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FTBI ETF — First Trust Balanced Income ETF
First Trust Balanced Income ETF (FTBI)
Updated October 16, 2026.
Verdict as of October 16, 2026
FTBI's distribution is rated generally safe by the Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ (63/100, high confidence). It pays monthly and its distribution rate is 8.14%. The latest total cash payment per current share, $0.144 with an ex-date of September 24, 2026, was 0.7% lower than the previous $0.145. These payments are unclassified; this does not establish a base-dividend change.
Sources: First Trust page for FTBI, Section 19a-1 notices, scoring methodology.
FTBI is an ETF that tracks the Bloomberg Moderate Allocation Income Focus Index. its distribution rate is 8.14%, its trailing-12-month yield is 8.51%, its expense ratio is 0.98%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 63/100 (Generally safe). Total return is 18.4% over the past 1.4 years, 13.1 points behind SPY at 31.5%.
FTBI dividend yield and income
Price as of 2026-10-16.
The distribution rate (8.14%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Trailing-12-month yield (8.51%) is the last year of cash distributions by ex-date divided by the current price. The dividend amount is $0.144. The ex-dividend date is 09/24/2026. The payment date is 09/30/2026.
| Ex-date | Amount | Change from previous payment |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-24 | $0.144 | -0.7% Unclassified cash |
| 2026-08-21 | $0.145 | 4.3% Unclassified cash |
| 2026-07-21 | $0.139 | 0.0% Unclassified cash |
| 2026-06-25 | $0.139 | 0.0% Unclassified cash |
| 2026-05-21 | $0.139 | 0.0% Unclassified cash |
| 2026-04-21 | $0.139 | -3.5% Unclassified cash |
| 2026-03-26 | $0.144 | -1.4% Unclassified cash |
| 2026-02-20 | $0.146 | 0.7% Unclassified cash |
| 2026-01-21 | $0.145 | N/A |
| 2025-12-12 | $0.143 | 11.7% Unclassified cash |
| 2025-11-21 | $0.128 | 0.0% Unclassified cash |
| 2025-11-03 | $0.128 | N/A |
| 2025-10-21 | $0.128 | 3.2% Unclassified cash |
| 2025-09-25 | $0.124 | 0.0% Unclassified cash |
| 2025-08-21 | $0.124 | 2.5% Unclassified cash |
| 2025-07-22 | $0.121 | 2.5% Unclassified cash |
| 2025-06-26 | $0.118 | — |
| 2025 total (partial launch year) | $1.014 | — |
| 2026 YTD total | $1.28 | — |
FTBI holdings and sector exposure
Holdings are not available for this snapshot.
FTBI performance versus SPY
Price and return data through 2026-10-16.
Total return is 18.4% over the past 1.4 years, 13.1 points behind SPY at 31.5%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 5.3%.
| Window | Total return | CAGR |
|---|---|---|
| 1M | 0.3% | — |
| 3M | 0.1% | — |
| 6M | 2.4% | — |
| YTD | 5.9% | — |
| 1Y | 8.2% | — |
| Since inception (1.4 years) | 18.4% | 13.00% |
FTBI key facts
- Distribution Safety Score™
- 63 · Generally safe
- Safety-Adjusted Yield
- 5.13%
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Asset type
- ETF
- Asset class
- Multi-Asset
- Inception date
- 05/29/2025
- Expense ratio
- 0.98%
- Distribution rate
- 8.14%
- Distribution frequency
- Monthly
- Trailing yield
- 8.51%
- Last close
- $21.24 (as of 2026-10-16)
- AUM
- $26,562,451
- Average volume
- 3610.0
- Dividend
- $0.144
- Ex-dividend date
- 09/24/2026
- Payment date
- 09/30/2026
- Beta
- 0.5226
How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns
Distribution rate (8.14%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (8.51%) 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; Index: Bloomberg Moderate Allocation Income Focus Index; 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.
FTBI risks and drawbacks
Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 5.3%.
Who may consider FTBI — and who may not
It is a weaker fit for investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.
More on FTBI
Frequently asked questions
Does FTBI pay monthly?
Yes. FTBI currently pays monthly.
What index does FTBI track?
FTBI tracks the Bloomberg Moderate Allocation Income Focus Index.
What is FTBI's expense ratio?
FTBI's expense ratio is 0.98%.
What is FTBI's dividend yield?
FTBI's distribution rate is 8.14%, paid monthly, with a 0.98% expense ratio — calculation basis unavailable.
When does FTBI pay a dividend?
FTBI pays monthly. The dividend amount is $0.144. The ex-dividend date is 09/24/2026. The payment date is 09/30/2026.
How has FTBI performed?
Total return is 18.4% over the past 1.4 years, 13.1 points behind SPY at 31.5%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 5.3%.
Is FTBI a good investment?
FTBI's Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score is 63 (Generally safe). That is a risk signal, not investment advice. Its distribution rate is 8.14% (calculation basis unavailable). Compare peers below rather than treating any single figure as a buy or sell.
More securities from First Trust.
Tickers
Holdings as-of date unavailable.
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