FTHI ETF — Holdings & Analysis

FTHI's option strategy, where it writes covered calls on the S&P 500, distinguishes it from traditional equity income ETFs, aiming to generate additional income through option premiums. With an expense ratio of 0.76%, FTHI offers exposure to a diversified portfolio of stocks, including top holdings like NVIDIA and Apple, while actively managing risk through its covered call approach.

First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) ETF — Price, Holdings & Analysis

The First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) is a $2.02 billion fund seeking current income and capital appreciation by investing in U.S.-listed equities and employing a covered call option strategy on the S&P 500 Index. FTHI's option strategy, where it writes covered calls on the S&P 500, distinguishes it from traditional equity income ETFs, aiming to generate additional income through option premiums. With an expense ratio of 0.76%, FTHI offers exposure to a diversified portfolio of stocks, including top holdings like NVIDIA and Apple, while actively managing risk through its covered call approach.

ETF Overview

The Fund's primary investment objective is to provide current income. The Fund's secondary investment objective is to provide capital appreciation. The Fund will pursue its objectives by investing in equity securities listed on U.S. exchanges of all market capitalizations and by utilizing an "option strategy" consisting of writing (selling) U.S. exchange-traded covered call options on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (the "Index"). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities listed on U.S. exchanges of all market capitalizations. The Fund will also employ an option strategy in which it will write U.S. exchange-traded covered call options on the Index in order to seek additional cash flow in the form of premiums on the options that may be distributed to shareholders on a monthly basis. A premium is the income received by an investor who sells or writes an option contract to another party. The market value of the option strategy may be up to 20% of the Fund's overall net asset value.

The First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) aims to provide investors with current income and capital appreciation by investing in a portfolio of U.S. equities and implementing a covered call option strategy. The fund invests in stocks of all market capitalizations listed on U.S. exchanges. A key component of FTHI's strategy involves writing covered call options on the S&P 500 Index, with the market value of the option strategy potentially reaching up to 20% of the fund's net asset value. This strategy seeks to generate income from option premiums, which can then be distributed to shareholders on a monthly basis. FTHI's top holdings include NVIDIA (7.32%), Apple (6.47%), and Microsoft (5.52%), reflecting a significant allocation to the technology sector. The fund's sector allocation also includes substantial investments in Financial Services (17.3%), Healthcare (11.2%), and Industrials (11.2%). This approach differentiates FTHI from standard equity income ETFs by actively managing risk and income generation through options.

Risk Metrics

FTHI's risk profile is shaped by its investment strategy and asset allocation. The fund's 0.76% expense ratio can create a drag on returns, especially when compared to lower-cost equity income ETFs. With 186 holdings, FTHI is reasonably diversified, though its top holdings, such as NVIDIA (7.32%) and Apple (6.47%), represent a significant portion of the portfolio, introducing concentration risk. The fund's sector allocation further influences its risk profile, with a substantial allocation to Technology (17.9%) and Financial Services (17.3%), making it sensitive to fluctuations in these sectors. The fund's 3-year beta of 0.63 indicates lower volatility compared to the broader market. The covered call strategy aims to reduce volatility and generate income, but it may also limit potential upside during strong market rallies. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Expense Ratio

0.76%

What does FTHI hold?

Holding	Weight
NVIDIA Corp (NVDA)	7.32%
Apple Inc (AAPL)	6.47%
Microsoft Corp (MSFT)	5.52%
Amazon.com Inc (AMZN)	2.93%
ASML Holding NV ADR (ASML)	2.39%
Visa Inc Class A (V)	2.32%
Broadcom Inc (AVGO)	2.31%
Alphabet Inc Class A (GOOGL)	2.19%
Mastercard Inc Class A (MA)	1.90%
Alphabet Inc Class C (GOOG)	1.87%

How Is the Fund Allocated?

Sector	Weight
Technology	17.9%
Financial Services	17.3%
Healthcare	11.2%
Industrials	11.2%
Consumer Cyclical	9.5%
Consumer Defensive	8.9%
Communication Services	5.0%
Utilities	5.0%
Basic Materials	4.5%
Energy	4.5%
Real Estate	3.9%
Cash & Others	1.1%

Country	Weight
United States	85.1%
Netherlands	3.1%
United Kingdom	2.6%
Canada	1.7%
Ireland	1.6%
Other	1.1%
Denmark	1.0%
Switzerland	0.8%
Cayman Islands	0.8%
Brazil	0.3%

Dividend Yield

0.00%

First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF (RFEM) (International Equity) — 0.99% expense ratio
FT Energy Income Partners Enhanced Income ETF (EIPI) (Sector Equity) — 1.11% expense ratio
First Trust Europe AlphaDEX Fund (FEP) (International Equity) — 0.80% expense ratio
First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FEMS) (International Equity) — 0.80% expense ratio
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) (Sector Equity) — 0.56% expense ratio
First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) (International Equity) — 0.80% expense ratio

Risk Metrics

Beta: 0.63

Questions & Answers

What is FTHI and what does it track?

The First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) is an exchange-traded fund that aims to provide current income and capital appreciation.

It achieves this by investing in a diversified portfolio of U.S.-listed equity securities and employing a covered call option strategy on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

What is the expense ratio for FTHI?

The expense ratio for the First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) is 0.76%. This means that for every $10,000 invested in the fund, $76 is used to cover the fund's operating expenses annually.

What are the top holdings in FTHI?

As of 2026-03-15, the top holdings in the First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) are concentrated in leading technology companies. The largest holding is NVIDIA Corp (NVDA), representing 7.32% of the fund's assets.

Apple Inc (AAPL) is the second-largest holding at 6.47%, followed by Microsoft Corp (MSFT) at 5.52%.

Is FTHI a good long-term investment?

Evaluating whether FTHI is a suitable long-term investment requires careful consideration of its strategy, risk profile, and expenses. FTHI's covered call strategy aims to generate income, which can be attractive for long-term investors seeking regular cash flow.

However, the 0.76% expense ratio can impact long-term returns.

How does FTHI compare to similar ETFs?

FTHI distinguishes itself from other equity income ETFs primarily through its covered call strategy. While many equity income ETFs focus on dividend-paying stocks, FTHI generates income by writing covered call options on the S&P 500 Index.

This approach can provide income but may limit upside potential during strong market rallies.

Does FTHI pay dividends?

While the First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (FTHI) aims to provide current income, the fund's dividend yield is currently 0.00% as of 2026-03-15.

The fund's strategy focuses on generating income through option premiums from writing covered calls on the S&P 500 Index, rather than relying solely on dividend income from its equity holdings.