Core Insights - The First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) provides broad exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs category, having debuted on 05/08/2007 [1] - FXU is managed by First Trust Advisors and has accumulated over $1.73 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the StrataQuant Utilities Index, which uses a modified equal-dollar weighted methodology to select stocks [6] Fund Characteristics - FXU has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.63% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.08% [7] - The fund has a heavy allocation to the Utilities sector, representing 97.6% of its portfolio [8] - The top three holdings include Edison International (4.23%), Evergy, Inc., and Pg&e Corporation, with the top 10 holdings accounting for 40.08% of total assets [9] Performance Metrics - As of 08/21/2025, FXU has increased by approximately 19.58% year-to-date and 28.29% over the past year [11] - The ETF has a beta of 0.63 and a standard deviation of 17.29% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [11] - FXU has 41 holdings, providing more concentrated exposure compared to its peers [11] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Utilities/Infrastructure segment include Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), with VPU having $7.42 billion and XLU $21.55 billion in assets [13] - VPU has a lower expense ratio of 0.09% compared to FXU, while XLU has an expense ratio of 0.08% [13]

Core Insights - The Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Growth ETF (RFG) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Growth category, launched on March 1, 2006 [1] - RFG aims to match the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Pure Growth Index, which focuses on securities with strong growth characteristics [5] Investment Strategy - Smart beta ETFs, like RFG, utilize non-cap weighted strategies to potentially outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [3] - Various methodologies exist within smart beta, including equal-weighting and fundamental weighting, though not all guarantee superior results [4] Fund Details - RFG is managed by Invesco and has assets totaling approximately $292.57 million, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [5] - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.44% [6] Sector Exposure - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Industrials sector, comprising about 30.6% of the portfolio, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Healthcare [7] - The top 10 holdings represent approximately 21.11% of total assets, with Carpenter Technology Corp (CRS) being the largest at 2.9% [8] Performance Metrics - As of August 21, 2025, RFG has returned approximately 2.55% year-to-date and 4.19% over the past year, with a trading range between $39.08 and $53.39 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 1.08 and a standard deviation of 21.65% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Mid Cap Growth space include Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) and iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (IWP), with VOT having $17.38 billion in assets and IWP $19.96 billion [12] - VOT has a lower expense ratio of 0.07%, while IWP's is 0.23%, making them potentially more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [12]

Core Insights - The WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap ETF (EES) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Value category and was launched on February 23, 2007 [1] - The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by market cap weighted indexes, but smart beta strategies have emerged as alternatives for investors seeking to outperform the market through superior stock selection [2][3] - EES is sponsored by WisdomTree and has assets exceeding $615.56 million, aiming to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Index [5] Fund Details - EES has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.38%, which is competitive within its category, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.33% [6] - The fund's top holdings include Valaris Ltd and Brighthouse Financial Inc, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 106.07% of total assets [7][8] Performance Metrics - As of August 20, 2025, EES has gained about 0.87% year-to-date and approximately 7.27% over the past year, with a trading range between $42.54 and $58.78 in the last 52 weeks [9] - The ETF has a beta of 1.10 and a standard deviation of 22.13% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [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 $11.31 billion in assets and VBR having $30.67 billion [12] - IWN has a lower expense ratio of 0.24%, while VBR has an even lower expense ratio of 0.07%, making them potentially more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [12]

Core Insights - The First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX ETF (FNX) debuted on May 8, 2007, and provides broad exposure to the Style Box - Mid Cap Blend category of the market [1] - Smart beta ETFs aim to outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes by selecting stocks based on fundamental characteristics rather than market capitalization [2][3] - FNX has accumulated over $1.15 billion in assets, making it an average-sized ETF in its category, and seeks to match the performance of the Nasdaq AlphaDEX Mid Cap Core Index [5] Fund Details - FNX has an annual operating expense of 0.58%, which is relatively high compared to other ETFs, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.23% [6] - The ETF's largest sector allocation is in Financials at approximately 20.1%, followed by Industrials and Consumer Discretionary [7] - The top 10 holdings of FNX account for about 4.95% of its total assets, with Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) being the largest individual holding at 0.58% [8] Performance Metrics - As of August 20, 2025, FNX has increased by approximately 3.97% year-to-date and 6.85% over the past year, with a trading range between $94.92 and $127.28 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 1.10 and a standard deviation of 20.62% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the mid-cap space include Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) and iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH), which have significantly larger asset bases and lower expense ratios of 0.04% and 0.05%, respectively [12]

Group 1: Core Insights - The WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend ETF (DGS) was launched on October 30, 2007, and offers broad exposure to the emerging markets category [1] - DGS has amassed over $1.62 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Broad Emerging Market ETFs segment [5] - The fund seeks to match the performance of the WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index, which is fundamentally weighted and focuses on small-cap stocks [6] Group 2: Cost and Performance - DGS has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.58%, which is competitive within its peer group [7] - The 12-month trailing dividend yield for DGS is 2.69% [7] - Year-to-date, DGS has increased by approximately 16.32%, and it is up about 9.01% over the last 12 months as of August 20, 2025 [11] Group 3: Holdings and Diversification - The top 10 holdings of DGS account for approximately 99.15% of its total assets under management [9] - The fund holds about 1,082 stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [11] - The US Dollar constitutes about 63.85% of total assets, with significant exposure to the Indonesian Rupiah and Indian Rupee [8] Group 4: Alternatives - Other ETFs in the emerging markets space include Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG), with VWO having $96.05 billion and IEMG $101.53 billion in assets [13] - VWO has a lower expense ratio of 0.07%, while IEMG charges 0.09% [13]

Core Insights - The Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF (RPV) is a smart beta ETF that debuted on March 1, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value category [1] - Smart beta ETFs aim to outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes by selecting stocks based on specific fundamental characteristics [3] - RPV has accumulated over $1.33 billion in assets and seeks to match the performance of the S&P 500 Pure Value Index [5] Fund Details - RPV has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.33% [6] - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Financials sector, approximately 18.8%, with Consumer Staples and Healthcare also being prominent sectors [7] - CVS Health Corp (CVS) is the largest holding at 3.23% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings comprising about 23.69% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - As of August 20, 2025, RPV has gained approximately 7.41% year-to-date and 12.92% over the past year, with a trading range between $81.66 and $97.21 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 0.95 and a standard deviation of 17.83% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV), with SCHD having $71.3 billion in assets and VTV $142.2 billion [12] - SCHD has a lower expense ratio of 0.06% compared to RPV, while VTV has an expense ratio of 0.04% [12]

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector ETF (QQXT) is a smart beta ETF designed to provide broad exposure to the large-cap growth segment of the market, focusing on non-technology sectors of the NASDAQ-100 Index [1][5]. Fund Overview - QQXT was launched on February 8, 2007, and has accumulated over $1.11 billion in assets, making it an average-sized ETF in its category [1][5]. - The fund is managed by First Trust Advisors and aims to match the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector Index, which is an equal-weighted index of non-technology securities from the NASDAQ-100 [5][6]. Cost and Expenses - The annual operating expense ratio for QQXT is 0.60%, which is considered relatively high compared to other ETFs in the space [7]. - The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.73% [7]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - The fund has a significant allocation of 19.4% to the Industrials sector, with Healthcare and Consumer Discretionary also being prominent sectors [8]. - The top three holdings include Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (1.89% of total assets), Paypal Holdings, Inc., and Honeywell International Inc., with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 18.65% of total assets [9]. Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, QQXT has increased by approximately 6.69%, and it was up about 9.72% over the last 12 months as of August 20, 2025 [10]. - The fund has traded between $84.34 and $101.22 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.93 and a standard deviation of 15.98% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the large-cap growth segment include Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) with $183.46 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.04%, and Invesco QQQ (QQQ) with $366.75 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.20% [11]. - Investors seeking lower-cost options may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the large-cap growth segment [12].

Core Insights - The WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity ETF (HEDJ) debuted on January 4, 2010, and provides broad exposure to the European Equity ETFs market [1] - HEDJ is designed to neutralize exposure to fluctuations between the Euro and the U.S. dollar while tracking the WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Index [5] Fund Overview - HEDJ is managed by WisdomTree and has accumulated over $1.81 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the European Equity category [5] - The fund has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.58% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.26% [6] Performance Metrics - As of August 19, 2025, HEDJ has gained approximately 16.55% year-to-date and 17.13% over the past year, with a trading range between $41.90 and $50.31 in the last 52 weeks [9] - The fund has a beta of 0.79 and a standard deviation of 16.06% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [10] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The fund's top 10 holdings account for about 134.89% of its total assets under management, with the U.S. dollar representing approximately 88.27% of total assets [7][8] - HEDJ offers diversified exposure, effectively minimizing single stock risk with around 135 holdings [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the European Equity space include iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) with $7.99 billion in assets and Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) with $26.93 billion [12] - EZU has an expense ratio of 0.51% while VGK charges 0.06%, presenting lower-cost options for investors [12]

Group 1: Core Insights - The iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (ISCF) debuted on April 28, 2015, providing broad exposure to the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF category [1] - The fund is managed by Blackrock and has accumulated over $441.4 million in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the MSCI World exUSA Small Cap Diversified Multiple-Factor Index [5] Group 2: Fund Characteristics - The annual operating expenses for ISCF are 0.23%, making it one of the cheaper options in the market [7] - The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.94% [7] - The top 10 holdings account for approximately 5.56% of total assets under management, with Banco De Sabadell Sa being the largest holding at 0.83% [8][9] Group 3: Performance Metrics - As of August 19, 2025, ISCF has gained about 26.71% year-to-date and approximately 25.28% over the last year [10] - The fund has traded between $30.25 and $40.15 during the past 52 weeks [10] - ISCF has a beta of 0.82 and a standard deviation of 16.30% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [11] Group 4: Alternatives and Market Context - ISCF is a viable option for investors looking to outperform the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF segment, but there are alternative ETFs available [12] - Other ETFs in the space include SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF (GWX) with $758.52 million in assets and Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC) with $4.75 billion [13] - GWX has an expense ratio of 0.40%, while SCHC has a lower expense ratio of 0.08% [13]

Core Insights - The Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM) debuted on June 7, 2017, and provides broad exposure to the emerging markets category of ETFs [1] - NUEM aims to match the performance of the TIAA ESG Emerging Markets Equity Index using a rules-based methodology focused on ESG criteria [6][5] Fund Overview - NUEM has accumulated assets of over $316.8 million, positioning it as an average-sized ETF within the Broad Emerging Market ETFs category [5] - The ETF has annual operating expenses of 0.36% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.65% [7] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The top holding, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, constitutes approximately 11.62% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 28.58% of total assets [8][9] - The ETF holds around 187 securities, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [11] Performance Metrics - As of August 19, 2025, NUEM has gained roughly 18.26% year-to-date and 19.07% over the past year, with a trading range between $25.97 and $34.65 during the last 52 weeks [10] - The ETF has a beta of 0.59 and a standard deviation of 19.35% for the trailing three-year period [11] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the ESG space include Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU), with assets of $11.1 billion and $14.25 billion respectively [13] - Investors may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs for potentially lower-cost and lower-risk options [13]