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FTCS

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

Rating:74Outperform
Price Target:$107.00▲(6.24% Upside)

FTCS, the First Trust Capital Strength ETF, earns a solid overall rating thanks to several high-quality holdings like Merck, Amgen, and Gilead, which bring strong financial performance, attractive growth prospects, and supportive earnings call outlooks. At the same time, holdings such as Airbnb, Garmin, Mastercard, and Visa introduce some caution due to bearish technical trends and premium valuations. The main risk factor is the fund’s exposure to multiple stocks with high valuations and some negative momentum, which could increase volatility if market conditions worsen.

Positive Factors
Solid Recent PerformanceThe ETF has shown steady gains so far this year and in recent months, indicating positive momentum.
Broad Sector DiversificationHoldings spread across financials, industrials, consumer sectors, health care, and more help reduce the impact of weakness in any single industry.
Large Asset BaseThe fund manages a sizable amount of assets, which can support liquidity and trading efficiency for investors.
Negative Factors
Higher-Than-Average Expense RatioThe fund’s fee is on the higher side for an ETF, which can modestly reduce long-term returns compared with lower-cost options.
Heavy U.S. ConcentrationWith almost all assets in U.S. companies, the ETF offers little geographic diversification and is highly tied to the U.S. market.
Sector Tilt Toward FinancialsA large allocation to financial stocks means the fund may be more sensitive to issues affecting that sector, such as interest rate or credit risks.

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

AUM
7.92B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.53%
Beta
0.50
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
Jul 06, 2006
Dividend Yield
1.14%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
NASDAQ Capital Strength Index

FTCS Summary

The First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS) tracks the NASDAQ Capital Strength Index, focusing on large U.S. companies with strong finances and steady earnings. It holds well-known names like Lockheed Martin and 3M, and spreads investments across many sectors, including financials, industrials, and consumer companies. Someone might invest in FTCS to seek long-term growth from solid, established businesses while still staying diversified across the U.S. stock market. A key risk is that it can still go up and down with the overall stock market, and its focus on large, financially strong companies may lag more aggressive growth funds in booming markets.

How much will it cost me?

FTCS has an expense ratio of 0.53%, which means you’ll pay about $5.30 per year for every $1,000 invested. This cost is higher than the average for many broad, passively managed index ETFs because FTCS uses a more specialized, rules-based strategy to select financially strong companies.

What would affect this ETF?

FTCS could benefit if the U.S. economy remains steady, interest rates eventually ease, and financially strong companies in sectors like financials, industrials, and consumer defensive continue to grow and maintain dividends, supporting its large-cap focus. On the downside, higher-for-longer interest rates, economic slowdowns that hurt banks and industrial firms, or regulatory changes affecting financial and health care companies could weigh on the ETF’s future performance.

FTCS Top 10 Holdings

FTCS leans heavily into U.S. health care and consumer staples, with names like Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Gilead, and Coca-Cola quietly powering the fund thanks to steady, rising share prices and resilient earnings. Garmin has been another bright spot, adding a bit of tech flavor to the mix. On the flip side, Resmed, CME Group, and Airbnb have been more mixed lately, occasionally dragging on returns as their momentum cools. Overall, the ETF is a U.S.-centric, large-cap story built around durable, defensive leaders rather than flashy high-growth bets.

FTCS top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
LMTLMTLockheed Martin2.17%$169.43M$139.57B23.79%70Outperform
NOCNOCNorthrop Grumman2.11%$164.77M$78.34B-8.96%76Outperform
ADPADPAutomatic Data Processing2.09%$163.40M$120.52B8.03%70Outperform
MMMMMM3M2.08%$162.14M$89.63B1.08%59Neutral
MRSHMRSHMarsh & McLennan Companies2.07%$161.58M$93.90B5.00%71Outperform
CSXCSXCSX2.06%$160.96M$93.63B42.95%78Outperform
CMECMECME Group2.06%$160.90M$109.93B13.69%74Outperform
VRTXVRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals2.06%$160.79M$132.80B23.97%78Outperform
CINFCINFCincinnati Financial2.05%$159.79M$27.06B13.22%76Outperform
TROWTROWT Rowe Price2.04%$159.54M$22.23B1.67%75Outperform

FTCS Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price100.72

Price Trends

50DMA97.89Positive
100DMA96.93Positive
200DMA95.55Positive

Market Momentum

MACD1.11Negative
RSI66.07Neutral
STOCH90.64Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FTCS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 100.72 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 96.80, above the 50-day MA of 97.89, and above the 200-day MA of 95.55, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.11 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 66.07 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 90.64 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FTCS.

FTCS Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

FTCS against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
FTCSFTCS$100.72$107.00(6.24% Upside)$7.92B0.53%74Outperform
JQUAJQUA$75.92$88.64(16.76% Upside)$9.47B0.12%73Outperform
VONEVONE$343.44$428.33(24.72% Upside)$9.28B0.06%73Outperform
FELCFELC$42.98$52.74(22.71% Upside)$8.70B0.18%74Outperform
QYLDQYLD$18.09$23.59(30.42% Upside)$8.28B0.60%76Outperform
TCAFTCAF$43.04$53.81(25.03% Upside)$8.10B0.31%69Neutral

Performance Comparison

-10%0%10%20%FTCSJQUAVONEFELCQYLDTCAFNov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
FTCS and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
FTCSFirst Trust Capital Strength ETF100.728.319.00%
JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF75.9213.0020.66%
VONEVanguard Russell 1000 ETF343.4435.8511.66%
FELCFidelity Enhanced Large Cap Core ETF42.985.1313.54%
QYLDGlobal X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF18.092.6417.09%
TCAFT. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF43.044.1310.63%
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.