FMTL ETF — First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF

First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF (FMTL)

Updated October 16, 2026.

FMTL is an ETF. its trailing-12-month yield is 1.55%, its expense ratio is 0.65%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 50/100 (Unproven). Total return is 44.5% over the past 0.9 years, 30.6 points ahead of SPY at 13.9%.

First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF is an equity fund that tracks an index of critical metals securities, holding at least eighty percent of its assets in index components through a passive indexing strategy. The fund carries a current distribution rate in the low single digits and distributes semi-annually, though the most recent payout was a special one-time distribution that may not recur. This fund appeals to investors seeking exposure to critical metals companies through a low-cost indexed approach.

FMTL performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 44.5% over the past 0.9 years, 30.6 points ahead of SPY at 13.9%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 22.4%.

FMTL key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

50 · Unproven

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

11/04/2025

Expense ratio

0.65%

Distribution frequency

Semi-Annual

Trailing yield

1.55%

Last close

$34.24 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$29,858,472

Average volume

13954.0

Dividend

$0.514

Ex-dividend date

06/25/2026

Payment date

08/04/2026

Beta

1.8714

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (the posted rate) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (1.55%) 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.

FMTL risks and drawbacks

Payments are semi-annual, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 22.4%.

Who may consider FMTL — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (FMTL pays semi-annual). This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on FMTL

• All tickers starting with F

Tagged: Metals.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from First Trust.