At a glance
CIBR charges 0.58% a year, above the 0.43% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 8th cheapest of 9). It has $13.84B in assets, the largest of that group; it paid 0.41% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +25.8% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 7th of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +29.6% a year. At its worst it fell 33.0% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 31.0% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 2 months and 14 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 58.1% of the fund, out of 43 in all.
The short version
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) is an index fund that tracks the Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index. That index holds companies selling security software, hardware and services, led by Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet and CrowdStrike. It is the largest fund among similar cybersecurity ETFs, with $13.8 billion in net assets as of June 30, 2026. Its 0.58% expense ratio is above the 0.43% average of those funds.
Price history
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CIBR +25.8% over the year to Nov 2, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIBR official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +13.10% | — | +10.47% | +15.55% | +13.54% |
| CIBR price data to Nov 2, 2026 | +35.8% | +25.8% | +29.6% | +12.8% | +18.2% | +15.6% |
- Over the year to Nov 2, 2026, CIBR returned +25.8%, 7th of 9 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +12.8% and its 10-year +18.2%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 33% and regained its old high 2.4 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-26.4%); its best was 2020 (+50.4%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 33.9% (Nov 12, 2021 to Oct 14, 2022), recovered by Jan 19, 2024.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +35.8% | — |
| 2025 | +13.1% | +13.10% |
| 2024 | +18.2% | +18.66% |
| 2023 | +39.7% | +39.19% |
| 2022 | -26.4% | -26.36% |
| 2021 | +19.7% | +19.61% |
| 2020 | +50.4% | +50.46% |
| 2019 | +28.5% | +28.20% |
| 2018 | +1.5% | +1.92% |
| 2017 | +18.6% | +18.33% |
| 2016 | +10.9% | +10.87% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 29.5% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 33%, back to its old high 2.4 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 28.5% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 31%, back to its old high 14.1 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.1830 | |
| 2025 | $0.3050 | +69.4% |
| 2024 | $0.1800 | -21.7% |
| 2023 | $0.2300 | +87.0% |
| 2022 | $0.1230 | -60.3% |
| 2021 | $0.3100 | -36.7% |
| 2020 | $0.4900 | +562.2% |
| 2019 | $0.0740 | +23.3% |
| 2018 | $0.0600 | +100.0% |
| 2017 | $0.0300 | -80.0% |
| 2016 | $0.1500 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 43 securities; the ten largest made up 58.06% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| PALO ALTO NETWORKS INC | 9.62% | |
| FORTINET INC | 8.85% | |
| CROWDSTRIKE HOLDINGS INC | 8.29% | |
| CISCO SYSTEMS INC | 7.75% | |
| BROADCOM INC | 6.72% | |
| CLOUDFLARE INC | 4.03% | |
| OKTA INC | 3.52% | |
| F5 INC | 3.41% | |
| ZSCALER INC | 3.04% | |
| AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIES INC | 2.84% | |
| RUBRIK INC | 2.67% | |
| JFROG LTD | 2.18% | |
| CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD | 2.14% | |
| GEN DIGITAL INC | 2.14% | |
| ARISTA NETWORKS INC | 2.12% |
By country
United States 87.53%Israel 4.49%Canada 2.31%France 1.97%India 1.65%By asset type
Stocks 99.64%RA 1.59%By sector
Sectors of the companies held, for the 57.9% of the fund in companies that have a stock page here; other holdings and cash aren't classified. Source: N-PORT holdings report as of Jun 30, 2026. Cash, money-market funds and derivatives are shown separately from the securities list.What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors added a net $216.9M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +7.68%, +31.86%, +1.03%.
How it works
CIBR aims to match the Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index before fees. Nasdaq owns the index and wrote its rules together with the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). CTA decides which companies count as cybersecurity businesses: firms that build, run and manage tools that protect data and networks on computers, phones, and public and private networks. A company must also meet size, free-float and trading-liquidity tests. The fund normally keeps at least 90% of its net assets in index stocks.
Stocks are weighted by free-float market value. That is the value of the shares the public can actually trade. Caps limit concentration. The five largest companies are held to 8% each and 40% combined, every other stock is held to 4%, and none can fall below 0.10%. Weights can drift between resets. As of June 30, 2026, Palo Alto Networks made up 9.6% of the fund, followed by Fortinet (8.8%), CrowdStrike (8.3%), Cisco (7.7%) and Broadcom (6.7%). The top 10 holdings made up 58% of assets.
The index reviews its member list twice a year and resets weights every quarter. The fund makes matching trades shortly after. Its prospectus filed January 28, 2026, lists portfolio turnover of 21%. The fund uses no leverage, options or derivatives. As of June 30, 2026, about 88% of assets were in US companies. Smaller stakes were in Israel, Canada, France and India.
What it really costs
- CIBR charges 0.58% a year, versus an average of 0.43% for the similar funds below (8th of 9, cheapest first).
In a retirement portfolio
It is a concentrated bet on about 40 cybersecurity stocks that has dropped by roughly a third in past selloffs, so it fits as a small add-on rather than a foundation.
CIBR adds focused exposure to cybersecurity, a narrow slice of the tech sector. It launched in 2015, so it has no 2008 record. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 33% but recovered in about 2.4 months. The 2022 bear market was harsher: it fell 31% and took about 14 months to recover. Its deepest drop, 33.9% from November 2021 to October 2022, was not fully recovered until January 2024. Its worst calendar year was 2022, when it lost 26.4%. Anyone who had to sell shares during a slump like that would have locked in losses. Income is minimal: the yield was 0.37% as of October 29, 2026, paid quarterly. The 0.58% expense ratio is above the 0.43% peer average. Past results don't predict future returns, and a plan should weigh the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want one large, widely held cybersecurity fund, with Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet and CrowdStrike among its biggest holdings.
- Long-term holders who can sit through drops like the 33.9% fall from November 2021 to October 2022 without needing to sell.
- People who prefer a rules-based index with weight caps over a manager's stock picks, and who hold it as a small slice of a broader portfolio.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: its 0.58% expense ratio ranks 8th of 9 similar funds, while WisdomTree's WCBR charges 0.45% and Xtrackers' PSWD charges 0.20%.
- Investors seeking income, since the yield was just 0.37% as of October 29, 2026.
- Retirees who may need to draw on savings soon, since the fund lost 26.4% in 2022 and took over a year to recover.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIBR this fund | — | 0.58% | $13.84B | +25.8% | +29.6% |
| HACK Amplify Cybersecurity ETF | 56% | 0.6% | $2.59B | +50.8% | +39.0% |
| WCBR WisdomTree Cybersecurity Fund | 51% | 0.45% | $103.0M | +60.5% | +39.5% |
| BUG Global X Cybersecurity ETF | 45% | 0.51% | $1.73B | +46.9% | +32.4% |
| SPAM Themes Cybersecurity ETF | 44% | 0.35% | $5.0M | +40.6% | — |
| PSWD Xtrackers Cybersecurity Select Equity ETF | 40% | 0.2% | $5.3M | +36.2% | +29.8% |
| IHAK iShares Cybersecurity & Tech ETF | 33% | 0.47% | $1.02B | +47.0% | +28.7% |
| CLOD Themes Cloud Computing ETF | 31% | 0.35% | $2.5M | +1.1% | — |
Questions investors ask
Is CIBR good for retirement?
It can play a small, higher-risk role, but it is not built for stability or income. CIBR holds about 43 cybersecurity stocks and yielded 0.37% as of October 29, 2026. It fell 33.9% from November 2021 to October 2022 and did not fully recover until January 2024. Some retirement investors use funds like this as a small satellite holding next to broad, diversified core holdings.
What's the difference between CIBR and HACK?
Both hold cybersecurity stocks, and about 56% of their holdings overlap, based on the latest N-PORT reports. CIBR tracks the Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index and is much larger. It had $13.8 billion in net assets, compared with about $2.6 billion for Amplify Cybersecurity ETF (HACK), both as of June 30, 2026. Costs are close: 0.58% for CIBR and 0.60% for HACK. HACK returned 50.8% in the year to October 27, 2026. CIBR returned 38% in the year to October 29, 2026.
Does CIBR pay dividends?
Yes, but they are small. CIBR pays dividends quarterly. In the 12 months to October 29, 2026, it paid about $0.39 per share, a yield of 0.37%. The fund is designed to track cybersecurity stocks, not to produce income. Investors who need regular cash from their portfolio usually get it from other holdings.
What are CIBR's top holdings?
As of June 30, 2026, the five largest holdings were Palo Alto Networks (9.6%), Fortinet (8.8%), CrowdStrike (8.3%), Cisco Systems (7.7%) and Broadcom (6.7%). Cloudflare, Okta, F5, Zscaler and Akamai completed the top 10, which together made up 58% of the fund. About 88% of assets were in US companies. Most of the rest was in Israel, Canada, France and India.
How has CIBR performed over the long term?
It has done well over 10 years, with sharp swings along the way. Its prospectus shows average annual returns of 15.55% over the 10 years ended December 31, 2025, and 10.47% over five years. Its strongest calendar year was 2020, at 50.46%. Its weakest was 2022, at -26.36%. Based on prices, it was up 47.3% for 2026 through October 29, 2026. Past returns don't predict future results.