FTGS ETF — First Trust Growth Strength ETF

First Trust Growth Strength ETF (FTGS)

Updated October 16, 2026.

FTGS is an ETF. its distribution rate is 0.04%, its trailing-12-month yield is 0.04%, its expense ratio is 0.60%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 46/100 (Caution). Total return is 89.7% over the past 4 years, 20.7 points behind SPY at 110.4%.

First Trust Growth Strength ETF is an equity ETF that invests at least 80% of its assets in common stocks and REITs selected from an index designed to screen for liquidity, return on equity, long-term debt levels, and revenue and cash flow growth. The fund carries a low current distribution rate, distributes quarterly, and has an expense ratio of 0.60%. It appeals to growth-oriented investors seeking equity exposure with a focus on quality and financial strength metrics rather than income generation.

FTGS performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 89.7% over the past 4 years, 20.7 points behind SPY at 110.4%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 6.3%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 9.5%.

FTGS key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

46 · Caution

Safety-Adjusted Yield

0.02%

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

10/25/2022

Expense ratio

0.60%

Distribution rate

0.04%

Distribution frequency

Quarterly

Trailing yield

0.04%

Last close

$37.99 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$1,303,514,187

Average volume

101952.0

Dividend

$0.009

Ex-dividend date

09/24/2026

Payment date

09/30/2026

Beta

1.01

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (0.04%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (0.04%) 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.

FTGS risks and drawbacks

FTGS'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 9.5%.

Who may consider FTGS — and who may not

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

• All tickers starting with F

Tagged: Growth.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from First Trust.