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FTXH

First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (FTXH)

Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:$46.00â–²(3.98% Upside)

FTXH, the First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF, earns a solid overall rating thanks to its heavy exposure to strong, established pharma leaders like Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Eli Lilly, which benefit from robust financial performance, positive earnings outlooks, and well-developed drug pipelines. These strengths are partly offset by weaker names such as Viatris, where profitability and valuation challenges weigh on the fund. The main risk factor is the ETF’s concentration in the pharmaceutical sector, meaning its performance is closely tied to industry-specific trends, regulation, and drug development outcomes.

Positive Factors
Strong Overall PerformanceThe ETF has shown strong gains so far this year and solid recent momentum, which suggests its strategy has been working well in the current market.
High-Quality Pharmaceutical LeadersMany of the top holdings are large, well-known pharmaceutical companies with strong year-to-date performance, helping support the fund’s returns.
Focused Exposure to Health CareThe fund’s heavy focus on the health care sector gives investors targeted exposure to pharmaceuticals, which can benefit from long-term demand for medical treatments.
Negative Factors
Sector Concentration RiskAlmost all of the ETF’s assets are in health care, so a downturn in the pharmaceutical industry could have a big impact on the fund.
Single-Country ExposureThe ETF is almost entirely invested in U.S. companies, offering little geographic diversification if the U.S. market or regulatory environment faces challenges.
Relatively High Expense RatioThe fund’s expense ratio is on the higher side for an ETF, which means more of the returns are used to cover fees instead of staying with investors.

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

AUM
1.18B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.60%
Beta
0.45
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
Sep 20, 2016
Dividend Yield
0.66%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
Nasdaq US Smart Pharmaceuticals Index

FTXH Summary

FTXH is the First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF, which follows the Nasdaq US Smart Pharmaceuticals Index. It focuses on U.S. drugmakers and other health care companies working on new medicines and treatments. Well-known holdings include AbbVie and Eli Lilly, along with Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. Someone might invest in FTXH to tap into the long-term growth potential of the pharmaceutical industry and to diversify within health care, instead of picking individual stocks. A key risk is that it is heavily concentrated in pharmaceutical companies, so its value can rise or fall sharply with changes in drug approvals, regulations, and health care trends.

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 low-cost index ETF because this fund uses a more specialized, smart-index approach to focus on pharmaceutical stocks.

What would affect this ETF?

FTXH could benefit if demand for new medicines stays strong, major U.S. drugmakers like AbbVie, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer successfully launch new treatments, and health care spending and supportive regulations continue to favor pharmaceutical innovation. On the negative side, tighter drug pricing rules, patent expirations, safety or approval setbacks, and broader economic or interest rate changes that make defensive health care stocks less attractive could weigh on this U.S.-focused pharmaceuticals ETF.

FTXH Top 10 Holdings

FTXH is essentially a who’s‑who of U.S. Big Pharma, with heavy exposure to giants like AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck. Recent leaders such as Merck, Biogen, Amgen, and Viatris have been rising and help power the fund, while steadier names like J&J and Pfizer provide ballast with more measured gains. The portfolio is tightly focused on the pharmaceutical corner of health care, so performance is driven less by broad market swings and more by drug pipelines, patent news, and regulatory decisions in this single, U.S.-centric niche.

FTXH top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
LLYLLYEli Lilly & Co8.22%$97.54M$1.33T67.86%72Outperform
ABBVABBVAbbVie7.72%$91.54M$521.11B29.22%66Neutral
PFEPFEPfizer7.20%$85.36M$173.95B25.65%74Outperform
JNJJNJJohnson & Johnson6.90%$81.80M$657.68B44.51%78Outperform
MRKMRKMerck & Company6.79%$80.54M$368.89B73.30%80Outperform
VTRSVTRSViatris3.87%$45.88M$21.86B83.74%60Neutral
BIIBBIIBBiogen3.93%$46.59M$37.49B69.52%74Outperform
GILDGILDGilead Sciences3.91%$46.42M$211.64B44.11%78Outperform
AMGNAMGNAmgen3.64%$43.14M$251.94B59.59%77Outperform
UTHRUTHRUnited Therapeutics3.49%$41.45M$25.68B32.01%79Outperform

FTXH Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price44.24

Price Trends

50DMA41.67Positive
100DMA40.06Positive
200DMA37.12Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.69Negative
RSI70.67Negative
STOCH84.20Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FTXH, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 44.24 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 42.02, above the 50-day MA of 41.67, and above the 200-day MA of 37.12, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.69 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 70.67 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 84.20 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FTXH.

FTXH Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

FTXH against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
FTXHFTXH$44.24$46.00(3.98% Upside)$1.18B0.60%72Outperform
IYHIYH$77.81$83.75(7.63% Upside)$4.63B0.37%73Outperform
FHLCFHLC$88.56$97.70(10.32% Upside)$3.95B0.08%71Outperform
IHIIHI$54.59$62.59(14.65% Upside)$3.73B0.37%74Outperform
FBTFBT$278.55$337.34(21.11% Upside)$3.14B0.55%71Outperform
IHEIHE$107.61$126.62(17.66% Upside)$1.60B0.37%70Neutral

Performance Comparison

-20%0%20%40%FTXHIYHFHLCIHIFBTIHEDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
FTXH and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
FTXHFirst Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF44.2414.5048.74%
IYHiShares U.S. Healthcare ETF77.8117.6829.39%
FHLCFidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF88.5619.8928.96%
IHIiShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF54.59-5.85-9.69%
FBTFirst Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund278.5586.3344.91%
IHEiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF107.6132.4743.21%
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.