allocation to the Information Technology sector, representing 99.7% of the portfolio [8] Holdings and Performance - Credo Technology Group Holdings (CRDO) is the largest holding at approximately 3.69%, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 31.8% of total assets [9] - As of July 18, 2025, XSD has gained approximately 8.43% year-to-date and 4.27% over the past year, with a trading range between $160.63 and $270.08 in the last 52 weeks [11] - The ETF has a beta of 1.53 and a standard deviation of 37.75% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile compared to peers [11] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the semiconductor space include iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH), with assets of $13.9 billion and $27.91 billion respectively, both having an expense ratio of 0.35% [13] - Investors seeking lower-risk options may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Technology ETFs [13]

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Mid Cap Value AlphaDEX ETF (FNK) offers investors exposure to the mid-cap value segment of the market, utilizing a smart beta strategy to potentially outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - FNK was launched on April 19, 2011, and is managed by First Trust Advisors, accumulating over $202.57 million in assets, categorizing it as one of the smaller ETFs in its segment [1][5]. - The ETF aims to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Mid Cap Value Index, which employs a stock selection methodology based on fundamental characteristics [5]. Cost Structure - FNK has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.70%, making it one of the more expensive options in the mid-cap value ETF space [6]. - The fund offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.74% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Consumer Discretionary sector, comprising approximately 21.9% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Industrials [7]. - Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) is the largest individual holding at about 1.07% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 8.98% of total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - As of July 17, 2025, FNK has experienced a loss of about -1.07% year-to-date and -2.35% over the past year [10]. - The fund has traded between $43.24 and $58.28 in the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.06 and a standard deviation of 22.04% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the mid-cap value space include iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE), which have significantly larger asset bases of $13.43 billion and $17.97 billion, respectively, and lower expense ratios of 0.23% and 0.07% [12].

Core Viewpoint - The Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (NULG) is a smart beta ETF launched on December 13, 2016, providing broad exposure to the large-cap growth segment of the market [1] Group 1: Fund Overview - NULG is managed by Nuveen and has accumulated over $1.66 billion in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF within its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the TIAA ESG USA Large-Cap Growth Index, which includes equity securities from large-cap companies listed on U.S. exchanges [5] Group 2: Cost and Performance - NULG has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.26%, which is competitive with peer products [6] - The ETF has achieved a year-to-date gain of approximately 10.41% and a one-year increase of about 13.47% as of July 17, 2025 [10] Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation of about 48.9% in the Information Technology sector, with Consumer Discretionary and Telecom also being major sectors [7] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) constitutes around 13.14% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings making up approximately 42.74% of total assets under management [8] Group 4: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU), which have larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [12]

Core Viewpoint - The American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF (QGRO) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Growth category, utilizing a smart beta strategy to potentially outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - QGRO was launched on September 10, 2018, and is sponsored by American Century Investments [1][5]. - The fund has accumulated over $1.75 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in its category [5]. - It aims to match the performance of the American Century U.S. Quality Growth Index, which selects large and mid-cap U.S. companies with strong growth and quality fundamentals [5]. Cost Structure - QGRO has an annual operating expense of 0.29%, positioning it as one of the more affordable options in the smart beta ETF space [6]. - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 0.24% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 36.2% of the portfolio [7]. - The top three sectors also include Industrials and Healthcare [7]. - Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG) is the largest individual holding at about 3.52% of total assets, followed by Meta Platforms Inc Class A (META) and Netflix Inc (NFLX) [8]. - The top 10 holdings account for around 27.32% of total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - As of July 17, 2025, QGRO has gained approximately 8.3% year-to-date and about 22.13% over the past year [10]. - The fund has traded between $80.24 and $109.93 in the last 52 weeks [10]. - QGRO has a beta of 1.10 and a standard deviation of 20.20% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a moderate level of risk [10]. - The fund holds about 189 securities, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [10]. Alternatives - While QGRO is a viable option for investors looking to outperform the Style Box - All Cap Growth segment, there are other ETFs available, such as iShares Morningstar Growth ETF (ILCG) and iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF (IUSG) [11][12]. - ILCG has $2.8 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.04%, while IUSG has $23.75 billion in assets with the same expense ratio [12].

Core Viewpoint - The Fidelity Value Factor ETF (FVAL) is a smart beta ETF designed to provide broad exposure to the large-cap value segment of the market, with a focus on stocks that exhibit attractive valuations [1][5]. Fund Overview - FVAL was launched on September 12, 2016, and is managed by Fidelity [1]. - The ETF has accumulated assets of over $977.06 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF within its category [5]. - FVAL aims to match the performance of the Fidelity U.S. Value Factor Index, which includes large and mid-cap U.S. companies with appealing valuations [5]. Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for FVAL are 0.16%, making it one of the more affordable options in the smart beta ETF space [6]. - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.55% [6]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - FVAL's largest sector allocation is in Information Technology, comprising approximately 32.1% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Consumer Discretionary [7]. - Microsoft Corp (MSFT) is the largest holding at about 7.22% of total assets, with Nvidia Corp (NVDA) and Apple Inc (AAPL) also among the top holdings [8]. - The top 10 holdings represent around 38.51% of the total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - As of July 17, 2025, FVAL has a return of approximately 5.29% and has increased by about 8.92% year-to-date [9]. - The ETF has traded within a range of $52.80 to $65.00 over the past 52 weeks [9]. - FVAL has a beta of 0.96 and a standard deviation of 16.58% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk with around 130 holdings [10]. Alternatives - While FVAL is a viable option for investors looking to outperform the large-cap value segment, alternatives such as Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) are also available [11]. - SCHD has $70.27 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.06%, while VTV has $138.73 billion in assets with an expense ratio of 0.04% [12].