TipRanks
Go Ultimate55% OFF

Top Page

FIW

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:$118.00â–²(7.19% Upside)

FIW, the First Trust Water ETF, has a solid overall rating driven by high-quality holdings like Xylem and Idexx Laboratories, which show strong financial performance, positive earnings calls, and supportive technical trends that point to healthy growth potential. The fund’s rating is held back somewhat by names such as Ecolab and Ferguson, where bearish or mixed technical signals and concerns about high valuations introduce risk, and overall investors should be aware that several key holdings appear potentially overvalued, which can add volatility if market sentiment shifts.

Positive Factors
Focused Exposure to the Water ThemeThe ETF gives investors targeted access to companies tied to water infrastructure, treatment, and technology, which can benefit from long-term demand for clean water and upgraded systems.
Broad Sector Mix Within IndustrialsWhile industrials dominate the fund, it also holds meaningful stakes in health care, utilities, technology, materials, and consumer defensive stocks, helping spread risk across different parts of the economy.
Healthy Asset BaseWith a sizable level of assets under management, the fund appears established and likely benefits from better trading liquidity than very small niche ETFs.
Negative Factors
Relatively High Expense RatioThe fund’s expense ratio is on the higher side for an ETF, which means more of the returns are eaten up by fees compared with many low-cost index funds.
Heavy Concentration in Industrials and the U.S.More than half of the portfolio is in industrial companies and almost all holdings are U.S.-based, so performance is heavily tied to one sector and one country.
Recent Performance WeaknessThe ETF has shown weak performance so far this year, with several top holdings lagging, which may weigh on returns if conditions do not improve.

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

AUM
1.80B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.50%
Beta
0.65
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
May 08, 2007
Dividend Yield
0.72%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
ISE Clean Edge Water Index

FIW Summary

The First Trust Water ETF (FIW) is a fund that follows the ISE Clean Edge Water Index and focuses on companies tied to the global water industry. It holds businesses involved in water treatment, infrastructure, and technology, mostly in the U.S. Well-known names in the fund include American Water and Agilent. Someone might invest in FIW to tap into long-term growth from rising demand for clean water and to add a specialized theme to a broader portfolio. A key risk is that it’s heavily focused on water-related and industrial companies, so its price can move up and down more than a fully diversified fund.

How much will it cost me?

FIW has an expense ratio of 0.50%, which means you’ll pay about $5 per year for every $1,000 invested. This cost is higher than the average ETF because FIW is a specialized, actively managed fund focused on the water sector rather than a broad, low-cost index.

What would affect this ETF?

FIW could benefit from growing demand for clean water, stricter environmental rules, and infrastructure upgrades in the U.S., which support its industrial, utility, and water technology holdings like American Water and Xylem. On the downside, higher interest rates, slower economic growth, or cuts to government and municipal spending on infrastructure could hurt these capital‑intensive businesses, while any regulatory changes that limit project approvals or raise costs could also weigh on the ETF.

FIW Top 10 Holdings

FIW is a pure play on the U.S. water story, with performance largely steered by industrial and water-tech names. Agilent, Waters, and IDEX have been rising, giving the fund a solid scientific and engineering backbone. Ecolab and Jacobs are more steady contributors, helping smooth out bumps. On the other side, Xylem and Idexx have been lagging, acting like a bit of an anchor on recent returns. Overall, the ETF is tightly focused on water infrastructure and technology, with most of its key players rooted in North America.

FIW top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
AAAgilent4.49%$80.64M$48.79B17.37%73Outperform
WATWATWaters4.36%$78.28M$44.57B27.55%70Outperform
VLTOVLTOVeralto Corporation4.22%$75.73M$25.43B-0.51%76Outperform
ECLECLEcolab4.06%$72.89M$80.88B4.91%66Neutral
FERGFERGFerguson Enterprises4.03%$72.30M$43.89B-7.41%65Neutral
IDXXIDXXIdexx Laboratories4.01%$72.02M$44.15B-12.25%78Outperform
AWKAWKAmerican Water4.11%$73.89M$28.37B0.12%73Outperform
XYLXYLXylem3.93%$70.66M$25.39B-26.37%79Outperform
JJJacobs Solutions3.88%$69.63M$16.98B-9.77%70Outperform
ROPROPRoper Technologies4.11%$73.82M$43.33B-8.71%71Outperform

FIW Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price110.09

Price Trends

50DMA107.16Positive
100DMA107.51Positive
200DMA107.66Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.75Negative
RSI67.49Neutral
STOCH93.85Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FIW, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 110.09 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 106.08, above the 50-day MA of 107.16, and above the 200-day MA of 107.66, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.75 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 67.49 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 93.85 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FIW.

FIW Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

FIW against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
FIWFIW$110.09$118.00(7.19% Upside)$1.80B0.50%71Outperform
THROTHRO$43.56$53.18(22.08% Upside)$7.42B0.57%74Outperform
FDNFDN$281.16$364.58(29.67% Upside)$5.11B0.49%72Outperform
JTEKJTEK$98.57$125.86(27.68% Upside)$4.48B0.65%68Neutral
IFRAIFRA$56.58$68.82(21.62% Upside)$4.01B0.30%68Neutral
PHOPHO$72.01$84.47(17.30% Upside)$2.01B0.59%72Outperform

Performance Comparison

-20%-10%0%10%20%FIWTHROFDNJTEKIFRAPHONov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
FIW and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
FIWFirst Trust Water ETF110.09-3.93-3.45%
THROIshares U.S. Thematic Rotation Active Etf43.564.8712.59%
FDNFirst Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund281.16-4.48-1.57%
JTEKJPMorgan U.S. Tech Leaders ETF98.572.282.37%
IFRAiShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF56.583.526.63%
PHOInvesco Water Resources ETF72.01-1.52-2.07%
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.