Home 
Today's Top Picks 
Top Performers 
Watchlist 
My Robo Portfolios 
ETF Zone 
Help & Tutorial 
Cancel anytime
- Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
Upturn AI SWOT - About
First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF (AFMC)
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- Pass (Skip investing)
Stock price based on last close (see disclosures)
- ALL
- YEAR
- MONTH
- WEEK
Upturn Advisory Summary
07/09/2025: AFMC (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
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 15.8% | Avg. Invested days 58 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  5.0 | ETF Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 07/09/2025 |
Key Highlights
Volume (30-day avg) - | Beta 1.15 | 52 Weeks Range 26.66 - 34.78 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 26.66 - 34.78 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 |
Upturn AI SWOT
First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF
ETF Overview
Overview
The First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF (AFSM) seeks to provide capital appreciation. It employs a quantitative, rules-based active management strategy to select mid-cap stocks based on factors such as value, momentum, quality, and volatility.
Reputation and Reliability
First Trust is a well-established ETF issuer with a history of launching and managing a wide range of ETFs.
Management Expertise
First Trust has a team of experienced investment professionals specializing in quantitative strategies and factor-based investing.
Investment Objective
Goal
To provide capital appreciation.
Investment Approach and Strategy
Strategy: The ETF uses an active, rules-based approach focusing on factors like value, momentum, quality, and low volatility to select mid-cap stocks.
Composition Primarily holds a portfolio of mid-cap U.S. equities selected based on its factor-based methodology.
Market Position
Market Share: Data not readily available.
Total Net Assets (AUM): 49110000
Competitors
Key Competitors
- IJH
- VO
- IWR
- SCHM
Competitive Landscape
The mid-cap ETF space is highly competitive. AFSM distinguishes itself with its active, factor-based approach, potentially offering higher returns than passive benchmarks, though with potentially higher fees and tracking error. Passive ETFs like IJH offer lower costs but may not outperform the market. First Trust is one of the smaller companies in the market, and hence, does not hold a large piece of market share relative to the competitors.
Financial Performance
Historical Performance: Historical financial performance data not available in requested format.
Benchmark Comparison: Benchmark comparison data not available in requested format.
Expense Ratio: 0.006
Liquidity
Average Trading Volume
AFSM's average trading volume is relatively low, indicating potentially wider bid-ask spreads and less liquidity compared to more popular ETFs.
Bid-Ask Spread
AFSM's bid-ask spread can vary depending on trading volume, potentially impacting trading costs for larger transactions.
Market Dynamics
Market Environment Factors
AFSM's performance is influenced by factors affecting mid-cap stocks, including economic growth, interest rates, and sector-specific trends.
Growth Trajectory
The ETF's growth depends on its ability to deliver competitive returns through its factor-based strategy and attract investor assets, with changes to strategy and holdings occurring as dictated by the quantitative model.
Moat and Competitive Advantages
Competitive Edge
AFSM's competitive advantage lies in its active, factor-based approach that targets specific characteristics within mid-cap stocks, potentially leading to outperformance. The quantitative approach aims to remove human bias and deliver consistent results. However, active management also introduces the risk of underperformance compared to passive benchmarks. The ETF's rules-based strategy provides transparency in its investment process.
Risk Analysis
Volatility
AFSM's volatility is expected to be comparable to other mid-cap ETFs.
Market Risk
The ETF is subject to market risk affecting mid-cap stocks, including economic downturns, sector-specific declines, and changes in investor sentiment.
Investor Profile
Ideal Investor Profile
AFSM is suitable for investors seeking capital appreciation through mid-cap stocks and who believe in factor-based investing, are comfortable with active management and its associated fees, and are willing to tolerate moderate levels of risk.
Market Risk
AFSM is suitable for long-term investors looking for potentially enhanced returns through factor-based strategies but may not be ideal for active traders due to lower liquidity.
Summary
First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF (AFSM) offers exposure to mid-cap U.S. equities through a rules-based, factor-driven active management strategy. It seeks to outperform passive benchmarks by selecting stocks based on value, momentum, quality, and volatility factors. The ETF carries a moderate expense ratio and moderate risk, making it suitable for long-term investors. However, lower average daily volume and AUM may cause concern to investors looking for a more liquid option in the market.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- First Trust Website
- ETF.com
- Morningstar
Disclaimers:
The data and analysis provided are for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Investors should conduct their own research and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
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 Active Factor Mid Cap ETF
Exchange NYSE ARCA | Headquaters - | ||
IPO Launch date - | CEO - | ||
Sector - | Industry - | Full time employees - | Website |
Full time employees - | Website | ||
Under normal market conditions, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in U.S.-listed equity securities issued by mid capitalization companies. The manager defines mid capitalization companies as those that, at the time of investment, have a market capitalization between the minimum and maximum market capitalization of a widely recognized index of mid capitalization companies based upon the composition of the index at the time of investment.
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.