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First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
03/11/2025: AFSM (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
1 Year Target Price $0
1 Year Target Price $0
0 | Strong Buy |
0 | Buy |
0 | Hold |
0 | Sell |
0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type ETF | Historic Profit -9.68% | Avg. Invested days 42 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | ETF Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Volume (30-day avg) - | Beta 1.13 | 52 Weeks Range 24.37 - 33.30 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 24.37 - 33.30 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 |
Upturn AI SWOT
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF
ETF Overview
Overview
The First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (DFAS) seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of small-capitalization U.S. equities. The fund employs an active management strategy that uses a quantitative model to identify and select stocks based on factors such as value, momentum, and quality.
Reputation and Reliability
First Trust is a well-established and reputable ETF provider known for its innovative and factor-based investment strategies.
Management Expertise
First Trust's management team has extensive experience in quantitative investing and factor-based strategies, providing a solid foundation for the fund's active approach.
Investment Objective
Goal
To seek long-term capital appreciation.
Investment Approach and Strategy
Strategy: The ETF utilizes an active management strategy based on a quantitative model.
Composition The ETF primarily holds small-cap U.S. equities.
Market Position
Market Share: DFAS's market share within the active small-cap ETF segment is moderate, indicating a presence but not dominance.
Total Net Assets (AUM): 295100000
Competitors
Key Competitors
- Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV)
- Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS)
- Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR)
Competitive Landscape
The small-cap ETF market is competitive, with a mix of active and passive funds. DFAS competes with other factor-based and actively managed small-cap funds. DFAS's advantage lies in its specific factor combination and active management, while disadvantages include higher expense ratio compared to passive funds and the risk of underperforming the benchmark.
Financial Performance
Historical Performance: Historical performance data unavailable in requested format.
Benchmark Comparison: Performance comparison to benchmark unavailable in requested format.
Expense Ratio: 0.69
Liquidity
Average Trading Volume
The average trading volume of DFAS is moderate, which may impact the ease of buying or selling large blocks of shares.
Bid-Ask Spread
The bid-ask spread is typically small, reflecting sufficient liquidity for most investors.
Market Dynamics
Market Environment Factors
Economic indicators, small-cap market performance, and factor-based investing trends influence DFAS's performance. Favorable conditions for value, momentum, and quality factors can positively impact returns.
Growth Trajectory
DFAS's growth is tied to its ability to consistently deliver alpha through its active factor-based strategy. Changes in the quantitative model and portfolio holdings can affect its performance.
Moat and Competitive Advantages
Competitive Edge
DFAS's competitive advantage stems from its active management and factor-based approach within the small-cap universe. The fund's quantitative model aims to identify stocks with attractive value, momentum, and quality characteristics. First Trust's expertise in factor-based investing and active management provides a differentiated offering. The active approach allows for flexibility in navigating market conditions and potentially outperforming passive benchmarks. However, success depends on the model's effectiveness and the management team's ability to execute the strategy.
Risk Analysis
Volatility
DFAS, being a small-cap fund, is expected to exhibit higher volatility compared to large-cap funds.
Market Risk
The primary market risk is the inherent volatility of small-cap stocks, which can be sensitive to economic downturns and changes in investor sentiment.
Investor Profile
Ideal Investor Profile
DFAS is suitable for investors seeking long-term capital appreciation through exposure to small-cap stocks with a factor-based approach and are comfortable with higher volatility.
Market Risk
DFAS is best suited for long-term investors who understand the risks associated with small-cap investing and active management.
Summary
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (DFAS) is an actively managed ETF focusing on small-cap U.S. equities, using a quantitative model to select stocks based on value, momentum, and quality factors. It aims to outperform passive small-cap benchmarks, but carries a higher expense ratio. The fund is suitable for long-term investors seeking capital appreciation and comfortable with higher volatility. Its performance depends on the effectiveness of the active management strategy and factor selection model. Investors should carefully consider their risk tolerance and investment objectives before investing.
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 investment advice. Investment decisions should be based on individual circumstances and consultation with a qualified financial advisor.
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 Small 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 small capitalization companies. The manager defines small capitalization companies as those that, at the time of investment, have a market capitalization between a minimum of $250 million and the maximum market capitalization of a widely recognized index of small 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.