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XPND

First Trust Expanded Technology ETF (XPND)

Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:$45.00â–²(15.76% Upside)

XPND, the First Trust Expanded Technology ETF, has a solid overall rating driven mainly by high-quality tech leaders like Alphabet, Microsoft, and Apple, which benefit from strong financial performance, growth in AI and cloud, and generally supportive technical trends. The fund’s rating is held back somewhat by several holdings with bearish or mixed technical signals and high valuations, such as Visa, Mastercard, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks. The main risk factor is its heavy concentration in technology and AI-focused companies, which can make the ETF more sensitive to sector downturns and valuation corrections.

Positive Factors
Strong Semiconductor ExposureSeveral major chip-related holdings like Applied Materials, Lam Research, KLA, and Broadcom have shown strong year-to-date performance, helping support the ETF’s returns.
Leading Technology GiantsTop positions in well-known tech names such as Apple, Nvidia, Cisco, Alphabet, and Broadcom provide exposure to companies with solid recent performance and established market positions.
Focused Tech and Communication MixThe fund’s heavy tilt toward technology and communication services offers concentrated exposure to sectors that have generally been strong drivers of growth over time.
Negative Factors
High Sector ConcentrationWith most assets in technology and related sectors, the ETF is vulnerable to downturns in the tech industry.
Limited Geographic DiversificationAlmost all holdings are U.S.-based, so the fund offers little protection if the U.S. market faces broad weakness.
Relatively High Expense RatioThe ETF’s fee is on the higher side for a passive fund, which can slightly reduce net returns for long-term investors.

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

AUM
38.49M
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.65%
Beta
1.34
Issuer
First Trust
Inception Date
Jun 14, 2021
Dividend Yield
0.09%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
No Underlying Index

XPND Summary

First Trust Expanded Technology ETF (XPND) is a fund that focuses on the broad technology theme rather than tracking a specific index. It invests mainly in U.S. companies involved in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things. Well-known holdings include Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet (Google), Visa, and Mastercard, along with other major tech and digital payment firms. Someone might invest in XPND for growth potential and easy diversification across many leading and emerging tech companies. A key risk is that it is heavily tilted toward technology, so its value can rise and fall sharply with the tech sector.

How much will it cost me?

The First Trust Expanded Technology ETF (XPND) has an expense ratio of 0.65%, meaning you’ll pay $6.50 per year for every $1,000 invested. This is higher than the average for ETFs because it is actively managed, focusing on a specialized portfolio of technology companies rather than tracking a broad index.

What would affect this ETF?

The First Trust Expanded Technology ETF (XPND) could benefit from continued growth in areas like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, as these technologies drive innovation and demand across industries. However, rising interest rates or economic slowdowns could negatively impact the technology sector, as higher borrowing costs and reduced consumer spending may affect growth for both established companies like Apple and Microsoft and emerging innovators. Additionally, regulatory scrutiny on major tech firms such as Alphabet and Meta could pose challenges to the ETF's performance.

XPND Top 10 Holdings

XPND is leaning hard into U.S. big tech and AI, with Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet forming the core engine of the fund. Nvidia and Apple have been rising steadily, helping power returns, while Microsoft and Alphabet are more mixed lately, occasionally losing steam and tempering the upside. The real spark comes from high-flying names like Palo Alto Networks and Palantir, which have been strong but volatile drivers. There’s also a nod to digital infrastructure and payments via Cisco and Visa, though these have been more of a steady, sometimes lagging ballast than a growth rocket.

XPND top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
AAPLAAPLApple4.94%$1.92M$4.95T30.91%79Outperform
VVVisa4.89%$1.90M$761.48B17.46%70Outperform
MSFTMSFTMicrosoft4.78%$1.86M$3.95T2.95%79Outperform
MAMAMastercard4.81%$1.87M$543.49B8.84%75Outperform
PLTRPLTRPalantir Technologies4.93%$1.91M$484.74B11.13%74Outperform
GOOGLGOOGLAlphabet Class A4.49%$1.75M$4.14T33.66%85Outperform
NVDANVDANvidia4.58%$1.78M$5.22T22.53%76Outperform
CSCOCSCOCisco Systems4.42%$1.72M$422.88B51.67%77Outperform
PANWPANWPalo Alto Networks4.14%$1.61M$278.35B61.96%73Outperform
AVGOAVGOBroadcom4.15%$1.61M$1.60T-1.42%76Outperform

XPND Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price38.87

Price Trends

50DMA39.52Negative
100DMA39.61Negative
200DMA37.64Positive

Market Momentum

MACD-0.18Positive
RSI42.55Neutral
STOCH16.19Positive

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For XPND, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 38.87 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 40.08, below the 50-day MA of 39.52, and above the 200-day MA of 37.64, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.18 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 42.55 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 16.19 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for XPND.

XPND Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

XPND against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
XPNDXPND$38.87$45.00(15.76% Upside)$38.49M0.65%76Outperform
CCSOCCSO$24.64$32.86(33.36% Upside)$44.13M0.35%68Neutral
LRNZLRNZ$63.38$88.38(39.45% Upside)$41.35M0.69%66Neutral
BUILBUIL$23.86$36.64(53.56% Upside)$39.64M0.65%68Neutral
TECTEC$33.62$42.83(27.39% Upside)$7.44M0.69%74Outperform
USMDUSMD$31.54$41.80(32.55% Upside)$308.44K0.87%70Outperform

Performance Comparison

-20%0%20%40%XPNDCCSOLRNZBUILTECUSMDNov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
XPND and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
XPNDFirst Trust Expanded Technology ETF38.871.875.04%
CCSOCarbon Collective Climate Solutions U.S. Equity ETF24.64-0.42-1.69%
LRNZTrueShares Technology, AI & Deep Learning ETF63.3814.7330.29%
BUILRebuild America ETF23.86-1.00-4.01%
TECHarbor Transformative Technologies ETF33.625.0317.60%
USMDCoreValues America First Technology ETF31.546.2924.91%
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.