At a glance
FTXR charges 0.6% a year, above the 0.48% average of the 4 funds most like it (the 4th cheapest of 5). It has $1.09B in assets, the 2nd largest of that group; it paid 1.06% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, quarterly. Over the past year it returned +19.6% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 3rd of those 5 funds; over three years it returned +21.8% a year. At its worst it fell 49.5% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 34.0% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 8 months and 25 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 59.9% of the fund, out of 43 in all.
The short version
First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF (FTXR) is an index fund that holds 30 to 50 US transportation stocks, including automakers, railroads, airlines, truckers and parcel carriers, selected by the Nasdaq US Smart Transportation Index. It doesn't weight companies by size. It ranks stocks on profitability and momentum, then weights them by cash flow. At 0.60% a year, it costs more than the 0.48% average of similar funds, and its price moves sharply with the economy.
Price history
The interactive chart needs JavaScript.
FTXR +19.6% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTXR official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +14.70% | — | +8.51% | — | +8.98% |
| FTXR price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +10.6% | +19.6% | +21.8% | +7.1% | +9.3% | +9.1% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, FTXR returned +19.6%, 3rd of 5 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +7.1% and its 10-year +9.3%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 49.5% and regained its old high 7.6 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-25.4%); its best was 2021 (+24.0%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 52% (Jan 12, 2018 to Mar 23, 2020), recovered by Nov 18, 2020.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +10.6% | — |
| 2025 | +14.8% | +14.70% |
| 2024 | +17.1% | +17.02% |
| 2023 | +20.9% | +20.61% |
| 2022 | -25.4% | -25.21% |
| 2021 | +24.0% | +24.23% |
| 2020 | +15.0% | +15.16% |
| 2019 | +14.8% | +14.56% |
| 2018 | -15.3% | -14.98% |
| 2017 | +15.8% | +15.62% |
| 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 49.3% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 49.5%, back to its old high 7.6 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 30.4% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 34%, back to its old high 25.2 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.2800 | |
| 2025 | $0.6000 | -17.8% |
| 2024 | $0.7300 | +62.2% |
| 2023 | $0.4500 | -26.2% |
| 2022 | $0.6100 | +165.2% |
| 2021 | $0.2300 | +155.0% |
| 2020 | $0.0902 | -72.7% |
| 2019 | $0.3300 | -13.2% |
| 2018 | $0.3800 | +23.8% |
| 2017 | $0.3070 |
What's inside
As of Jun 30, 2026, the fund held 43 securities; the ten largest made up 59.93% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| TESLA INC | 7.66% | |
| UNION PACIFIC CORP | 7.53% | |
| FORD MOTOR CO | 7.24% | |
| GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY | 7.18% | |
| UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC | 6.39% | |
| DELTA AIR LINES INC | 5.23% | |
| AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC | 4.99% | |
| UNITED RENTALS INC | 4.95% | |
| UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC | 4.69% | |
| CSX CORP | 4.08% | |
| RYDER SYSTEM INC | 3.56% | |
| PACCAR INC | 3.49% | |
| FEDEX CORP | 2.97% | |
| J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES INC | 2.36% | |
| BORGWARNER INC | 2.21% |
By country
United States 99.07%Marshall Islands 0.47%Cayman Islands 0.41%By asset type
Stocks 99.96%By sector
Sectors of the companies held, for the 65.1% 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 $74.2M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +8.55%, +8.26%, +1.96%.
How it works
FTXR tracks the Nasdaq US Smart Transportation Index, which Nasdaq, Inc. owns and maintains. The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in the stocks in the index. The index starts with companies in the Nasdaq US Benchmark Index that fall into 13 transportation-related groups. These include automobiles, auto parts, tires, airlines, trucking, railroads, marine shipping, delivery services and equipment leasing. Each stock must pass size, float (shares freely available to trade) and liquidity tests.
Nasdaq then ranks the remaining stocks on four factors: gross income, return on assets (profit compared with what a company owns), momentum (recent price strength) and cash flow. Cash flow counts for little in the ranking and can act as a tiebreaker. The index keeps 30 to 50 stocks. It held 43 as of June 30, 2026. Stocks are weighted by cash flow, not market value. No stock can exceed 8%, and no more than five can sit at that cap. All others are capped at 4%, and none can fall below 0.50%.
The index is rebalanced and reconstituted twice a year, and the fund follows shortly after. Turnover was 70%, meaning the fund replaces a large share of its holdings each year. As of June 30, 2026, it held ordinary stocks only, with no derivatives. Its 10 largest positions made up 59.9% of assets.
What it really costs
- FTXR charges 0.6% a year, versus an average of 0.48% for the similar funds below (4th of 5, cheapest first).
In a retirement portfolio
FTXR is a concentrated bet on one cyclical part of the economy, with deep past drops and little income, so it fits better as a small side position than as a foundation.
FTXR adds focused exposure to US freight and travel companies, but it has fallen hard in downturns. It launched in September 2016, so it has no record from the 2008 crisis. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 49.5% and regained its prior high in November 2020. In the 2022 bear market it fell 34% and did not recover until November 2024. Its worst calendar year was 2022, at -25.2%. Its deepest drop was 52%, from January 2018 to March 2020. A retiree who has to sell shares during a slump like that would lock in losses. The trailing yield was 1.06% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly, so the fund offers little income. Its 0.60% expense ratio is above the 0.48% peer average. Past results don't predict future returns, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want a small, focused position in US automakers, railroads, airlines and parcel carriers such as Tesla, Union Pacific, Ford and UPS.
- Investors who prefer an index that favors profitable, cash-generating companies with price momentum over one weighted by company size.
- Investors who can sit through sharp swings, like the 49.5% drop in early 2020, in exchange for exposure to the economic cycle.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-conscious investors: the 0.60% expense ratio is well above IYT's 0.39% and XTN's 0.35%.
- Investors who need income: the trailing yield was just 1.06% as of October 27, 2026, paid quarterly.
- Anyone who may need to sell in a downturn. After falling 34% in 2022, the fund took until November 2024 to recover.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTXR this fund | — | 0.6% | $1.09B | +19.6% | +21.8% |
| IYT iShares US Transportation ETF | 47% | 0.39% | $2.23B | +16.2% | +17.1% |
| XTN SPDR S&P Transportation ETF | 37% | 0.35% | $367.3M | +19.2% | +15.5% |
| SUPL ProShares Supply Chain Logistics ETF | 28% | 0.58% | $2.4M | +21.1% | +12.8% |
| SHPP Pacer Industrials and Logistics ETF | 28% | 0.61% | $2.1M | +24.2% | +17.5% |
Questions investors ask
What does FTXR invest in?
FTXR invests in 30 to 50 US transportation stocks from the Nasdaq US Smart Transportation Index. It held 43 as of June 30, 2026. The largest positions were Tesla at 7.7%, Union Pacific at 7.5%, Ford at 7.2%, General Motors at 7.2% and UPS at 6.4%. Airlines such as Delta, American and United also ranked in the top 10. Together, the top 10 made up 59.9% of the fund. Industrials and consumer discretionary companies were its largest sectors.
What's the difference between FTXR and IYT?
Both funds hold US transportation stocks, and about 47% of their holdings overlap. The iShares US Transportation ETF (IYT) costs 0.39% a year, compared with FTXR's 0.60%. It is also larger, with $2.23 billion in net assets versus FTXR's $1.09 billion. FTXR screens stocks on profitability and momentum and weights them by cash flow. As of October 27, 2026, FTXR's three-year annualized return was 21.8%, against 17.1% for IYT. Each fund's index rules are worth comparing.
Does FTXR pay dividends?
Yes. FTXR pays dividends quarterly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $0.45 per share, a trailing yield of 1.06%. That is modest income, because the fund owns transportation companies chosen on profitability, momentum and cash flow rather than on dividends. Investors who rely on regular income may find the payout small relative to the fund's price swings.
How has FTXR performed over the long term?
As of December 31, 2025, FTXR returned 14.7% over one year, 8.51% a year over five years and 8.98% a year since its 2016 launch, according to its prospectus. Returns have been uneven. The fund lost 25.21% in 2022 and 14.98% in 2018, and it fell 38.09% in the first quarter of 2020 alone. Past results don't predict future returns.
What is FTXR's expense ratio?
FTXR's expense ratio is 0.60%, according to its prospectus filed July 29, 2026. All of it is the management fee, with no fee waiver. The fund ranks fourth of five similar funds on cost, and the group's average is 0.48%. The SPDR S&P Transportation ETF (XTN) charges 0.35% and the iShares US Transportation ETF (IYT) 0.39%. Over long holding periods, that gap reduces returns.