At a glance
FTAG charges 0.7% a year, above the 0.47% average of the 4 funds most like it (the most expensive of 5). It has $14.2M in assets, the 3rd largest of that group; it paid 1.2% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +9.6% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 3rd of those 5 funds; over three years it returned +7.7% a year. At its worst it fell 37.6% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 24.6% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 5 months and 50 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 63.1% of the fund, out of 53 in all.
The short version
First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF (FTAG) tracks the Indxx Global Agriculture Index of fertilizer, crop-chemical, seed and farm-machinery companies from the US, Germany, India, Japan and elsewhere. It offers a focused, global bet on farm productivity: as of June 30, 2026, Deere, Corteva and Bayer were each about 10% of its small $14 million portfolio. Its 0.70% annual fee tops all four similar funds, which average 0.47%.
Price history
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FTAG +9.6% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTAG official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +14.01% | — | +2.17% | +4.08% | -8.91% |
| FTAG price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +8.7% | +9.6% | +7.7% | +0.7% | +4.8% | -8.1% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, FTAG returned +9.6%, 3rd of 5 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +0.7% and its 10-year +4.8%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 37.6% and regained its old high 5.3 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2015 (-57.4%); its best was 2017 (+24.9%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 91% (Jan 3, 2011 to Mar 19, 2020), not yet recovered.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +8.7% | — |
| 2025 | +14.9% | +14.01% |
| 2024 | -6.7% | -6.49% |
| 2023 | -7.3% | -7.51% |
| 2022 | -4.6% | -4.27% |
| 2021 | +17.3% | +17.96% |
| 2020 | +13.9% | +12.43% |
| 2019 | +9.1% | +9.24% |
| 2018 | -19.4% | -18.99% |
| 2017 | +24.9% | +24.70% |
| 2016 | +10.0% | +7.97% |
| 2015 | -57.4% | — |
| 2014 | -17.5% | — |
| 2013 | -15.0% | — |
| 2012 | -16.9% | — |
| 2011 | -48.1% | — |
| 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 36.6% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 37.6%, back to its old high 5.3 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 9.6% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 24.6%, back to its old high 49.6 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.2700 | |
| 2025 | $0.3700 | -45.6% |
| 2024 | $0.6800 | -27.7% |
| 2023 | $0.9400 | +88.0% |
| 2022 | $0.5000 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | $0.4800 | +6.7% |
| 2020 | $0.4500 | -18.2% |
| 2019 | $0.5500 | +12.2% |
| 2018 | $0.4900 | +39.2% |
| 2017 | $0.3520 | +151.4% |
| 2016 | $0.1400 | -53.3% |
| 2015 | $0.3000 | -78.6% |
| 2014 | $1.4000 | +33.3% |
| 2013 | $1.0500 | +250.0% |
| 2012 | $0.3000 | -76.9% |
| 2011 | $1.3000 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 53 securities; the ten largest made up 63.15% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| DEERE & COMPANY | 10.50% | |
| CORTEVA INC | 10.41% | |
| BAYER AG | 10.00% | |
| BASF SE | 8.79% | |
| MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD | 4.49% | |
| NUTRIEN LTD | 4.13% | |
| KUBOTA CORP | 3.82% | |
| INDUSTRIES QATAR QSC | 3.71% | |
| BUNGE GLOBAL SA | 3.66% | |
| WILMAR INTERNATIONAL LTD | 3.63% | |
| CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS INC | 3.38% | |
| CNH INDUSTRIAL NV | 2.83% | |
| SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE SA | 2.15% | |
| TORO COMPANY | 1.88% | |
| AGCO CORP | 1.76% |
By country
United States 32.1%Germany 21.58%India 10.21%Japan 8.08%Switzerland 4.48%By asset type
Stocks 99.63%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jun 30, 2026, investors added a net $102K (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +1.87%, -3.20%, +0.45%.
How it works
FTAG is an index fund that normally invests at least 90% of its net assets in the stocks of the Indxx Global Agriculture Index, run by Indxx, Inc. The index targets companies that help raise farm yields through chemicals and fertilizers, seeds, irrigation equipment or farm machinery. A company must earn at least 10% of its revenue from those areas and pass size and liquidity tests. Indxx may also use its judgment to exclude a stock, for example over governance concerns.
Holdings are weighted by market capitalization (the total value of a company's shares). No stock may top 9.9%, and all stocks over 4.5% together are capped at 40%. The index is rebuilt yearly and rebalanced quarterly, and the fund follows soon after. Weights drift between rebalances: as of June 30, 2026, Deere, Corteva and Bayer were each near 10%, and the top 10 holdings made up 63% of the fund.
At least 40% of assets must be in non-US companies, and holdings must span at least three countries. They may include emerging-market stocks and depositary receipts (certificates representing a foreign company's shares). As of June 30, 2026, 32% was in the US, 22% in Germany, 10% in India and 8% in Japan. The fund held no derivatives at that date, so currency moves against the dollar pass through to returns.
What it really costs
- FTAG charges 0.7% a year, versus an average of 0.47% for the similar funds below (5th of 5, cheapest first).
In a retirement portfolio
It is a narrow, concentrated sector fund that lost 91% from its 2011 peak to its 2020 low and had not recovered that peak as of October 27, 2026.
FTAG adds a concentrated slice of global farm-supply stocks, but its record is harsh. It launched in 2010, after the 2008 crisis. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 37.6% in a month, then recovered by August 2020. In 2022 it dropped 24.6% from April to July and took about 50 months, until September 2026, to recover. Its worst calendar year was 2015, down 57.4%. From January 2011 to March 2020 it lost 91% and had not regained that peak as of October 27, 2026.
Selling shares to cover spending during slumps like these could lock in steep losses. Income is modest: the yield was 1.2% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly. The 0.70% expense ratio (annual fee) is above the 0.47% average of four similar funds. Past results don't predict the future, and any plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting a global agriculture fund: just 32% sat in US companies as of June 30, 2026, with big stakes in Germany, India and Japan.
- Those wanting concentrated exposure to Deere, Corteva, Bayer and BASF; the top 10 holdings were 63% of assets as of June 30, 2026.
- Investors able to hold a small, volatile satellite stake through long slumps, like the roughly 50 months it took to recover from its 2022 drop.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-conscious investors: FTAG's 0.70% expense ratio is the highest of five similar agriculture funds; VEGI charges 0.39% and MOO 0.53%.
- Those who prefer larger funds: FTAG had about $14 million in assets as of June 30, 2026, versus about $944 million at MOO.
- Retirees needing income or steady value: the yield was 1.2% as of October 27, 2026, and shares fell 91% between 2011 and 2020.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTAG this fund | — | 0.7% | $14.2M | +9.6% | +7.7% |
| MOO VanEck Agribusiness ETF | 56% | 0.53% | $943.9M | +11.9% | +6.9% |
| VEGI iShares MSCI Agriculture Producers ETF | 46% | 0.39% | $155.9M | +14.4% | +10.3% |
| KROP Global X AgTech & Food Innovation ETF | 39% | 0.5% | $9.8M | +7.9% | +6.3% |
| IVEG iShares Emergent Food and AgTech Multisecto… | 34% | 0.47% | $4.3M | +0.3% | +9.3% |
Questions investors ask
What does FTAG invest in?
FTAG holds stocks of companies that help farmers raise crop yields, following the Indxx Global Agriculture Index. As of June 30, 2026, it owned 53 companies tied to chemicals and fertilizers, seeds, irrigation and farm machinery. The largest were Deere (10.5%), Corteva (10.4%), Bayer (10.0%), BASF (8.8%) and Mahindra & Mahindra (4.5%), and the top 10 made up 63% of assets. About 32% was in US companies, followed by Germany, India and Japan.
What's the difference between FTAG and MOO?
Both own global agribusiness stocks and their holdings overlap by about 56%, but MOO is cheaper and far larger. VanEck Agribusiness ETF (MOO) charges 0.53% a year versus FTAG's 0.70%. As of June 30, 2026, MOO had about $944 million in assets against FTAG's roughly $14 million. In the year to October 27, 2026, MOO returned 11.9% to FTAG's 9.6%. Over three years FTAG led, at 7.7% a year versus 6.9%.
Does FTAG pay dividends?
Yes, FTAG pays dividends quarterly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid about $0.34 per share, a yield of 1.2%. The money comes from dividends on the stocks it owns, such as Deere, Corteva and Nutrien, after the fund's 0.70% annual expenses. Payments can vary with company profits and currency moves. With a yield that low, FTAG is mainly a bet on share prices rather than a source of income.
What is FTAG's expense ratio?
FTAG's expense ratio, the yearly fee taken from fund assets, is 0.70%, according to its prospectus filed January 28, 2026. That is the highest among five comparable agriculture funds. The other four average 0.47%. iShares MSCI Agriculture Producers ETF (VEGI) charges 0.39%, Global X AgTech & Food Innovation ETF (KROP) 0.50% and VanEck Agribusiness ETF (MOO) 0.53%. Because the fee is deducted every year, the gap adds up for long-term holders.
How has FTAG performed since it launched?
It has lost money over its full life, despite some strong years. As of December 31, 2025, its prospectus showed average annual returns of 14.01% over one year, 2.17% over five years and 4.08% over ten years. Since its 2010 launch, it lost 8.91% a year on average. Calendar years swung from 24.7% in 2017 to -18.99% in 2018, and it also lost money in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Its share price fell 57.4% in 2015 alone. Past results don't predict future returns.