An index-tracking ETF based on Dorsey Wright’s systematic momentum strategy for sector rotation using their relative strength ranking system

Company Website: http://www.ftportfolios.com/
WHEATON, Ill. -- (Business Wire)

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”) a global exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider and asset manager, announced that it has cross listed the First Trust Dorsey Wright International Focus 5 ETF (NASDAQ: IFV) on the Mexican stock exchange, Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV). The fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the fund’s fees and expenses) of an equity index called the Dorsey Wright International Focus Five Index (the “index”).

J.P. Morgan sponsors the cross-listing of First Trust’s ETFs and services the ETFs by handling corporate actions, disseminating information and working with investors in Mexico.

The Dorsey Wright International Focus Five Index is designed to provide targeted exposure to the five First Trust international ETFs identified by Dorsey, Wright & Associates, LLC’s (“DWA”) index methodology that offer the greatest potential to outperform the other ETFs in the selection universe. First Trust’s country/region-based ETFs provide the universe for the index selection. Using the DWA relative strength ranking system, the ETFs are compared to each other based on price momentum to determine inclusion. Each ETF is given a score that allows DWA to objectively determine where it ranks relative to all other ETFs in the universe. The top five ranking ETFs are included in the index and the relative strength analysis is conducted on a weekly basis. ETFs are replaced when they fall sufficiently out of favor, based on their relative strength, versus the other ETFs within the universe. The index is rebalanced periodically so each position is equally weighted upon rebalance. DWA believes the design of the index allows them to identify major themes in the market, have exposure to those countries or regions whose price action is superior to others in the universe and eliminate exposure to those countries or regions whose price action is sub-par relative to others in the universe.

DWA is an independent and privately owned registered investment advisory firm that provides professional management of equity portfolios for investors and investment research services for numerous broker/dealers and large institutions around the world. Technical analysis provides the cornerstone of their approach and relative strength plays a very important role. Relative strength is a ranking system used to measure a security’s price momentum relative to its peers and helps DWA identify meaningful patterns in daily share price movements.

“The First Trust Dorsey Wright International Focus 5 ETF provides an efficient, scalable way for financial advisors and their clients to gain exposure to an international price momentum rotation strategy, combining the insights of Dorsey Wright’s research on relative strength with First Trust’s robust lineup of international ETFs,” said Ryan Issakainen, CFA, Senior Vice President, Exchange-Traded Fund Strategist at First Trust.

For more information about First Trust, please contact Ryan Issakainen of First Trust at (630) 765-8689 or RIssakainen@FTAdvisors.com.

About First Trust

First Trust Advisors L.P., along with its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P., are privately held companies which provide a variety of investment services, including asset management and financial advisory services, with collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $117 billion as of April 30, 2015 through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts. First Trust is based in Wheaton, Illinois. For more information, visit http://www.ftlatinamerica.com.

You should consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. Contact First Trust Portfolios L.P. at 1-800-621-1675 or visit www.ftlatinamerica.com to obtain a prospectus or a summary prospectus which contains this and other information about the fund. The prospectus or summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

ETF Characteristics

The fund lists and principally trades its shares on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. and the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores.

The fund’s return may not match the return of the Dorsey Wright Focus Five Index. The ETFs held by the fund will generally not be bought or sold in response to market fluctuations.

Investors buying or selling fund shares on the secondary market may incur customary brokerage commissions. Market prices may differ to some degree from the net asset value of the shares. Investors who sell fund shares may receive less than the share’s net asset value. Shares may be sold throughout the day on the exchange through any brokerage account. However, unlike mutual funds, shares may only be redeemed directly from the fund by authorized participants, in very large creation/redemption units.

Risks

The fund’s shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in the fund. One of the principal risks of investing in the fund is market risk. Market risk is the risk that a particular ETF owned by the fund, fund shares or stocks in general may fall in value. There can be no assurance that the fund's investment objective will be achieved.

The ETFs in which the fund invests may invest in small capitalization and mid capitalization companies. Such companies may experience greater price volatility than larger, more established companies.

The ETFs in which the fund invests invest in securities of non U.S. issuers, which are subject to additional risks, including currency fluctuations, political risks, withholding, the lack of adequate financial information, and exchange control restrictions impacting foreign issuers. These risks may be heightened for securities of companies located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries. The ETFs in which the fund invests may invest in depositary receipts, which may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.

The ETFs in which the fund invests may hold investments that are denominated in non-U.S. currencies, or in securities that provide exposure to such currencies, currency exchange rates or interest rates denominated in such currencies. Changes in currency exchange rates and the relative value of non-U.S. currencies will affect the value of the fund's investment and the value of fund shares.

The fund invests in securities of affiliated ETFs, which involves additional expenses that would not be present in a direct investment in such affiliated ETFs.

The fund currently has fewer assets than larger funds, and like other relatively new funds, large inflows and outflows may impact the fund's market exposure for limited periods of time.

The fund is classified as “non-diversified” and may invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers. As a result, the fund may be more susceptible a single economic or regulatory occurrence affecting these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly concentrated in certain issuers.

First Trust Advisors L.P. is the adviser to the fund. First Trust Advisors L.P. is an affiliate of First Trust Portfolios L.P., the fund's distributor.

The fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by DWA. DWA makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of trading in the fund. DWA’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of DWA and of the index, which is determined, composed and calculated by DWA without regard to First Trust or the fund.

Investors should review all relevant offering materials, including all applicable risk factors, and should consult with financial and tax advisors relating to tax and other consequences of investing in a particular security prior to making an investment.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150522005921/en/

Contacts:

First Trust
Ryan Issakainen
(630) 765-8689
RIssakainen@FTAdvisors.com

Source: First Trust Advisors L.P.