Advisors and investors familiar with the First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF (NasdaqGM: FV) by now that the fund is one of the most successful ETFs to debut in 2014.
FV, which is nearly 14 month olds, has $2.97 billion in assets under management after needing just nine months to hit $1 billion. Those are stunning achievments for any new ETF and they make FV one of the success stories of 2014’s rookie ETFs. [Foucs 5 ETF Quick to $1B in Assets]
In proof that some ETF sequels can find their own success, FV’s international equivalent, the First Trust Dorsey Wright International Focus 5 ETF (NasdaqGM: IFV) is now home to nearly $254 million in assets after debuting in July. IFV is comprised of five First Trust international ETFs displaying positive relative strength ETFs, the same approach FV takes to First Trust sector and industry ETFs.
“Using the DWA relative strength ranking system, the ETFs are compared to each other to determine inclusion by measuring each ETF’s price momentum relative to other ETFs in the universe. Each ETF is given a score that allows DWA to objectively determine where it ranks relative to all other ETFs in the universe,” according to First Trust.
Twenty-two ETFs are eligible for potential inclusion in IFV’s lineup, though the only one with U.S. exposure that could find its way into the new ETF is the First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund (NYSEArca: FGD). [Spinning the Globe for Income]
With weights ranging from 18.95% to 20.99%, IFV’s current lineup is comprised of the First Trust Hong Kong AlphaDEX Fund (NYSEArca: FHK), First Trust United Kingdom AlphaDEX Fund (NYSEArca: FKU), First Trust Switzerland AlphaDEX Fund (NYSEArca: FSZ), First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund (NYSEArca: FGM) and the First Trust ISE Chindia Index Fund (NYSEArca: FNI). FKU, FSZ and FGM have been members of IFV’s lineup since the ETF debuted.
There is a growing number of so-called ETFs of ETFs, or an ETF that features other ETFs as its holdings. With funds that invest in multiple asset classes becoming increasingly popular, it would not be surprising to see more ETFs of ETFs come to market.
“In the past year, $37 billion has gone into funds that invest in multiple asset classes, such as allocation and target-date funds, while $125 billion has fled U.S. equity funds, Barron’s reports, citing Morningstar. [A Look at ETFs of ETFs]
And with international stocks currently in favor, it would not be surprising to see IFV gain a larger following among advisors and investors, even with its pricey 1.1% annual fee.
First Trust Dorsey Wright International Focus 5 ETF
