FTSM ETF — First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF

First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (FTSM)

Updated October 16, 2026.

FTSM is an ETF. its distribution rate is 4.12%, its trailing-12-month yield is 4.09%, its expense ratio is 0.29%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 81/100 (Safe). Total return is 31.1% over the past 12.2 years, 356.1 points behind SPY at 387.2%.

First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF is a fixed income fund that invests at least 80% of its assets in U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities, maintaining a portfolio with an average duration of less than one year and average maturity under three years. The fund carries a moderate current distribution rate with monthly distributions and charges an expense ratio of 0.29%. It appeals to investors seeking short-term fixed income exposure with regular monthly income.

FTSM performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 31.1% over the past 12.2 years, 356.1 points behind SPY at 387.2%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 3.5%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 0.1%.

FTSM key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

81 · Safe

Safety-Adjusted Yield

3.34%

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Fixed Income

Inception date

08/05/2014

Expense ratio

0.29%

Distribution rate

4.12%

Distribution frequency

Monthly

Trailing yield

4.09%

Last close

$59.67 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$6,709,174,107

Average volume

534082.0

Dividend

$0.205

Ex-dividend date

09/30/2026

Payment date

10/02/2026

Beta

0.06

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (4.12%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (4.09%) 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.

FTSM risks and drawbacks

Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 0.1%.

Who may consider FTSM — and who may not

FTSM 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.

More on FTSM

• All tickers starting with F

Tagged: Ultra Short, Bonds.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from First Trust.