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FXU

First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU)

Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:$52.00â–²(6.80% Upside)

FXU, the First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund, earns a solid overall rating driven mainly by strong, diversified utility holdings like National Fuel Gas (NFG) and Edison International (EIX), which show solid financial performance, supportive valuations, and positive earnings outlooks. However, several holdings such as Eversource Energy (ES) and Xcel Energy (XEL) face bearish technical trends, high leverage, and cash flow challenges, which weigh on the fund’s rating. The main risk factor is the fund’s concentration in the utilities sector, where regulatory issues, high debt levels, and sector-specific liabilities can impact multiple holdings at once.

Positive Factors
Strong Year-to-Date PerformanceThe fund has delivered solid gains so far this year, showing that its strategy has worked well in the recent market environment.
Resilient Top Utility HoldingsSeveral of the largest utility stocks in the portfolio have shown strong or steady performance, helping support the ETF’s overall returns.
Focused Defensive Sector ExposureWith most assets in the utilities sector, the fund is tilted toward a traditionally more stable, defensive area of the market that can help smooth out volatility.
Negative Factors
High Sector ConcentrationThe ETF is heavily concentrated in utilities, which increases the risk that a downturn in this single sector could significantly hurt performance.
Mixed Performance Among Top HoldingsA few of the largest positions have shown weak or lagging results, which can drag on the fund’s overall momentum.
Above-Average Expense RatioThe fund’s relatively high annual fee means more of the returns are eaten up by costs compared with many lower-cost ETFs.

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

-10%-5%0%5%10%15%20%SPY+14.28%FXU+7.05%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
AUM
760.06M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.61%
Beta
0.19
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
May 08, 2007
Dividend Yield
2.31%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
StrataQuant Utilities Index

FXU Summary

FXU is an exchange-traded fund that focuses on U.S. utility companies, following the StrataQuant Utilities Index. It invests in businesses that provide everyday services like electricity, gas, and water. Well-known holdings include Consolidated Edison and Duke Energy. Investors might consider FXU for steady income and diversification, since utilities tend to be more stable than many other sectors. However, this ETF is heavily concentrated in utilities, so its value can still go up and down with changes in interest rates, regulation, and the overall stock market.

How much will it cost me?

FXU has an expense ratio of 0.61%, which means you’ll pay about $6.10 per year for every $1,000 invested. This cost is higher than the average ETF because it uses an active, rules-based AlphaDEX strategy rather than simple passive index tracking.

What would affect this ETF?

FXU is heavily focused on U.S. utility companies like Consolidated Edison, Duke Energy, and Exelon, so it could benefit if interest rates fall, demand for electricity and natural gas grows, or policies supporting grid upgrades and cleaner energy expand. On the downside, higher interest rates, stricter regulations or cost pressures on utilities, and slower economic growth in North America could limit profits and weigh on the fund’s performance.

FXU Top 10 Holdings

FXU is essentially a bet on U.S. utilities, with names like Consolidated Edison and Exelon quietly powering the fund as their shares have been rising and staying relatively steady. Pinnacle West has been another bright spot, helping to juice recent returns. On the flip side, Edison International and PG&E have been more of a headache, with weaker, more mixed performance that can tug on overall results. With almost all of its weight in regulated power, gas, and infrastructure, this ETF is heavily concentrated in defensive, U.S.-based utility plays.

FXU top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
EDEDConsolidated Edison4.38%$33.35M$44.27B19.68%62Neutral
EXCEXCExelon4.24%$32.28M$47.12B0.37%67Neutral
DUKDUKDuke Energy4.24%$32.30M$100.53B4.12%70Outperform
EIXEIXEdison International4.19%$31.89M$23.16B3.54%77Outperform
ESESEversource Energy4.13%$31.44M$26.22B-3.80%66Neutral
PCGPCGPG&E4.02%$30.58M$29.14B-21.04%69Neutral
UGIUGIUGI3.95%$30.08M$8.05B8.44%70Outperform
NFGNFGNational Fuel Gas Company3.75%$28.53M$7.10B-5.48%77Outperform
AEEAEEAmeren3.43%$26.08M$31.47B7.69%72Outperform
XELXELXcel Energy3.46%$26.32M$51.43B-0.07%61Neutral

FXU Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price48.69

Price Trends

50DMA46.29Positive
100DMA47.40Positive
200DMA47.84Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.69Negative
RSI63.51Neutral
STOCH54.04Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FXU, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 48.69 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 47.76, above the 50-day MA of 46.29, and above the 200-day MA of 47.84, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.69 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.51 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 54.04 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FXU.

FXU Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

FXU against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
FXUFXU$48.69$52.00(6.80% Upside)$760.06M0.61%68Neutral
REZREZ$95.09$102.91(8.22% Upside)$849.90M0.48%70Neutral
RSPNRSPN$62.21$71.01(14.14% Upside)$850.02M0.40%70Outperform
FXRFXR$89.75$103.79(15.64% Upside)$726.88M0.60%69Neutral
QQHQQH$80.24$98.46(22.72% Upside)$703.46M1.00%63Neutral
RSPURSPU$77.82$84.70(8.83% Upside)$541.35M0.40%67Neutral

Performance Comparison

-10%0%10%20%FXUREZRSPNFXRQQHRSPUDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
FXU and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
FXUFirst Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund48.693.197.00%
REZiShares Residential and Multisector Real Estate ETF95.0913.2316.17%
RSPNInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Industrials ETF62.217.6113.93%
FXRFirst Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund89.7514.4419.17%
QQHHCM Defender 100 Index ETF80.243.274.25%
RSPUInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF77.822.262.99%
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.