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AFSM

First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM)

Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:$44.00▲(11.03% Upside)
Positive Factors
Strong Recent PerformanceThe ETF has shown strong gains so far this year and over the last few months, indicating positive momentum in its strategy.
Solid Top HoldingsMany of the largest positions, such as Penguin Solutions, Liquidia Technologies, and Kulicke & Soffa, have delivered strong year-to-date performance, helping support the fund’s returns.
Broad Sector DiversificationThe fund spreads its investments across many sectors, including technology, health care, financials, and industrials, which helps reduce the impact of weakness in any single industry.
Negative Factors
Higher Expense RatioThe ETF charges a relatively high fee compared with many index-based funds, which can slightly reduce the net returns investors receive over time.
Single-Country ExposureAlmost all of the fund’s holdings are in U.S. companies, offering little geographic diversification if the U.S. market faces a downturn.
Small-Cap Volatility RiskBecause the ETF focuses on smaller companies, its share price may be more sensitive to market swings and company-specific news than large-cap funds.

AFSM vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AUM
129.56M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.75%
Beta
0.94
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
Dec 03, 2019
Dividend Yield
0.51%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
No Underlying Index

AFSM Summary

AFSM, the First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF, focuses on smaller U.S. companies and is actively managed rather than tracking a fixed index. It spreads investments across many sectors like technology, health care, and financials, aiming to find higher-quality small firms with good growth potential. Examples of companies it holds include Par Pacific Holdings and Matson. Someone might invest in AFSM to diversify beyond large, well-known stocks and tap into the long-term growth potential of smaller, more innovative businesses. A key risk is that small-cap stocks can be more volatile, so the ETF’s value can move up and down sharply with the market.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.75%, which means you’ll pay about $7.50 per year for every $1,000 invested. That’s higher than the average ETF because it’s actively managed, with professionals selecting and adjusting small-cap stocks rather than simply tracking an index.

What would affect this ETF?

AFSM could benefit if the U.S. economy grows steadily, supporting small, innovative companies in technology, health care, and financials, and if its active strategy successfully picks strong performers among holdings like Par Pacific, Abercrombie & Fitch, and various health care and energy names. On the downside, rising interest rates, economic slowdowns, or tighter regulations on sectors such as financials, energy, or health care could hurt small-cap stocks more than larger companies and increase volatility for this U.S.-focused fund.

AFSM Top 10 Holdings

AFSM is leaning into U.S. small-cap growth stories, with health care and pharmaceuticals like Eton and Kiniksa acting as key engines after a strong run, even if their momentum has turned a bit mixed lately. Shipping names such as Matson and Teekay Tankers add a steady, cash-flow-driven ballast, while consumer player Abercrombie & Fitch, despite earlier strength, is now losing some steam and weighing on short-term results. Overall, the fund is diversified across sectors but has a clear tilt toward small, innovative U.S. health care and energy names driving the narrative.

AFSM top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
PARRPARRPar Pacific Holdings1.13%$1.46M$4.24B117.41%67Neutral
NHCNHCNational Healthcare1.04%$1.34M$3.88B96.80%74Outperform
ANFANFAbercrombie Fitch0.94%$1.21M$6.77B136.13%78Outperform
MATXMATXMatson0.89%$1.15M$7.10B143.48%77Outperform
PENGPENGPenguin Solutions0.71%$912.89K$3.52B141.11%61Neutral
TNKTNKTeekay Tankers0.79%$1.01M$3.28B68.42%68Neutral
HRTGHRTGHeritage Insurance Holdings0.80%$1.03M$1.10B61.25%72Outperform
HALOHALOHalozyme0.77%$995.32K$14.17B89.36%73Outperform
KNSAKNSAKiniksa Pharmaceuticals0.77%$986.93K$6.22B107.69%72Outperform
TRSTTRSTTrustCo Bank0.76%$972.44K$931.93M50.24%78Outperform

AFSM Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price39.63

Price Trends

50DMA40.02Negative
100DMA39.88Negative
200DMA37.40Positive

Market Momentum

MACD-0.09Negative
RSI48.70Neutral
STOCH71.29Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AFSM, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 39.63 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 39.67, below the 50-day MA of 40.02, and above the 200-day MA of 37.40, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.09 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 48.70 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 71.29 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for AFSM.

AFSM Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

AFSM against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
AFSMAFSM$39.63$44.00(11.03% Upside)$129.56M0.75%68Neutral
SEISSEIS$31.57$40.47(28.20% Upside)$617.94M0.55%68Neutral
FSCCFSCC$33.78$44.66(32.20% Upside)$442.95M0.36%63Neutral
FSMLFSML$28.96$38.20(31.92% Upside)$151.33M0.45%64Neutral
SCDVSCDV$25.58$33.24(29.94% Upside)$146.43M0.70%73Outperform
SIXSSIXS$57.61$66.29(15.06% Upside)$140.65M0.50%68Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%AFSMSEISFSCCFSMLSCDVSIXSNov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
AFSM and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
AFSMFirst Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF39.636.9921.41%
SEISSEI Select Small Cap ETF31.573.3912.03%
FSCCFederated Hermes MDT Small Cap Core ETF33.783.5711.82%
FSMLFranklin Small Cap Enhanced ETF28.963.4613.57%
SCDVBahl & Gaynor Small Cap Dividend ETF25.580.471.89%
SIXSETC 6 Meridian Small Cap Equity ETF57.618.8218.08%
Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer

This AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.