First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU)

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Is First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-21 11:20
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]
Should You Invest in the First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU)?
ZACKS· 2025-07-28 11:20
Core Insights - The First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) is a passively managed ETF launched on May 8, 2007, providing broad exposure to the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market [1] - FXU has gained popularity among retail and institutional investors due to its low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making it suitable for long-term investment [1] Fund Overview - FXU is sponsored by First Trust Advisors and has assets exceeding $1.68 billion, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in the Utilities - Broad segment [3] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the StrataQuant Utilities Index, which uses a modified equal-dollar weighted methodology to select stocks from the Russell 1000 Index [4] Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for FXU are 0.63%, which is relatively high compared to other ETFs in the sector, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.12% [5] Sector Exposure and Holdings - FXU has a significant allocation in the Utilities sector, comprising approximately 97.6% of its portfolio [6] - The top holdings include Edison International (EIX) at 4.23%, followed by Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) and PG&E Corporation (PCG), with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 40.08% of total assets [7] Performance Metrics - As of July 28, 2025, FXU has increased by about 17.43% year-to-date and approximately 32.34% over the past year, with a trading range between $34.34 and $44.12 in the last 52 weeks [8] - The ETF has a beta of 0.64 and a standard deviation of 17.33% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk with more concentrated exposure than its peers [8] Alternatives - FXU has a Zacks ETF Rank of 4 (Sell), suggesting it may not be the best option for investors seeking exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs segment [9] - Alternative ETFs include the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) with $7.29 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.09%, and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) with $20.72 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.08% [10]