First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF
FSCS - ETF AI Analysis
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First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF (FSCS)
FSCS, the First Trust Smid Capital Strength ETF, appears to be a solid-quality fund supported by several financially strong companies with positive growth outlooks. Standout holdings like Ulta Beauty, Nordson, Exponent, and Broadridge contribute positively through robust earnings, healthy cash flow, and generally favorable business momentum, while weaker names such as Encompass Health and some holdings with bearish technical trends slightly weigh on the overall rating. The main risk factor is that several key holdings show bearish or cautious technical signals and, in some cases, premium valuations, which could increase short-term volatility even though the underlying businesses are generally strong.
FSCS vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
- AUM
- 62.80M
- Region
- North America
- Expense Ratio
- 0.60%
- Beta
- 0.58
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Inception Date
- Jun 20, 2017
- Dividend Yield
- 1.21%
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Index Tracked
- The SMID Capital Strength Index - Benchmark TR Gross
FSCS Summary
FSCS, the First Trust Smid Capital Strength ETF, follows the SMID Capital Strength Index and focuses on mid-sized and smaller U.S. companies with strong finances. It spreads investments across many sectors, including financials, industrials, health care, and consumer companies. Well-known names in the fund include Hasbro and Kimberly-Clark, along with Ulta Beauty and United Therapeutics. Someone might invest in FSCS to seek growth beyond large, well-known stocks while still staying diversified across industries. A key risk is that smaller and mid-sized companies can be more volatile, so the ETF’s value can go up and down more than the overall market.
How much will it cost me?
This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.60%, which means you’ll pay about $6 per year for every $1,000 you invest. That’s higher than the average cost for many index ETFs because this fund is more actively managed, focusing on a specific group of small- and mid-sized companies with strong financials.
What would affect this ETF?
FSCS focuses on smaller and mid-sized U.S. companies in financials and industrials, so it could benefit if the U.S. economy grows steadily, business investment picks up, and interest rates stabilize or fall, helping banks and other financial firms. On the other hand, higher interest rates, an economic slowdown that hurts cyclical areas like consumer and industrial companies, or tighter regulations on financial and health care names such as East West Bancorp and United Therapeutics could weigh on the ETF’s future performance.
FSCS Top 10 Holdings
FSCS leans heavily into U.S. mid-cap industrials and financials, with names like Allegion, Lincoln Electric, and Simpson Manufacturing quietly powering the fund as their shares keep rising on solid fundamentals. Health care is another bright spot: United Therapeutics and Ligand Pharma have been strong climbers, giving the ETF a healthy dose of growth. On the softer side, Napco Security has been mixed this year, occasionally tugging on returns, while ACI Worldwide’s recent weakness has been a mild drag. Overall, the fund’s story is steady, domestically focused strength from under-the-radar operators.
| Name | Company Name | Weight % | Market Value | Market Cap | Yearly Gain | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 HAS | Hasbro | 1.21% | $760.12K | $17.04B | 53.52% | 56Neutral |
 NBIX | Neurocrine | 1.23% | $770.02K | $17.12B | 15.36% | 80Outperform |
 ALLE | Allegion | 1.18% | $739.90K | $15.98B | 12.88% | 72Outperform |
 IPAR | Inter Parfums | 1.11% | $697.78K | $4.34B | 47.66% | 69Neutral |
 VLTO | Veralto Corporation | 1.13% | $710.84K | $28.74B | 20.22% | 76Outperform |
 TTEK | Tetra Tech | 1.04% | $652.65K | $10.41B | 21.51% | 73Outperform |
 ACIW | ACI Worldwide | 1.15% | $720.00K | $6.16B | 28.78% | 73Outperform |
 HCSG | Healthcare Services | 1.14% | $718.03K | $1.71B | 41.36% | 72Outperform |
 CPAY | Corpay Inc | 1.12% | $701.24K | $29.40B | 59.04% | 75Outperform |
 CPRT | Copart | 1.10% | $694.16K | $29.92B | -22.49% | 71Outperform |
FSCS Technical Analysis
Price Trends
Market Momentum
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FSCS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 37.78 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 37.30, above the 50-day MA of 36.66, and above the 200-day MA of 36.41, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.41 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 60.58 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 70.72 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FSCS.
FSCS Peer Comparison
Comparison Results
| Name | Price | Price Target | AUM | Expense Ratio | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSCS | $37.78 | $41.00(8.52% Upside) | $62.80M | 0.60% | 74Outperform |
 POMG | $27.32 | $34.02(24.52% Upside) | $79.20M | 0.68% | 66Neutral |
 MYLD | $33.01 | $37.80(14.50% Upside) | $54.01M | 0.62% | 68Neutral |
 TMFX | $24.44 | $30.00(22.75% Upside) | $38.63M | 0.50% | 69Neutral |
 BCSM | $24.88 | $31.96(28.46% Upside) | $37.38M | 0.75% | 59Neutral |
 IVSS | $30.40 | $37.07(21.96% Upside) | $30.41M | 0.59% | 68Neutral |
Performance Comparison
| Show on chart | Ticker | Company Name | Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSCS | First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF | 37.78 | 2.96 | 8.49% | |
| POMG | PRIMECAP Odyssey Discovery ETF | 27.32 | 1.80 | 7.05% | |
| MYLD | Cambria Micro and SmallCap Shareholder Yield ETF | 33.01 | 8.30 | 33.61% | |
| TMFX | Motley Fool Next Index ETF | 24.44 | 3.61 | 17.32% | |
| BCSM | Baron SMID Cap ETF | 24.88 | 0.58 | 2.37% | |
| IVSS | Applied Finance IVS US SMID ETF | 30.40 | 5.18 | 20.53% |
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.