TipRanks
Go Ultimate55% OFF

Top Page

FTXL

First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (FTXL)

Rating:73Outperform
Price Target:$256.00â–²(22.47% Upside)

FTXL, the First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF, has a solid overall rating driven mainly by strong, growing chip leaders like Qualcomm, Nvidia, Micron, and Broadcom, all benefiting from powerful trends in AI, data centers, and advanced semiconductors. Some holdings, such as Intel and NXP Semiconductors, face challenges around valuation, profitability, and leverage, which slightly weigh on the fund’s rating. The main risk factor is the ETF’s heavy concentration in the semiconductor sector, where high valuations and cyclical demand can make performance more volatile.

Positive Factors
Strong Year-to-Date PerformanceThe ETF has delivered strong gains so far this year, showing solid momentum in the semiconductor theme.
Leading Semiconductor HoldingsIts top positions include several major chip companies with strong or steady performance, which can help drive returns.
Healthy Asset BaseThe fund manages a sizable pool of assets, suggesting it has attracted steady investor interest and offers good liquidity.
Negative Factors
Recent Short-Term WeaknessPerformance over the last month and quarter has been weak, indicating the fund can be sensitive to short-term market swings.
High Sector ConcentrationAlmost all of the ETF’s assets are in the technology sector, so it is heavily exposed to downturns in semiconductors.
U.S.-Only Geographic FocusWith nearly all holdings in U.S. companies, investors get limited global diversification and remain tied to the U.S. market cycle.

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

-25%0%25%50%75%100%125%150%SPY+12.53%FTXL+68.66%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
AUM
1.03B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.60%
Beta
1.91
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
Sep 20, 2016
Dividend Yield
0.12%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
Nasdaq US Smart Semiconductor Index

FTXL Summary

FTXL is the First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF, which follows the Nasdaq US Smart Semiconductor Index. It focuses on U.S. chipmakers that design and produce the tiny electronic parts used in phones, computers, cars, and AI systems. Well-known holdings include Qualcomm and Intel, along with other major semiconductor companies. Someone might invest in FTXL to tap into the long-term growth of the technology and electronics industry while getting diversification across many chip stocks in a single fund. A key risk is that it is heavily concentrated in semiconductor and tech companies, so its price can rise and fall sharply with that sector.

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 FTXL uses a smart-beta strategy to actively select and weight semiconductor stocks rather than simply tracking a broad market index.

What would affect this ETF?

FTXL could benefit from growing demand for chips used in AI, cloud computing, smartphones, and industrial automation, especially since it is heavily invested in major U.S. semiconductor names like Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Intel. On the downside, the fund is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates, economic slowdowns, and tech-sector regulations, and it could be hurt by supply chain disruptions or weaker spending on electronics and data centers.

FTXL Top 10 Holdings

FTXL is essentially a pure play on U.S. chipmakers, with heavy exposure to Big Tech semiconductor names driving the show. Nvidia, AMD, and Marvell have been rising over the past few months on AI and data center optimism, giving the fund much of its recent spark, even if their short-term moves have been a bit choppy. Micron and Intel, while strong over the year, have seen more mixed or lagging near-term action, occasionally acting as a brake. Overall, this is a concentrated bet on the semiconductor engine powering modern technology.

FTXL top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
QCOMQCOMQualcomm8.15%$86.03M$173.08B-9.01%80Outperform
NVDANVDANvidia7.91%$83.50M$4.87T-0.09%76Outperform
AVGOAVGOBroadcom7.58%$79.99M$1.54T-8.39%76Outperform
MUMUMicron7.54%$79.56M$943.14B264.34%79Outperform
INTCINTCIntel5.72%$60.34M$318.74B53.29%64Neutral
TXNTXNTexas Instruments5.06%$53.42M$275.98B93.54%78Outperform
NXPINXPINXP Semiconductors4.94%$52.17M$64.84B24.91%70Neutral
ADIADIAnalog Devices4.90%$51.70M$200.05B79.70%78Outperform
AMDAMDAdvanced Micro Devices4.34%$45.85M$762.10B86.37%73Outperform
ONONON Semiconductor4.14%$43.70M$27.29B43.88%73Outperform

FTXL Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price209.03

Price Trends

50DMA233.79Negative
100DMA239.37Negative
200DMA212.85Negative

Market Momentum

MACD-7.56Positive
RSI37.37Neutral
STOCH13.08Positive

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FTXL, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 209.03 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 228.00, below the 50-day MA of 233.79, and below the 200-day MA of 212.85, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -7.56 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 37.37 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 13.08 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for FTXL.

FTXL Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

FTXL against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
FTXLFTXL$209.03$256.00(22.47% Upside)$1.03B0.60%73Outperform
RSPTRSPT$61.99$79.39(28.07% Upside)$5.79B0.40%71Outperform
SOXQSOXQ$83.45$123.20(47.63% Upside)$2.72B0.19%74Outperform
XSDXSD$455.24$697.99(53.32% Upside)$2.44B0.35%64Neutral
PSIPSI$117.88$197.48(67.52% Upside)$2.17B0.55%69Neutral
CHPYCHPY$55.90$84.31(50.82% Upside)$1.22B1.03%70Outperform

Performance Comparison

0%50%100%FTXLRSPTSOXQXSDPSICHPYDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
FTXL and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
FTXLFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF209.0382.4165.09%
RSPTInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF61.9916.1435.21%
SOXQInvesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF83.4527.0748.01%
XSDSPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF455.24116.8934.55%
PSIInvesco Dynamic Semiconductors ETF117.8839.9951.35%
CHPYYieldMax Semiconductor Portfolio Option Income ETF55.9017.6246.03%
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.