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First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)
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Is First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-09-29 11:20
Group 1: ETF Overview - The First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) debuted on December 15, 2020, and is categorized as a smart beta ETF providing broad exposure to the Foreign Large Growth ETF segment [1] - FICS is managed by First Trust Advisors and has accumulated over $210.33 million in assets, positioning it as one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the International Developed Capital Strength Index, which focuses on well-capitalized companies in developed markets outside the U.S. [6] Group 2: Cost and Performance - FICS has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.70%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.38% [7] - Year-to-date, FICS has returned approximately 12.69%, with a 12-month return of about 2.06% as of September 29, 2025 [10] - The fund has a beta of 0.76 and a standard deviation of 14.15% over the trailing three-year period, indicating effective diversification of company-specific risk with around 57 holdings [11] Group 3: Holdings and Sector Exposure - FICS's top holdings include Gea Group Ag (2.39% of total assets), Royal Bank Of Canada, and Astrazeneca Plc, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 22.65% of total assets [8][9] - The ETF offers diversified exposure, minimizing single stock risk, and is transparent about its holdings, which are disclosed daily [8] Group 4: Alternatives and Market Position - FICS may not be suitable for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Growth ETF segment, with alternatives such as Invesco Dorsey Wright Developed Markets Momentum ETF and Invesco S&P International Developed Quality ETF available [12][13] - Investors looking for lower-cost options may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Large Growth ETF [14]
Is Invesco S&P International Developed Quality ETF (IDHQ) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-09-01 11:21
Core Insights - The Invesco S&P International Developed Quality ETF (IDHQ) is a smart beta ETF launched on June 13, 2007, providing broad exposure to the Foreign Large Growth ETF category [1] - IDHQ aims to match the performance of the S&P Quality Developed ex US LargeMidCap Index, focusing on stocks with high quality scores based on return on equity, accruals ratio, and financial leverage ratio [5][6] Fund Overview - Managed by Invesco, IDHQ has accumulated over $492.45 million in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The fund has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.29%, making it the least expensive product in the Foreign Large Growth ETF space [7] - IDHQ offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.29% [7] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The ETF's top holdings include Asml Holding Nv (4.62% of total assets), Novartis Ag, and Nestle Sa, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 30.21% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - IDHQ has gained about 18.16% over the past year and is up approximately 5.39% year-to-date as of September 1, 2025 [9] - The ETF has traded between $27.24 and $33.40 in the last 52 weeks [9] - With a beta of 0.89 and a standard deviation of 16.05% over the trailing three-year period, IDHQ is considered a low-risk investment [10] Alternatives and Market Context - While IDHQ is a viable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Growth ETF segment, there are alternative ETFs such as First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) and Invesco Dorsey Wright Developed Markets Momentum ETF (PIZ) [11][12] - FICS has $226.16 million in assets and an expense ratio of 0.70%, while PIZ has $416.93 million in assets with an expense ratio of 0.80% [12]