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FICS

First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)

Rating:70Outperform
Price Target:$45.00â–²(7.99% Upside)

FICS, the First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF, has a solid overall rating, supported by strong holdings like DBS Group Holdings and Royal Bank of Canada, which bring robust profitability, positive earnings sentiment, and sound strategic initiatives to the portfolio. However, some companies such as Compass and Unilever face bearish technical trends and relatively high valuations, and several holdings show signs of potential overvaluation or overbought conditions, creating a key risk that the fund may be somewhat exposed to short-term price corrections despite its generally strong fundamentals.

Positive Factors
Broad International DiversificationThe fund spreads its investments across many developed countries, which helps reduce the impact of problems in any single market.
Strong Performance from Several Top HoldingsMany of the largest positions, including companies in health care and consumer brands, have shown strong gains this year, supporting the ETF’s overall results.
Balanced Sector MixExposure across general industries, financials, consumer defensive, and health care sectors provides a mix of growth and stability rather than relying on just one area of the market.
Negative Factors
Relatively High Expense RatioThe fund’s fees are on the higher side for an ETF, which can slowly eat into long-term returns compared with lower-cost options.
Heavy Country ConcentrationA large share of assets is concentrated in a few countries like Switzerland and Canada, which increases the impact if those markets face setbacks.
Some Top Holdings Showing WeaknessA few of the largest positions have delivered weak or negative performance this year, which could drag on the fund if those stocks do not recover.

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

AUM
203.21M
Region
Developed Markets
Expense Ratio
0.70%
Beta
0.49
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
Dec 15, 2020
Dividend Yield
1.87%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
The International Developed Capital Strength Index

FICS Summary

The First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) tracks the International Developed Capital Strength Index, focusing on financially strong companies in developed markets outside the U.S. It holds firms from countries like Switzerland, Canada, and France across many sectors, including financials, consumer goods, and health care. Well-known names include L’Oreal and Roche. Someone might invest in FICS to add global diversification and gain exposure to solid, established companies overseas. A key risk is that international stock prices can go up and down with global markets and currency changes, so the value of this ETF can be volatile.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.70%, which means you’ll pay about $7 per year for every $1,000 you invest. That’s higher than the average ETF cost because it’s more actively managed, focusing on financially strong companies in developed markets outside the U.S.

What would affect this ETF?

FICS could benefit if developed markets outside the U.S. grow steadily, consumer and health care companies like Nestlé and Roche maintain strong demand, and financial and energy holdings gain from stable interest rates and commodity prices. On the other hand, slower global growth, rising rates that pressure international stocks, regulatory changes affecting foreign financial and energy firms, or currency swings between the U.S. and other developed markets could hurt future returns.

FICS Top 10 Holdings

FICS is leaning heavily on financial powerhouses, with Singapore’s DBS Group and Canada’s Great-West Lifeco and TD Bank doing much of the heavy lifting as their shares keep rising and provide a steady backbone for the fund. Royal Bank of Canada adds to that stability, even if its momentum has cooled a bit. On the consumer side, Swiss hearing-aid maker Sonova is quietly climbing, while Unilever’s mixed, stop‑and‑go performance and Aristocrat Leisure’s recent slide act as a drag. Overall, it’s a developed‑markets ex‑U.S. story dominated by banks and defensives.

FICS top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
CH:SCHPCH:SCHPSchindler Holding AG2.24%$4.55MCHF 31.66B6.09%68Neutral
FR:ORFR:ORL'Oreal2.12%$4.31MEUR 232.44B18.95%71Outperform
ALPMFALPMFAstellas Pharma――――69Neutral
AU:TLSAU:TLSTelstra Corporation Limited2.10%$4.28MAUD 54.81B2.06%64Neutral
CH:SGSNCH:SGSNSGS SA2.10%$4.28MCHF 20.60B13.95%66Neutral
JP:4507JP:4507Shionogi & Co2.04%$4.15MJPY 2.65T21.28%75Outperform
RHHVFRHHVFRoche Holding AG――――73Outperform
GB:CCHGB:CCHCoca Cola HBC2.12%$4.32MGBP 17.14B35.72%78Outperform
ES:AENAES:AENAAena SA2.08%$4.23MEUR 40.62B13.73%80Outperform
TSE:CMTSE:CMCanadian Bank of Commerce2.06%$4.21MCAD 147.95B41.39%74Outperform

FICS Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price41.67

Price Trends

50DMA41.12Positive
100DMA41.47Positive
200DMA40.67Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.21Negative
RSI62.06Neutral
STOCH66.51Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FICS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 41.67 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 40.80, above the 50-day MA of 41.12, and above the 200-day MA of 40.67, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.21 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 62.06 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 66.51 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FICS.

FICS Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

FICS against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
FICSFICS$41.67$45.00(7.99% Upside)$203.21M0.70%70Outperform
FYLDFYLD$40.16$43.46(8.22% Upside)$753.10M0.59%62Neutral
TLTDTLTD$99.42$116.59(17.27% Upside)$665.28M0.39%65Neutral
TXUETXUE$34.70$39.91(15.01% Upside)$582.32M0.65%64Neutral
MFDXMFDX$40.94$50.07(22.29% Upside)$452.98M0.39%64Neutral
AVSDAVSD$78.61$91.39(16.26% Upside)$376.48M0.23%65Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%30%FICSFYLDTLTDTXUEMFDXAVSDDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
FICS and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
FICSFirst Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF41.674.2711.42%
FYLDCambria Foreign Shareholder Yield ETF40.1610.0633.40%
TLTDFlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt99.4213.3615.52%
TXUEThornburg International Equity ETF34.704.7415.83%
MFDXPIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor International Equity ETF40.944.9113.64%
AVSDAvantis Responsible International Equity ETF78.618.6312.33%
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.