Should First Trust Value Line Dividend ETF (FVD) Be on Your Investing Radar?

The First Trust Value Line Dividend ETF (FVD) was launched on 08/19/2003, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.The fund is sponsored by First Trust Advisors. It has amassed assets over $9.18 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.Why Large Cap ValueCompanies that fall in the large cap category tend to have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Overall, they are usually a stable option, with less risk and more sure-fire cash flows than mid and small cap companies.Value stocks have lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios. They also have lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. Looking at their long-term performance, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in almost all markets. They are however likely to underperform growth stocks in strong bull markets.CostsSince cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.60%, making it one of the most expensive products in the space.It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.24%.Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Utilities sector--about 19.40% of the portfolio. Industrials and Consumer Staples round out the top three.Looking at individual holdings, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (adr) (TSM) accounts for about 0.51% of total assets, followed by Cme Group Inc. (CME) and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).The top 10 holdings account for about 4.87% of total assets under management.Performance and RiskFVD seeks to match the performance of the Value Line Dividend Index before fees and expenses. The Value Line Dividend Index is a modified equal dollar weighted index comprised of U.S. exchange listed securities of companies that pay above-average dividends and have potential for capital appreciation.The ETF has lost about -0.80% so far this year and is up roughly 9.61% in the last one year (as of 01/08/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $39.94 and $46.70.The ETF has a beta of 0.80 and standard deviation of 13.34% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 217 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.AlternativesFirst Trust Value Line Dividend ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, FVD is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) track a similar index. While Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has $65.51 billion in assets, Vanguard Value ETF has $128.73 billion. SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV charges 0.04%.Bottom-LinePassively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report First Trust Value Line Dividend ETF (FVD): ETF Research Reports CME Group Inc. (CME): Free Stock Analysis Report International Business Machines Corporation (IBM): Free Stock Analysis Report Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSM): Free Stock Analysis Report Vanguard Value ETF (VTV): ETF Research Reports Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD): ETF Research ReportsTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks