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Upturn AI Summary
First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX® Fund(FXD)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for FXD
10/27/2026: FXD (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund (FXD) provides targeted exposure to the U.S. consumer discretionary sector by utilizing a quantitative AlphaDEX strategy that screens for growth and value factors. Its primary strength lies in its rules-based methodology, which avoids the heavy concentration in a few large-cap stocks that plagues traditional market-cap-weighted sector funds. While it offers a unique approach, investors should be aware of its higher expense ratio and lower liquidity compared to massive alternatives like XLY or VCR. It is best suited for investors who are bullish on the consumer economy and prefer a fundamental factor-based approach to stock selection. Key factors to monitor include consumer spending data, economic cycles, and the fund's relative performance against standard passive sector benchmarks.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
ETF holdings, costs, diversification, valuation, risks, and market conditions provide supporting context about the fund.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Strong fit | The fund's focus on companies with growth characteristics aligns well with those seeking upside potential in the consumer sector. |
| Momentum investor | Strong fit while signal remains positive | The factor-based rebalancing can capture momentum in stocks that meet the index's growth and value criteria. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | Because the AlphaDEX strategy explicitly screens for value metrics, it is more appealing to value-conscious investors than standard sector funds. |
| Dividend/Income investor | Weak fit | The fund focuses on capital appreciation and factor characteristics rather than providing significant dividend income. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | Consumer discretionary stocks are cyclical and inherently volatile, making this unsuitable for conservative portfolios. |
Investor Profile
Ideal Investor Profile
The ideal investor is one seeking targeted exposure to the consumer discretionary sector who prefers a factor-based selection approach over simple market-cap weighting.
Suitability
Best suited for medium- to long-term investors looking to tilt their sector allocation, rather than active traders or ultra-conservative income seekers.
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility | High | The consumer discretionary sector is highly sensitive to economic cycles, leading to significant price swings. |
| Market risk | High | The fund is fully exposed to the general equity market movements within the US consumer economy. |
| Concentration | Medium | While factor weighting reduces giant-cap concentration, the fund remains entirely contained within one economic sector. |
| Tracking/expense | Medium | The active-style rules-based index incurs a higher expense ratio than standard passive market-cap index funds. |
| Liquidity | Medium | Lower trading volume compared to massive sector peers may result in larger spreads during periods of market stress. |
| Business/sector quality | Medium / high | The underlying companies are susceptible to changes in consumer preferences and general economic health. |
Risk Analysis
Volatility
FXD exhibits high volatility typical of cyclical consumer discretionary stocks.
Market Risk
The fund faces systemic market risk coupled with sector-specific risks like consumer sentiment and economic sensitivity.
What the ETF Owns
| Exposure Type | Exposure | Weight (%) | Retail Investor Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary Equities | 99.5 | The fund invests primarily in consumer-facing companies that rely on discretionary spending, providing broad exposure to the retail, leisure, and auto industries. |
| Cash/collateral | Cash and Equivalents | 0.5 | A small cash buffer is maintained for liquidity and to facilitate daily portfolio rebalancing. |
Price Behavior
Flat / Range-Bound
The stock price has been trading within a narrow range with minimal directional movement.
Smooth
The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type ETF | Historic Profit 15.76% | Avg. Invested days 68 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | ETF Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/27/2026 |
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