Should First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) Be on Your Investing Radar?
Designed to provide broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, the First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 07/06/2006.
The fund is sponsored by First Trust Advisors. It has amassed assets over $3.19 B, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.
Why Large Cap Blend
Large cap companies usually have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Overall, they are usually a stable option, with less risk and more sure-fire cash flows than mid and small cap companies.
Blend ETFs are aptly named, since they tend to hold a mix of growth and value stocks, as well as show characteristics of both kinds of equities.
Costs
Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.60%, putting it on par with most peer products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.34%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector--about 20.20% of the portfolio. Healthcare and Information Technology round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) accounts for about 2.17% of total assets, followed by Unitedhealth Group Incorporated (UNH) and Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS).
The top 10 holdings account for about 21.42% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
FTCS seeks to match the performance of the The Capital Strength Index before fees and expenses. The Capital Strength Index is an equal-dollar weighted index which provides exposure to well-capitalized companies with strong market positions based on strong balance sheets, high degree of liquidity, ability to generate earnings growth & record financial strength & profit growth.
The ETF has gained about 22.63% so far this year and is up about 11.24% in the last one year (as of 12/04/2019). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $45.20 and $59.73.
The ETF has a beta of 0.89 and standard deviation of 12.51% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 51 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
First Trust Capital Strength ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, FTCS is a sufficient option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) track a similar index. While iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has $194.19 B in assets, SPDR S&P 500 ETF has $284.88 B. IVV has an expense ratio of 0.04% and SPY charges 0.09%.
Bottom-Line
An increasingly popular option among retail and institutional investors, passively managed ETFs offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; they are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
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First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS): ETF Research Reports
The Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV): ETF Research Reports
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY): ETF Research Reports
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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