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
Strong Performance from Key HoldingsSeveral of the largest positions, such as Agilent, Waters, and Ecolab, have shown strong gains this year, helping support the ETF’s overall returns.
Focused but Diversified Sector MixThe fund is heavily tilted toward industrials but still spreads its assets across health care, technology, utilities, materials, and consumer defensive, which helps reduce reliance on a single industry.
Solid Asset BaseThe ETF manages a large pool of assets, which can improve trading liquidity and signal steady investor interest in the strategy.
Negative Factors
Higher-Than-Average Expense RatioThe fund’s fee is on the higher side for an ETF, which means more of the gross return is eaten up by costs over time.
Underperforming Top HoldingsSome major positions like Idexx Laboratories, Xylem, and Roper Technologies have been weak this year, which can drag on the fund’s overall performance.
Heavy U.S. ConcentrationWith almost all assets in U.S. companies and very little exposure to other countries, investors are highly dependent on the health of the U.S. market.

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

FIW, the First Trust Water ETF, follows the ISE Clean Edge Water Index and focuses on the global water theme. It invests mainly in U.S. companies involved in water management, treatment, and infrastructure. Well-known holdings include American Water and Ecolab, which help deliver and clean water for homes, businesses, and industries. Investors might consider FIW for long-term growth tied to rising demand for clean water and for diversification into a unique sector that supports sustainability. A key risk is that it is heavily concentrated in water-related industrial and utility stocks, so its value can go up or down with that sector.

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
AWKAWKAmerican Water4.11%$73.89M$28.37B0.12%73Outperform
ROPROPRoper Technologies4.11%$73.82M$43.33B-8.71%71Outperform
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
XYLXYLXylem3.93%$70.66M$25.39B-26.37%79Outperform
JJJacobs Solutions3.88%$69.63M$16.98B-9.77%70Outperform

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(22.09% Upside)$7.42B0.57%74Outperform
FDNFDN$281.16$364.61(29.68% Upside)$5.11B0.49%72Outperform
JTEKJTEK$98.57$125.89(27.71% 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.