FSCS ETF — First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF

First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF (FSCS)

Updated October 16, 2026.

FSCS is an ETF. its distribution rate is 1.52%, its trailing-12-month yield is 1.25%, its expense ratio is 0.60%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 71/100 (Generally safe). Total return is 111.3% over the past 9.3 years, 151.2 points behind SPY at 262.5%.

First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF tracks an index of dividend-paying mid-capitalization U.S. companies, investing at least 80% of its assets in the underlying securities. The fund offers a modest current distribution rate paid quarterly, with an expense ratio of 0.60%. It appeals to income-focused investors seeking exposure to dividend-paying mid-cap stocks with relatively low costs.

FSCS performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 111.3% over the past 9.3 years, 151.2 points behind SPY at 262.5%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 4.1%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 7.8%.

FSCS key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

71 · Generally safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

1.08%

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

06/20/2017

Expense ratio

0.60%

Distribution rate

1.52%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

1.25%

Last close

$36.59 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$57,357,257

Average volume

1556.0

Dividend

$0.139

Ex-dividend date

09/24/2026

Payment date

09/30/2026

Beta

0.74

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (1.52%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (1.25%) 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.

FSCS risks and drawbacks

FSCS'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 7.8%.

Who may consider FSCS — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (FSCS 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 FSCS

• All tickers starting with F

Tagged: Mid Cap, Small Caps.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from First Trust.