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Upturn AI SWOT - About
First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF (MFLX)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
08/14/2025: MFLX (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type ETF | Historic Profit -0.6% | Avg. Invested days 44 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | ETF Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 08/14/2025 |
Key Highlights
Volume (30-day avg) - | Beta 1.19 | 52 Weeks Range 15.60 - 18.91 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 15.60 - 18.91 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 |
Upturn AI SWOT
First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF
ETF Overview
Overview
The First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF (FTF) seeks to provide current income exempt from federal income tax by investing primarily in municipal securities. It offers a flexible approach to municipal bond investing, potentially allocating across various credit qualities and maturities.
Reputation and Reliability
First Trust is a well-established ETF issuer with a solid reputation and a diverse range of investment products.
Management Expertise
First Trust has a team of experienced investment professionals managing its fixed income ETFs, including specialists in municipal bonds.
Investment Objective
Goal
The fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with preservation of capital.
Investment Approach and Strategy
Strategy: The fund employs a flexible strategy, investing in a broad range of municipal securities to maximize income potential.
Composition Primarily invests in municipal bonds of varying credit quality and maturity, including both investment grade and below-investment grade securities.
Market Position
Market Share: Market share information is not readily available.
Total Net Assets (AUM): 383800000
Competitors
Key Competitors
- HYMB
- VTEB
- MUB
- ITM
- SUB
Competitive Landscape
The municipal bond ETF market is competitive, with many options offering various risk and return profiles. FTF's flexible approach and focus on high income differentiate it. However, its higher expense ratio may be a disadvantage compared to passively managed ETFs.
Financial Performance
Historical Performance: Historical performance data is readily available from financial websites but changes frequently.
Benchmark Comparison: Benchmark performance information is readily available from financial websites but changes frequently.
Expense Ratio: 1.05
Liquidity
Average Trading Volume
FTF's average trading volume indicates moderate liquidity, allowing investors to buy and sell shares without significantly impacting the price.
Bid-Ask Spread
The bid-ask spread is relatively narrow, indicating efficient trading and low transaction costs.
Market Dynamics
Market Environment Factors
Interest rate changes, credit market conditions, and tax policy changes can significantly impact FTF's performance.
Growth Trajectory
The growth trajectory depends on the demand for high-yield municipal bond exposure and the fund's ability to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns. Strategy and holdings can change over time based on management decisions.
Moat and Competitive Advantages
Competitive Edge
FTFu2019s flexible mandate allows the fund managers to dynamically adjust the portfolio's asset allocation based on market conditions. Its investment strategy is designed to produce high current income that is tax exempt, making it a possible choice for investors in high tax brackets. The experienced management team provides strong analytical capabilities. This expertise in municipal bond selection is expected to drive potential outperformance.
Risk Analysis
Volatility
FTF's volatility is influenced by interest rate sensitivity and credit risk of its holdings.
Market Risk
Market risk includes interest rate risk, credit risk (especially for below-investment-grade bonds), and liquidity risk.
Investor Profile
Ideal Investor Profile
Ideal investors are those seeking high current income exempt from federal taxes and are comfortable with moderate levels of risk.
Market Risk
Suitable for long-term investors seeking income and tax benefits, but not necessarily for active traders due to its moderate liquidity and potential for price fluctuations.
Summary
The First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF (FTF) seeks to provide current income exempt from federal income tax by investing primarily in municipal securities. It offers a flexible approach that can allocate across various credit qualities and maturities. The fund is suitable for long-term investors in higher tax brackets seeking tax-advantaged income. However, its higher expense ratio should be considered against its potential benefits. Performance can vary based on the municipal bond market and the effectiveness of the flexible investment strategy.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- First Trust Website
- ETF.com
- Morningstar
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Market share data may not be available or fully accurate.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About First Trust Flexible Municipal High Income ETF
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters - | ||
IPO Launch date - | CEO - | ||
Sector - | Industry - | Full time employees - | Website |
Full time employees - | Website | ||
Under normal market conditions, the fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus any investment borrowings) in municipal debt securities that pay interest that is exempt from regular federal income taxes. Municipal debt securities are generally issued by or on behalf of states, territories or possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and other instrumentalities.
Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.