FIXD ETF — First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF

First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF (FIXD)

FIXD is an ETF. As of August 19, 2026, its distribution rate is 4.61%, its trailing-12-month yield is 5.23%, its expense ratio is 0.65%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 83/100 (Safe). Fund total return is 19.5% over the past 9.5 years, 259.9 points behind SPY at 279.4%.

At the current 4.61% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $461 per year, or $38.42 per month on an equivalent basis.

First Trust Smith Opportunistic Fixed Income ETF is an actively managed fixed income fund that invests at least 80% of its assets in a mix of investment-grade and below-investment-grade debt securities, including corporate bonds, non-U.S. debt, and non-agency securities. The fund distributes monthly income at a meaningful current rate and carries an expense ratio of 0.65%. It appeals to income-focused investors seeking regular distributions and those willing to accept below-investment-grade credit risk for potentially higher yields.

FIXD performance versus SPY

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Fund total return is 19.5% over the past 9.5 years, 259.9 points behind SPY at 279.4%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 3.2%.

FIXD key facts

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution Safety Score™

83 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

3.83%

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Fixed Income

Inception date

02/14/2017

Expense ratio

0.65%

Distribution rate

4.61%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

5.23%

Last close

$42.92

AUM

$3,232,809,456

Average volume

183189.0

Last dividend

$0.1650

Ex-dividend date

07/21/2026

Payment date

07/31/2026

Beta

1.13

P/E ratio

21.5677

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (4.61%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (5.23%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. We show a 30-day SEC yield when the fund publishes one. Schwab and other issuers may report a TTM distribution yield or SEC yield on a different date — all can be valid; they are not interchangeable. Fund total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is what the fund did, not your personal gain/loss. Figures below use Dividend Vision data as of August 19, 2026.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology · SEC yield

Sources and review

Data as of August 19, 2026.

Primary sources: First Trust fund 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.

FIXD risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 3.2%.

Who may consider FIXD — and who may not

FIXD may suit someone looking for a high Distribution Safety Score, moderate current income with a quality tilt. It is a weaker fit for 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.

Frequently asked questions

More funds from First Trust.