FAD ETF — First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX® Fund

First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX® Fund (FAD)

Updated October 16, 2026.

FAD is an ETF. its distribution rate is 0.12%, its trailing-12-month yield is 0.09%, its expense ratio is 0.63%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 72/100 (Generally safe). Total return is 529.4% over the past 19.4 years, 99.2 points behind SPY at 628.6%.

First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX® Fund is an ETF that tracks a custom index designed to select growth stocks across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap segments of the U.S. market using the AlphaDEX® methodology, which aims to identify stocks that may outperform traditional indices on a risk-adjusted basis. The fund carries a modest expense ratio of 0.63% and distributes quarterly at a minimal current rate. It appeals primarily to growth-focused investors seeking broad U.S. equity exposure across multiple market capitalizations with a quantitative selection approach.

FAD performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 529.4% over the past 19.4 years, 99.2 points behind SPY at 628.6%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 8.3%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 12.5%.

FAD key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

72 · Generally safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

0.09%

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

05/08/2007

Expense ratio

0.63%

Distribution rate

0.12%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

0.09%

Last close

$174.98 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$603,329,222

Average volume

12104.0

Dividend

$0.052

Ex-dividend date

09/24/2026

Payment date

09/30/2026

Beta

1.27

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (0.12%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (0.09%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: First Trust or company page; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

FAD risks and drawbacks

FAD's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are quarterly, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 12.5%.

Who may consider FAD — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (FAD pays quarterly); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on FAD

• All tickers starting with F

Tagged: Growth.

Frequently asked questions

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