RND ETF — First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF

First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF (RND)

Updated October 16, 2026.

RND is an ETF. its expense ratio is 0.60%. Total return is 67.0% over the past 2.5 years, 11.4 points ahead of SPY at 55.6%.

First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETF is an equity fund that tracks an index of companies focused on reinvesting in their own growth rather than returning cash to shareholders. The fund does not currently distribute, though it recently made a special distribution that should not be relied upon to recur; it carries an expense ratio of 0.60% and holds a modest asset base. The fund appeals to growth-oriented investors seeking exposure to research and development-focused companies, rather than those prioritizing regular income.

RND performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 67.0% over the past 2.5 years, 11.4 points ahead of SPY at 55.6%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 12.1%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 15.6%.

RND key facts

Issuer

First Trust

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

04/30/2024

Expense ratio

0.60%

Distribution frequency

None

Last close

$33.09 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$10,250,097

Average volume

6901.0

Ex-dividend date

12/13/2024

Payment date

12/31/2024

Beta

1.2415

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 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.

RND risks and drawbacks

The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 15.6%.

Who may consider RND — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (RND does not currently distribute). This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on RND

• All tickers starting with R

Frequently asked questions

More securities from First Trust.