First Trust Launches the First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”), a leading exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) provider and asset manager, announced today that it has launched a new ETF, the First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (NASDAQ: FICS) (the “fund”). 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 International Developed Capital Strength Index℠ (the “index”). The index seeks to provide exposure to international companies with a high degree of liquidity, the ability to generate earnings growth, and a record of financial strength and profit growth. Also included is a volatility screen that seeks out those companies with lower historic risk and favors companies with consistent historical security price performance.

“2020 has been a reminder of the importance of quality for navigating uncertain times. In our view, this applies just as much for international stocks as it does for US stocks," said Ryan Issakainen, CFA, Senior Vice President, ETF Strategist at First Trust. Investing outside of the U.S. may present opportunities to participate in the long-term growth potential of foreign companies. FICS seeks to provide a simplified way to gain exposure to well-capitalized non-US companies in developed markets with strong market positions that have the potential to provide their stockholders with a greater degree of stability and performance over time. “We believe this ETF will be an effective tool for investment professionals seeking high quality exposure to developed international stocks,” said Issakainen.

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

About First Trust
First Trust is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as the fund’s investment advisor. First Trust and its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), a FINRA registered broker-dealer, are privately held companies that provide a variety of investment services. First Trust has collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $164 billion as of November 30, 2020 through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts. First Trust is the supervisor of the First Trust unit investment trusts, while FTP is the sponsor. FTP is also a distributor of mutual fund shares and exchange-traded fund creation units. First Trust and FTP are based in Wheaton, Illinois. For more information, visit http://www.ftportfolios.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 to obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information about the fund. The prospectus or summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

Risk Considerations
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 a fund by authorized participants, in very large creation/redemption units. If a fund’s authorized participants are unable to proceed with creation/redemption orders and no other authorized participant is able to step forward to create or redeem, fund shares may trade at a discount to a fund’s net asset value and possibly face delisting.

A fund’s shares will change in value, and you could lose money by investing in a fund. Market risk is that a particular security or shares of a fund may fall in value. There can be no assurance that a fund’s investment objective will be achieved.

The outbreak of the respiratory disease designated as COVID-19 in December 2019 has caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. The COVID-19 pandemic may last for an extended period of time and will continue to impact the economy for the foreseeable future.

An adverse economic business or political development may affect the value of investments greater for a fund that has significant exposure to a single asset class, country, region, industry or sector than a more broadly diversified fund.

Non-U.S. securities are subject to additional risks, including but not limited to currency fluctuations, political risks, withholding, the lack of adequate financial information, and exchange control restrictions impacting non U.S. issuers.

Because securities held by the fund trade on non-U.S. exchanges that are closed when the fund’s primary listing exchange is open, there are likely to be deviations between the current price of an underlying security and the last quoted price for the underlying security.

A fund may be subject to inflation risk which is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money.

A portfolio comprised of low volatility stocks may not produce investment exposure that has lower variability to changes in such stocks’ price levels. Low volatility stocks are likely to underperform the broader market during periods of rapidly rising stock prices.

REITs typically own and operate income-producing real estate and are subject to the risks associated with investing in real estate.

A passive investment fund invests in securities included in or representative of the index regardless of investment merit and generally will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.

High portfolio turnover may result in higher levels of transaction costs and may generate greater tax liabilities for shareholders.

There is no assurance that the index provider, or any agents that act on its behalf, will compile the index accurately, or that the index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated, or disseminated accurately. The fund's return may not match the return of the index.

Large capitalization companies may grow at a slower rate than the overall market.

The fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors. As the use of Internet technology has become more prevalent in the course of business, a fund has become more susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security.

A fund classified as “non-diversified” may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, a fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, experience increased volatility and be highly concentrated in certain issuers.

Large inflows and outflows may impact a newer fund’s market exposure for limited periods of times.

The fund may be a constituent of one or more indices.

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 information presented is not intended to constitute an investment recommendation for, or advice to, any specific person. By providing this information, First Trust is not undertaking to give advice in any fiduciary capacity within the meaning of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or any other regulatory framework. Financial professionals are responsible for evaluating investment risks independently and for exercising independent judgment in determining whether investments are appropriate for their clients.

Nasdaq® and The International Developed Capital Strength Index℠ are registered trademarks and service marks of Nasdaq, Inc. (together with its affiliates hereinafter referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by First Trust. The fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to its legality or suitability. The fund is not issued, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND.

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