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FDM

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

Rating:69Neutral
Price Target:$98.00▲(9.56% Upside)
Positive Factors
Strong Recent PerformanceThe ETF has delivered strong gains so far this year, showing solid momentum in its micro-cap strategy.
Broad Sector DiversificationHoldings spread across financials, industrials, consumer, technology, health care, and other sectors help reduce the impact of weakness in any single industry.
Multiple Strong Top HoldingsSeveral of the largest positions, such as Northwest Pipe Company, Deluxe, and USA TODAY, have shown strong year-to-date performance, supporting the fund’s overall results.
Negative Factors
Heavy Tilt Toward FinancialsA large share of the portfolio is in financial stocks, which increases the fund’s sensitivity to problems in that sector.
U.S.-Only Geographic ExposureAlmost all assets are invested in U.S. companies, offering little diversification across global markets.
Higher Expense RatioThe fund’s expense ratio is on the higher side for an ETF, which means more of the returns are used to cover fees.

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

AUM
264.67M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.60%
Beta
0.90
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
Sep 27, 2005
Dividend Yield
1.53%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
DJ Select Micro-Cap

FDM Summary

FDM (First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund) is an ETF that tracks the Dow Jones Select Micro-Cap Index, focusing on very small U.S. companies. These “micro-cap” firms are early-stage or niche businesses across many sectors, with a big tilt toward financial and industrial companies. Top holdings include names like Stoke Therapeutics and Deluxe. Investors might consider FDM if they want growth potential and diversification beyond the usual large, well-known stocks. However, micro-cap stocks can be very volatile and harder to trade, so the fund’s price can swing sharply and may drop more than the overall market.

How much will it cost me?

The expense ratio for the First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) is 0.6%, which means you’ll pay $6 per year for every $1,000 invested. This is higher than average because the fund is actively managed and focuses on micro-cap stocks, which require more research and management compared to passive funds tracking larger companies.

What would affect this ETF?

The First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) could benefit from economic growth and innovation in the U.S., particularly in sectors like financials and technology, which make up a significant portion of its holdings. However, micro-cap stocks are highly sensitive to market volatility, interest rate hikes, and economic downturns, which could negatively impact the fund's performance. Additionally, regulatory changes or challenges in key sectors like healthcare and energy may pose risks to its future growth.

FDM Top 10 Holdings

FDM is essentially a micro-cap hunting ground with a heavy tilt toward U.S. financials, and that’s where much of the story sits. Regional players like Orrstown Financial, Heritage Insurance, and GCM Grosvenor have been generally rising this year, helping to pull the fund higher even as their short-term moves look a bit mixed. On the growth side, PagerDuty has been steadily climbing, adding a tech spark, while Seneca Foods has been a quiet powerhouse despite some recent wobbling. Biotech names like Arbutus Biopharma are more of a wild card, occasionally dragging on performance. Overall, it’s a U.S.-centric, finance-heavy portfolio with a few innovative outliers trying to juice returns.

FDM top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
PDPDPagerDuty2.17%$5.73M$1.33B5.77%63Neutral
QNSTQNSTQuinstreet1.46%$3.86M$951.05M10.89%69Neutral
RIGLRIGLRigel1.51%$3.98M$898.69M61.48%78Outperform
APOGAPOGApogee1.51%$3.97M$912.72M10.03%64Neutral
HRTGHRTGHeritage Insurance Holdings1.45%$3.82M$1.10B62.13%72Outperform
REPXREPXRiley Exploration Permian1.36%$3.59M$1.08B83.80%78Outperform
PAHCPAHCPhibro Animal Health1.37%$3.60M$1.58B-5.31%64Neutral
ORRFORRFOrrstown Financial Services1.39%$3.68M$828.09M28.49%81Outperform
IBCPIBCPIndependent Bank1.32%$3.48M$806.50M12.01%78Outperform
SMPSMPStandard Motor Products1.30%$3.43M$828.15M-9.25%65Neutral

FDM Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price89.45

Price Trends

50DMA90.63Negative
100DMA90.53Negative
200DMA87.30Positive

Market Momentum

MACD-0.37Negative
RSI51.34Neutral
STOCH59.47Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FDM, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 89.45 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 88.57, below the 50-day MA of 90.63, and above the 200-day MA of 87.30, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.37 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 51.34 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 59.47 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FDM.

FDM Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

FDM against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
FDMFDM$89.45$98.00(9.56% Upside)$264.67M0.60%69Neutral
CVLCCVLC$95.36$115.95(21.59% Upside)$995.59M0.15%73Outperform
AAUBAAUB$51.16$61.56(20.33% Upside)$845.44M0.10%69Neutral
HLALHLAL$74.32$90.34(21.55% Upside)$971.11M0.50%76Outperform
DFMCDFMC$57.83$72.66(25.64% Upside)$201.94M0.41%62Neutral
BUSMBUSM$15.35$27.08(76.45% Upside)$112.89M0.73%54Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%FDMCVLCAAUBHLALDFMCBUSMNov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
FDM and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
FDMFirst Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund89.4515.6921.27%
CVLCCalvert US Large-Cap Core Responsible Index ETF95.3613.5416.55%
AAUBAlpha Architect US Equity 4 ETF51.161.673.38%
HLALWahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF74.3213.8022.80%
DFMCU.S. Micro Cap Portfolio ETF57.838.8217.99%
BUSMEA Bridgeway Ultra-Small Company Market ETF15.35-1.04-6.32%
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.