FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND (Form: 485BPOS, Received: 04/29/2021 14:13:29)

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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2021

1933 Act Registration No. 333-125751

1940 Act Registration No. 811-21774

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form N-1A

Registration Statement Under the Securities Act of 1933	[ ]
Pre-Effective Amendment No.	[ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 135	[X]
and/or
Registration Statement Under the Investment Company Act of 1940	[ ]
Amendment No. 135	[X]

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (800) 621-1675

W. Scott Jardine, Esq., Secretary

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

First Trust Advisors L.P.

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Eric F. Fess, Esq.

Chapman and Cutler LLP

111 West Monroe Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

[ ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

[X] on May 3, 2021 pursuant to paragraph (b)

[ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

[ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

[ ] this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Contents of Post-Effective Amendment No. 135

This Registration Statement comprises the following papers and contents:

The Facing Sheet

Part A - Prospectus for First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Chindia ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF, First Trust Water ETF, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ^® ABA Community Bank Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ^® Clean Edge^® Green Energy Index Fund, First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund, First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF and First Trust Value Line^® Dividend Index Fund; the Prospectus for First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF, First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF, First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF and First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX^® ETF

Part B - Statement of Additional Information for First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Chindia ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF, First Trust Water ETF, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ^® ABA Community Bank Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ^® Clean Edge^® Green Energy Index Fund, First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund, First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF and First Trust Value Line^® Dividend Index Fund; the Statement of Additional Information for First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF, First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF, First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF and First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX^® ETF

Part C - Other Information

Signatures

Index to Exhibits

Exhibits

First Trust

Exchange-Traded Fund

Prospectus

FUND NAME	TICKER SYMBOL	EXCHANGE
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	FTCS	Nasdaq
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	FDN	NYSE Arca
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	FDM	NYSE Arca
First Trust Chindia ETF	FNI	NYSE Arca
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	FCG	NYSE Arca
First Trust Water ETF	FIW	NYSE Arca
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	FDL	NYSE Arca
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	QQEW	Nasdaq
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	QQXT	Nasdaq
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	QTEC	Nasdaq
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	QABA	Nasdaq
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	QCLN	Nasdaq
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	FBT	NYSE Arca
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	FRI	NYSE Arca
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	FPX	NYSE Arca
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	FVD	NYSE Arca

Each of the funds listed above (each a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”) lists and principally trades its shares on either The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) or the NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) (each an “Exchange,” and collectively, the “Exchanges”). Market prices may differ to some degree from the net asset value of the shares. Unlike mutual funds, each Fund issues and redeems shares at net asset value, only in large blocks of shares called "Creation Units."

Each Fund is a series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund (the “Trust”) and an exchange-traded index fund organized as a separate series of a registered management investment company.

Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the shares are not redeemable securities of the Funds.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE

May 3, 2021

Table of Contents

Summary Information
First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)	3
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)	10
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)	18
First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)	25
First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)	33
First Trust Water ETF (FIW)	41
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)	48
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)	55
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)	62
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)	69
First Trust NASDAQ ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)	76
First Trust NASDAQ ® Clean Edge ® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)	83
First Trust NYSE ® Arca ® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)	91
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)	98
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)	105
First Trust Value Line ® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)	112
Additional Information on the Funds' Investment Objectives and Strategies	119
Fund Investments	121
Risks of Investing in the Funds	122
Fund Organization	134
Management of the Funds	134
How to Buy and Sell Shares	136
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes	137
Federal Tax Matters	137
Distribution Plan	140
Net Asset Value	140
Fund Service Providers	141
Index Providers	141
Disclaimers	141
Premium/Discount Information	147
Total Return Information	147
Financial Highlights	154
Other Information	170

Summary Information
First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Capital Strength ETF (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 Capital Strength IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. Investors may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.50%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.56%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.56%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.65% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account customary brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling shares of the Fund in the secondary market.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.65% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$57	$179	$313	$701

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 133% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by Nasdaq, Inc. (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure Index integrity.

The Index seeks to provide exposure to well-capitalized companies with strong market positions that have the potential to provide their stockholders with a greater degree of stability and performance over time. The Index’s initial universe consists of the securities comprising the NASDAQ US Benchmark Index, an index seeking to track the performance of small, mid and large capitalization U.S. companies. The Index then excludes all securities with a three-month average daily trading volume of less than $5 million. The Index then ranks the remaining securities by float-adjusted market capitalization and excludes all securities not ranked in the top 500. The universe is further narrowed by excluding those securities issued by companies with less than $1 billion in cash and short-term investments, companies with a long-term debt to market capitalization ratio greater than 30% and companies with a return on equity that is 15% or less. The remaining securities are then given a volatility score based upon a combination of their short-term (90 days) and long-term (260 days) realized volatility. The 50 securities with the lowest volatility score are chosen for inclusion in the Index.

A review is then enacted to determine if any industry, as determined by the Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”) classification system, has a cumulative weight of greater than 30%. If an industry has a weight greater than 30%, the highest-ranking security by volatility will be removed and replaced with the next eligible security (e.g., the 51st ranked by volatility) from a different industry. This process is repeated until no industry has a weight greater than 30%. Once finalized, each security is equal-dollar weighted.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted quarterly and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance and reconstitution schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 50 securities and the Fund had significant investments in industrials companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

NASDAQ® and The Capital Strength IndexSM are trademarks (the “Marks”) of Nasdaq, Inc. (collectively with its affiliates “NASDAQ”). The Marks are licensed for use with the Fund by the Fund’s investment advisor. The Fund has not been passed on by NASDAQ as to its legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by NASDAQ. The Fund should not be construed in any way as investment advice by NASDAQ. NASDAQ makes no warranties and bears no liability with respect to the Fund.

Principal Risks

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular risk factor.

AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT CONCENTRATION RISK. Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. A limited number of institutions act as authorized participants for the Fund. To the extent that these institutions exit the business or are unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders and no other authorized participant steps forward to create or redeem, the Fund’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value and possibly face delisting.

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software coding but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests or the Fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Although the Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers.

EQUITY SECURITIES RISK. The value of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities in which it invests. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant equity market, such as market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting an issuer occur. Common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market.

INDEX OR MODEL CONSTITUENT RISK. The Fund may be a constituent of one or more indices or ETF models. As a result, the Fund may be included in one or more index-tracking exchange-traded funds or mutual funds. Being a component security of such a vehicle could greatly affect the trading activity involving the Fund’s shares, the size of the Fund and the market volatility of the Fund. Inclusion in an index could increase demand for the Fund and removal from an index could result in outsized selling activity in a relatively short period of time. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value could be negatively impacted and the Fund’s market price may be below the Fund’s net asset value during certain periods. In addition, index rebalances may potentially result in increased trading activity in the Fund’s shares.

INDEX PROVIDER RISK. 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 Index Provider and its agents do not provide any representation or warranty in relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in the Index, and do not guarantee that the Index will be calculated in accordance with its stated methodology. The Advisor’s mandate as described in this prospectus is to manage the Fund consistently with the Index provided by the Index Provider. The Advisor relies upon the Index provider and its agents to accurately compile, maintain, construct, reconstitute, rebalance, compose, calculate and disseminate the Index accurately. Therefore, losses or costs associated with any Index Provider or agent errors generally will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. To correct any such error, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out an unscheduled rebalance of the Index or other modification of Index constituents or weightings. When the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances also expose the Fund to additional tracking error risk. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the Index is less commonly used as a benchmark by funds or advisors. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

commodity prices, intense competition, consolidation, domestic and international politics, government regulation, import controls, excess capacity, consumer demand and spending trends. In addition, industrials companies may also be significantly affected by overall capital spending levels, economic cycles, rapid technological changes, delays in modernization, labor relations, environmental liabilities, governmental and product liability and e-commerce initiatives.

LOW VOLATILITY RISK. Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, 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.

MARKET MAKER RISK. The Fund faces numerous market trading risks, including the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares due to a limited number of market markers. Decisions by market makers or authorized participants to reduce their role or step away from these activities in times of market stress could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying values of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the Fund’s market price. The Fund may rely on a small number of third-party market makers to provide a market for the purchase and sale of shares. Any trading halt or other problem relating to the trading activity of these market makers could result in a dramatic change in the spread between the Fund’s net asset value and the price at which the Fund’s shares are trading on the Exchange, which could result in a decrease in value of the Fund’s shares. This reduced effectiveness could result in Fund shares trading at a discount to net asset value and also in greater than normal intraday bid-ask spreads for Fund shares.

MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular security, or shares of the Fund in general, may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of the Fund could decline in value or underperform other investments. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant negative impact on the Fund and its investments. For example, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe impacts, on markets worldwide. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged disruptions to the normal business operations of companies around the world and the impact of such disruptions is hard to predict. Such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Such events could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of the Fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, the Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value.

NON-CORRELATION RISK. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. The Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and may incur costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s portfolio holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may not exactly replicate the securities included in the Index or the ratios between the securities included in the Index.

OPERATIONAL RISK. The Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. Although the Fund and the Advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.

PASSIVE INVESTMENT RISK. The Fund is not actively managed. The Fund invests in securities included in or representative of the Index regardless of investment merit. The Fund generally will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets. In the event that the Index is no longer calculated, the Index license is terminated or the identity or character of the Index is materially changed, the Fund will seek to engage a replacement index.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RISK. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and may generate greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Fund’s performance to be less than expected.

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

forces at work in the secondary trading market for shares will be closely related, but not identical, to the same forces influencing the prices of the holdings of the Fund trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. However, given that shares can only be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units, and only to and from broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset value), the Fund’s investment advisor believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of shares should not be sustained. During stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and their net asset value.

SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE RISK. To the extent that the Fund invests a large percentage of its assets in a single asset class or industry or sector, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if the Fund were more broadly diversified. A significant exposure makes the Fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the Fund to greater market risk than a fund that is more broadly diversified.

TRADING ISSUES RISK. Trading in Fund shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Fund shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange’s “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. The Fund may have difficulty maintaining its listing on the Exchange in the event the Fund’s assets are small, the Fund does not have enough shareholders, or if the Fund is unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders.

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index and a broad-based market index. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

On June 4, 2013, the Fund’s underlying index changed from the Credit Suisse U.S. Value Index, Powered by HOLTTM to The Capital Strength IndexSM. Therefore, the Fund’s performance and total returns shown for the periods prior to June 4, 2013, are not necessarily indicative of the performance the Fund, based on its current index, would have generated. Returns for an underlying index are only disclosed for those periods in which the index was in existence for the whole period. Since the Fund's new underlying index had an inception date of March 20, 2013, it was not in existence for all of the periods disclosed.

First Trust Capital Strength ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
18.05%	June 30, 2020	-18.69%	September 30, 2011

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Returns before taxes do not reflect the effects of any income or capital gains taxes. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of any state or local tax. Returns after taxes on distributions reflect the taxed return on the payment of dividends and capital gains. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of shares assume you sold your shares at period end, and, therefore, are also adjusted for any capital gains or losses incurred. Returns for the market indices do not include expenses, which are deducted from Fund returns, or taxes.

Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or employee-sponsored retirement plans.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	13.07%	13.54%	13.12%	10.38%	7/6/2006
Return After Taxes on Distributions	12.58%	12.94%	12.43%	9.75%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	7.70%	10.53%	10.58%	8.41%
The Capital Strength IndexSM(1) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	13.77%	14.27%	N/A	N/A
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	10.02%

(1)

On June 4, 2013, the Fund’s underlying index changed from the Credit Suisse U.S. Value Index, Powered by HOLTTM to The Capital Strength IndexSM. Since the Fund’s new underlying index had an inception date of March 20, 2013, it was not in existence for some of the periods disclosed.

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2006, except for Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2016 and 2020, respectively.

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

The Fund issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value, only in large blocks of shares called “Creation Units.” Individual shares of the Fund may only be purchased and sold on the secondary market through a broker-dealer. Since shares of the Fund trade on securities exchanges in the secondary market at their market price rather than their net asset value, the Fund’s shares may trade at a price greater than (premium) or less than (discount) the Fund’s net asset value. An investor may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask) when buying or selling shares in the secondary market (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information, including the Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads, is available online at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx.

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains. Distributions on shares held in a tax-deferred account, while not immediately taxable, will be subject to tax when the shares are no longer held in a tax-deferred account.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), First Trust and First Trust Portfolios L.P., the Fund’s distributor, may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

Summary Information
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index 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 Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.11%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.51%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.51%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$52	$164	$285	$640

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Index is designed to measure the performance of the largest and most actively traded securities issued by U.S. companies in the Internet industry. The Index is a composite of its two sub-indices, the Dow Jones Internet Commerce Index and the Dow Jones Internet Services Index, and is composed of securities issued by Internet companies from the two sub-industries represented by these sub-indices: Internet Commerce and Internet Services. For each sub-industry, the sources from which the issuer derives the majority of its sales/revenues are as follows:

•

Internet Commerce. Online retail, search, financial services, investment products, social media, advertising, travel platforms and Internet radio.

•

Internet Services. Various services performed via the Internet, cloud computing, enterprise software, networking capabilities, website creation tools and digital marketing platforms.

To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must be listed on a qualifying U.S. securities exchange and be issued by a company domiciled in the United States that generates at least 50% of its sales/revenues from the Internet, have a minimum of three months’ trading history and have a three-month average float-adjusted market capitalization of at least $100 million. Eligible securities are ranked first by three-month average float-adjusted market capitalization and then by three-month average share volume. A final rank is then calculated based on an equally weighted average of the security’s market capitalization and volume rankings. Securities are then sorted in descending order by final rank within the Internet Commerce and Internet Services sub-industries, respectively. The 15 securities from the Internet Commerce sub-industry and 25 securities from the Internet Services sub-industry with the best rankings are selected for inclusion in the Index. Securities selected for inclusion in the Index are then weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization, subject to a single security weight cap of 10%. The aggregate weight of individual securities with weights of 4.5% or more is limited to 45% of the Index. Index composition changes during scheduled reconstitutions are subject to certain buffers designed to limit turnover. The Index may be composed of small, mid and large capitalization companies.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted quarterly and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance and reconstitution schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 42 securities and the Fund had significant investments in communication services companies and information technology companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

COMMUNICATION SERVICES COMPANIES RISK. Communication services companies may be subject to specific risks associated with legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions, intellectual property use and/or increased

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

competition. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to rapid advancements in technology, the innovation of competitors, rapid product obsolescence and government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company’s profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain communication services companies may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

CYBER SECURITY RISK. The Fund is susceptible to operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause the Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software coding but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests or the Fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Although the Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers.

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES RISK. Information technology companies produce and provide hardware, software and information technology systems and services. These companies may be adversely affected by rapidly changing technologies, short product life cycles, fierce competition, aggressive pricing and reduced profit margins, the loss of patent, copyright and trademark protections, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. In addition, information technology companies are particularly vulnerable to federal, state and local government regulation, and competition and consolidation, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Information technology companies also heavily rely on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by the loss or impairment of those rights.

INTERNET COMPANIES RISK. Internet companies are subject to rapid changes in technology, hacking or other cyber security events, worldwide competition, rapid obsolescence of products and services, loss of patent protections, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions and the considerable risk of owning small capitalization companies that have recently begun operations. Many Internet companies have incurred large losses since their inception and may continue to incur large losses in the hope of capturing market share and generating future revenues. Accordingly, many such companies expect to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future, and may never be profitable. The markets in which many Internet companies compete face rapidly evolving industry standards, frequent new service and product announcements, introductions and enhancements and changing customer demands. The failure of an Internet company to adapt to such changes could have a material adverse effect on the company's business. In addition, the widespread adoption of new Internet, networking, telecommunications technologies, or other technological changes could require substantial expenditures by an Internet company to modify or adapt its services or infrastructure, which could have a material adverse effect on an Internet company's business.

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

the Fund’s portfolio holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may not exactly replicate the securities included in the Index or the ratios between the securities included in the Index.

NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the 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 invested in certain issuers.

PREMIUM/DISCOUNT RISK. The market price of the Fund’s shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in the Fund’s net asset value as well as the relative supply of and demand for shares on the Exchange. The Fund’s investment advisor cannot predict whether shares will trade below, at or above their net asset value because the shares trade on the Exchange at market prices and not at net asset value. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for shares will be closely related, but not identical, to the same forces influencing the prices of the holdings of the Fund trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. However, given that shares can only be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units, and only to and from broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset value), the Fund’s investment advisor believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of shares should not be sustained. During stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and their net asset value.

SMALLER COMPANIES RISK. Small and/or mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments, and their securities may be less liquid and may experience greater price volatility than larger, more established companies as a result of several factors, including limited trading volumes, fewer products or financial resources, management inexperience and less publicly available information. Accordingly, such companies are generally subject to greater market risk than larger, more established companies.

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and a market index. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
37.88%	June 30, 2020	-19.04%	September 30, 2011

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	52.65%	23.26%	20.02%	17.69%	6/19/2006
Return After Taxes on Distributions	52.65%	23.26%	20.01%	17.67%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	31.17%	19.20%	17.37%	15.72%
Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	53.51%	23.95%	20.69%	18.33%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	10.20%
S&P Composite 1500® Information Technology Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	43.23%	27.39%	20.22%	16.04%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index 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 Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.50%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.21%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.71%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.11%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.60%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$61	$216	$384	$872

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks of U.S. micro-capitalization companies which are publicly traded in the United States. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider reserves the right to make exceptions when applying the methodology if the need arises. In addition, the Index Provider may revise Index policy covering rules for selecting companies, treatment of dividends, share counts or other matters.

The Index is designed to measure the performance of micro-cap stocks issued by U.S. companies that are comparatively liquid and have strong fundamentals relative to the micro-cap segment as a whole. All stocks with a full market capitalization equal to or less than the micro-cap market capitalization threshold in the Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index comprise the Index’s initial universe. The Index ranks each eligible security by full market capitalization, three-month dollar volume and one-month dollar volume and eliminates any securities that do not meet all three of the following criteria:

•

Within the top 1,000 securities by full market capitalization

•

Within the top 1,000 securities by three-month value traded

•

Within the top 1,500 securities by one-month value traded

The remaining eligible securities are ranked by each of the five ratios below. Securities that rank within the specified range on any one of the ratios are excluded. Securities with a negative or missing P/E ratio or negative operating profit margin are also excluded.

•

Trailing P/E ratio (highest 20% are excluded)

•

Trailing price/sales ratio (highest 20% are excluded)

•

Per-share profit change for the previous quarter (lowest 20% are excluded)

•

Operating profit margin (lowest 20% are excluded)

•

Six-month total return (lowest 20% are excluded)

Any remaining securities are selected for inclusion in the Index and are weighted based on float-adjusted market capitalization. Float-adjusted market capitalization reflects what the Index Provider believes to be the outstanding shares minus non-publicly held shares multiplied by the market price.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 151 securities and the Fund had significant investments in financial companies and industrials companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause the Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software coding but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests or the Fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Although the Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers.

FINANCIAL COMPANIES RISK. Financial companies, such as retail and commercial banks, insurance companies and financial services companies, are especially subject to the adverse effects of economic recession, currency exchange rates, extensive government regulation, decreases in the availability of capital, volatile interest rates, portfolio concentrations in geographic markets, industries or products (such as commercial and residential real estate loans), competition from new entrants and blurred distinctions in their fields of business.

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

INDUSTRIALS COMPANIES RISK. Industrials companies convert unfinished goods into finished durables used to manufacture other goods or provide services. Examples of industrials companies include companies involved in the production of electrical equipment and components, industrial products, manufactured housing and telecommunications equipment, as well as defense and aerospace companies. General risks of industrials companies include the general state of the economy, exchange rates, commodity prices, intense competition, consolidation, domestic and international politics, government regulation, import controls, excess capacity, consumer demand and spending trends. In addition, industrials companies may also be significantly affected by overall capital spending levels, economic cycles, rapid technological changes, delays in modernization, labor relations, environmental liabilities, governmental and product liability and e-commerce initiatives.

MARKET CAPITALIZATION DEVIATION RISK. There can be no assurance that the securities held by the Fund will stay within the Fund’s intended market capitalization range. As a result, the Fund may be exposed to additional risk or investors may not be given the opportunity to invest fully in a certain market capitalization range.

MICRO-CAP COMPANIES RISK. Micro-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments, may be less liquid, and may experience greater price volatility than larger, more established companies as a result of several factors, including limited trading volume, products or financial resources, management inexperience and less publicly available information. Accordingly, such companies are generally subject to greater market risk than larger, more established companies.

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

Annual Total Return

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
28.82%	December 31, 2020	-38.22%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	-4.25%	9.34%	9.40%	7.00%	9/27/2005
Return After Taxes on Distributions	-5.04%	8.70%	8.83%	6.56%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	-2.60%	7.06%	7.41%	5.56%
Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-2.93%	10.13%	10.14%	7.74%
Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	19.96%	13.26%	11.20%	8.93%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2005, with the exception of Stan Ueland, Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2006, 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Chindia ETF (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 ISE ChIndiaTM Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.20%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.60%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.60%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$61	$192	$335	$750

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and depositary receipts that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed and owned by the International Securities Exchange, LLC (the “Index Provider”), and is calculated and maintained by Nasdaq. The Index Provider may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure Index integrity.

The Index is a modified market capitalization-weighted index designed to track the performance of U.S.-listed securities issued by small, mid and large capitalization companies domiciled in China or India. To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must be listed on a qualifying U.S. securities exchange and be issued by a company domiciled in China (excluding Taiwan) or India. In addition, a security must be issued by a company with a market capitalization of at least $250 million, have a three-month average daily trading volume of at least $1 million and a minimum free float of 20%. Qualifying securities are then sorted into two groups based upon their country of domicile (Chinese issuers and Indian issuers). Each group of securities is then ranked by market capitalization and three-month average daily trading volume. The two ranks for each security are added together to provide a composite score. Each group of securities is then ranked based upon this composite score. The 25 securities with the highest rank from China and the 25 securities from India with the highest rank are selected for inclusion in the Index. If there are less than 25 qualifying securities from either China or India, securities will be added from the other country until the Index is composed of 50 securities.

Securities chosen for inclusion in the Index are weighted according to a modified market capitalization weighting methodology based on the composite score described above.

•

Each Chinese and Indian security ranked #1 through #3 is assigned a weight of 7.0%.

•

Each Chinese and Indian security ranked #4 through #6 is assigned a weight of 4.0%.

•

Each Chinese and Indian security ranked #7 through #9 is assigned a weight of 2.0%.

•

The remaining Index weight is equally distributed among the remaining securities.

The Index may be significantly composed of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”). ADRs are certificates issued by a U.S. bank that represent a bank’s holdings of a stated number of shares of a non U.S. company. ADSs are vehicles for non U.S. companies to list their equity shares on a U.S. exchange and are U.S. dollar denominated, and each share represents one or more underlying shares in a non U.S. company.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted semi-annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 48 securities and the Fund had significant investments in consumer discretionary companies, Chinese issuers, Indian issuers and Asian issuers, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

ASIA RISK. The Fund is subject to certain risks specifically associated with investments in the securities of Asian issuers. Many Asian economies have experienced rapid growth and industrialization, and there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. Some Asian economies are highly dependent on trade, and economic conditions in other countries within and outside Asia can impact these economies. Certain of these economies may be adversely affected by trade or policy disputes with its major trade partners. There is also a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries. Certain Asian countries have experienced and may in the future experience expropriation and nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, currency manipulation, political instability, armed conflict and social instability as a result of religious, ethnic, socio-economic and/or political unrest. In particular, escalated tensions involving North Korea and any outbreak of

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

hostilities involving North Korea could have a severe adverse effect on Asian economies. Governments of certain Asian countries have exercised, and continue to exercise, substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In certain cases, the government owns or controls many companies, including the largest in the country. Accordingly, government actions could have a significant effect on the issuers of the Fund’s securities or on economic conditions generally. Recent developments in relations between the U.S. and China have heightened concerns of increased tariffs and restrictions on trade between the two countries. An increase in tariffs or trade restrictions, or even the threat of such developments, could lead to a significant reduction in international trade, which could have a negative impact on the economy of Asian countries and a commensurately negative impact on the Fund.

CHINA RISK. The Fund is subject to certain risks specifically associated with investments in the securities of Chinese issuers, including those issuers with securities listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. China is an emerging market and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to developed markets. Shareholder claims that are available in the U.S., as well as regulatory oversight and authority that is common in the U.S., including for claims based on fraud, may be difficult or impossible for shareholders of securities in China or for U.S. authorities to pursue. The central government has historically exercised substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership and actions of the Chinese central and local government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on economic conditions in China. Export growth continues to be a major driver of China’s rapid economic growth. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of tariffs or other trade barriers, or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. Recent developments in relations between the U.S. and China have heightened concerns of increased tariffs and restrictions on trade between the two countries. An increase in tariffs or trade restrictions, or even the threat of such developments, could lead to a significant reduction in international trade, which could have a negative impact on China’s export industry and a commensurately negative impact on the Fund.

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY COMPANIES RISK. Consumer discretionary companies, such as retailers, media companies and consumer services companies, provide non-essential goods and services. These companies manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to the consumer, and the success of these companies is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer discretionary products in the marketplace.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS RISK. Depositary receipts may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market. Any distributions paid to the holders of depositary receipts are usually subject to a fee charged by the depositary. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited voting rights, and investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of depositary receipts because such restrictions may limit the ability to convert the equity shares into depositary receipts and vice versa. Such restrictions may cause the equity shares of the underlying issuer to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the depositary receipts.

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

EMERGING MARKETS RISK. Investments in securities issued by governments and companies operating in emerging market countries involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in securities and instruments issued by U.S. companies or by companies operating in other developed market countries. Investments in emerging markets securities are generally considered speculative in nature and are subject to the following heightened risks: smaller market capitalization of securities markets which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital; rapid inflation; and currency convertibility issues. Emerging market countries also often have less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements, unsettled securities laws, unreliable securities valuation and greater risk associated with custody of securities. Financial and other reporting by companies and government entities also may be less reliable in emerging market countries. Shareholder claims that are available in the U.S., as well as regulatory oversight and authority that is common in the U.S., including for claims based on fraud, may be difficult or impossible for shareholders of securities in emerging market countries or for U.S. authorities to pursue. For funds that track an index or are managed based upon a benchmark, the index may not weight the securities in emerging market countries on the basis of investor protection limitations, financial reporting quality or available oversight mechanisms. Furthermore, investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

INDIA RISK. The Fund is subject to certain risks specifically associated with investments in the securities of Indian issuers. India is an emerging market and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to developed markets. Shareholder claims that are available in the U.S., as well as regulatory oversight and authority that is common in the U.S., including for claims based on fraud, may be difficult or impossible for shareholders of securities in India or for U.S. authorities to pursue. Investment in Indian securities involves risks in addition to those associated with investments in securities of issuers in more developed countries, which may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s assets. Such heightened risks include, among others, political and legal uncertainty, greater government control over the economy, currency fluctuations or blockage and the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets. In addition, religious and border disputes persist in India. Moreover, India has experienced civil unrest and hostilities with neighboring countries, including Pakistan, and the Indian government has confronted separatist movements in several Indian states. The securities market of India is considered an emerging market that is characterized by a small number of listed companies that have significantly smaller market capitalizations, greater price volatility, greater delays and possibility of disruptions in settlement transactions, greater political uncertainties and greater dependence on international trade or development assistance and substantially less liquidity than companies in more developed markets. These factors, coupled with restrictions on foreign investment and other factors, limit the supply of securities available for investment by the Fund. This will affect the rate at which the Fund is able to invest in the securities of Indian companies, the purchase and sale prices for such securities and the timing of purchases and sales. Certain restrictions on foreign investments may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, subject the Fund to higher transaction costs, or inhibit the Fund’s ability to track the Index. Investments in Indian securities may also be limited or prevented, at times, due to the limits on foreign ownership imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”). In addition, a natural or other disaster could occur in India that could affect the Indian economy or operations of the Fund, causing an adverse impact on the Fund.

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the 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 invested in certain issuers.

NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK. Non-U.S. securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to possible adverse political, social or economic developments, restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities, capital controls, lack of liquidity, currency exchange rates, excessive taxation, government seizure of assets, the imposition of sanctions by foreign governments, different legal or accounting standards, and less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges in foreign countries.

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and a market index. See “Total Return

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust Chindia ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
30.03%	June 30, 2020	-26.46%	September 30, 2011

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	49.25%	17.09%	10.21%	9.36%	5/8/2007
Return After Taxes on Distributions	49.00%	16.55%	9.71%	8.93%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	29.13%	13.53%	8.11%	7.59%
ISE ChIndiaTM Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	50.30%	17.74%	10.72%	9.94%
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.28%
MSCI Emerging Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.31%	12.81%	3.63%	4.39%

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2007, except for Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Natural Gas ETF (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 ISE-Revere Natural GasTM Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses(1)	0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.67%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(2)	0.07%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.60%

(1)

Expenses have been restated to reflect the current fiscal year.

(2)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$61	$207	$366	$828

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks, depositary receipts and master limited partnership ("MLP") units that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed and owned by the International Securities Exchange, LLC (the “Index Provider”), and is calculated and maintained by Nasdaq. The Index Provider may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure Index integrity.

The Index is designed to track the performance of mid and large capitalization companies that derive a substantial portion of their revenues from midstream activities and/or the exploration and production of natural gas. To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must be listed on a qualifying U.S. securities exchange and be issued by a company involved in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, according to FactSet Revere, where its natural gas proved reserves accounts for 30% or greater of its total proved reserves. Natural gas shall be converted to Barrels of Oil Equivalent (“BOE”) using the industry standard conversion of 1 BOE equals 6,000 cubic feet. In addition, eligible securities must have a market capitalization of at least $250 million, a three-month average daily trading volume of at least $1 million and a minimum free float of 20%. Securities meeting the eligibility criteria are then divided into two groups: securities issued by MLPs and securities issued by non-MLPs. Each group of securities is then ranked by market capitalization. All eligible non-MLP securities and the ten largest MLP securities are chosen for inclusion in the Index.

The Index uses a linear-based capitalization-weighted methodology for both groups of constituents that initially ranks the securities based on market capitalization and average daily trading volume, and then adjusts the combined rankings of each security by a factor relating to its market capitalization. The resulting linear weight distribution prevents a few large component stocks from dominating the Index while allowing smaller companies to adequately influence Index performance. The Index allocates 15% of its weight to securities issued by MLPs and 85% of its weight to securities issued by non-MLPs. The maximum weight of any security is 4.5%. Therefore, any security in excess of 4.5% is capped at 4.5% and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining constituent securities.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted quarterly and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance and reconstitution schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 37 securities and the Fund had significant investments inenergy companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Although the Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers.

ENERGY COMPANIES RISK. The success of energy companies may be cyclical and highly dependent on energy prices. The market value of securities issued by energy companies may decline for many reasons, including, among other things, changes in the levels and volatility of global energy prices, energy supply and demand, capital expenditures on exploration and production of energy sources, exchange rates, interest rates, economic conditions, tax treatment, energy conservation efforts, increased competition and technological advances. Energy companies may be subject to substantial government regulation and contractual fixed pricing, which may increase the cost of doing business and limit the earnings of these companies. A significant portion of the revenues of energy companies may depend on a relatively small number of customers, including governmental entities and utilities. As a result, governmental budget constraints may have a material adverse effect on the stock prices of energy companies. Energy companies may also operate in, or engage in transactions involving, countries with less developed regulatory regimes or a history of expropriation, nationalization or other adverse policies. Energy companies also face a significant risk of liability from accidents resulting in injury or loss of life or property, pollution or other environmental problems, equipment malfunctions or mishandling of materials and a risk of loss from terrorism, political strife or natural disasters.

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

MLP RISK. Investments in securities of MLPs involve certain risks different from or in addition to the risks of investing in common stocks. MLP common units can be affected by macro-economic factors and other factors unique to the partnership or company and the industry or industries in which the MLP operates. Certain MLP securities may trade in relatively low volumes due to their smaller capitalizations or other factors, which may cause them to have a high degree of price volatility and illiquidity. The structures of MLPs create certain risks, including, for example, risks related to the limited ability of investors to control an MLP and to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between an MLP and the MLP's general partner, the risk that an MLP will generate insufficient cash flow to meet its current operating requirements, the risk that an MLP will issue additional securities or engage in other transactions that will have the effect of diluting the interests of existing investors, and risks related to the general partner's right to require unit-holders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. On March 15, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) changed its long-standing tax allowance policy which no longer permits MLPs to include in their cost of service an income tax allowance. This has had a negative impact on the performance of some MLPs affected by this decision. This policy change and any similar policy changes in the future could adversely impact an MLP’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and ability to pay cash distributions or dividends.

MLP TAX RISK. The Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective relies in part upon the level of taxable income it receives from the MLPs in which it invests, a factor over which the Fund has no control. The benefit the Fund derives from its investment in MLPs is largely dependent on their being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income,

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income at the applicable corporate tax rate. This would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by an MLP and could result in a significant reduction in the value of the Fund’s investment. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U. S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP and causing any such distributions received by the Fund to be taxed as dividend income to the extent of the MLP’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. To the extent a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in the amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from an MLP may require the Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued.

NATURAL GAS COMPANIES RISK. One of natural gas companies’ primary risks is the competitive risk associated with the prices of alternative fuels, such as coal and oil. For example, major natural gas customers such as industrial users and electric power generators often have the ability to switch between the use of coal, oil or natural gas. During periods when competing fuels are less expensive, the revenues of gas utility companies may decline with a corresponding impact on earnings. After years of booming production, natural gas firms have recently begun scaling back after record low prices and huge surpluses. Weather is another risk that may affect natural gas companies. Mild weather contributes to a scaled back demand for natural gas and declining stock prices for natural gas companies. Additionally, natural gas companies are sensitive to increased interest rates because of the capital intensive nature of their business.

Furthermore, there are additional risks and hazards that are inherent to natural gas companies that may cause the price of natural gas to widely fluctuate. The exploration for, and production of, natural gas is an uncertain process with many risks. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells for natural gas is often uncertain, and a number of factors can delay or prevent drilling operations or production, including:

•

unexpected drilling conditions;

•

pressure or irregularities in formations;

•

equipment failures or repairs;

•

fires or other accidents;

•

adverse weather conditions;

•

pipeline ruptures or spills; and

•

shortages or delays in the availability of drilling rigs and the delivery of equipment.

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and a market index. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

First Trust Natural Gas ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
81.18%	June 30, 2020	-65.00%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	-23.22%	-14.93%	-20.06%	-15.14%	5/8/2007
Return After Taxes on Distributions	-24.77%	-15.78%	-20.63%	-15.62%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	-13.98%	-10.58%	-10.76%	-7.97%
ISE-Revere Natural GasTM Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-26.53%	-15.33%	-20.22%	-15.10%
S&P Composite 1500® Energy Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-33.81%	-6.02%	-3.43%	-1.82%
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.28%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2007, except for Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Water ETF (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 ISE Clean Edge Water Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.14%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.54%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.54%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$55	$173	$302	$677

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Index is designed to track the performance of small, mid and large capitalization companies that derive a substantial portion of their revenues from the potable water and wastewater industry, according to Clean Edge. Such industry exposure includes water distribution, infrastructure (pumps, pipes, and valves), water solutions (purification and filtration), and ancillary services such as consulting, construction and metering. To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must be listed on a qualifying U.S. securities exchange and be issued by a company that derives a substantial portion of its revenue from the potable water and wastewater industry. In addition, eligible securities must have a market capitalization of at least $100 million, a three-month average daily trading volume of at least $500,000 and minimum free float of 20%. Qualifying securities are ranked by market capitalization and the top 36 securities are selected for inclusion in the Index.

The Index uses a modified market capitalization-weighted methodology. Component securities are weighted according to their market capitalization as set forth below.

•

Securities ranked 1 through 10 by market capitalization are assigned a weight of 4%;

•

Securities ranked 11 through 15 by market capitalization are assigned a weight of 3.5%;

•

Securities ranked 16 through 20 by market capitalization are assigned a weight of 3.0%;

•

Securities ranked 21 through 30 by market capitalization are assigned a weight of 2.0%;

•

The remaining weight is equally allocated among the remaining securities.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted semi-annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 36 securities and the Fund had significant investments in industrials companies and utility companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers.

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

and aerospace companies. General risks of industrials companies include the general state of the economy, exchange rates, commodity prices, intense competition, consolidation, domestic and international politics, government regulation, import controls, excess capacity, consumer demand and spending trends. In addition, industrials companies may also be significantly affected by overall capital spending levels, economic cycles, rapid technological changes, delays in modernization, labor relations, environmental liabilities, governmental and product liability and e-commerce initiatives.

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

can only be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units, and only to and from broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset value), the Fund’s investment advisor believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of shares should not be sustained. During stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and their net asset value.

UTILITY COMPANIES RISK. Utility companies include companies producing or providing gas, electricity or water. These companies are subject to the risk of the imposition of rate caps, increased competition due to deregulation, the difficulty in obtaining an adequate return on invested capital or in financing large construction projects counterparty risk, the limitations on operations and increased costs and delays attributable to environmental considerations and the capital market’s ability to absorb utility debt. In addition, taxes, government regulation, domestic and international politics, price and supply fluctuations, volatile interest rates and energy conservation may negatively affect utility companies.

WATER COMPANIES RISK. Water companies can be significantly affected by the availability of water, the level of rainfall and the occurrence of other climatic and environmental events, changes in water consumption and water conservation. Water companies may also be negatively affected by changes in governmental regulation and spending, technological advances and increases in inflation, interest rates or the cost of raw materials. Water companies may be subject to liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, conflicts with local communities over water rights and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control.

Annual Total Return

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

First Trust Water ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
19.61%	December 31, 2020	-20.04%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	21.20%	19.99%	13.44%	10.72%	5/8/2007
Return After Taxes on Distributions	20.86%	19.61%	13.07%	10.38%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	12.51%	16.12%	11.08%	8.88%
ISE Clean Edge Water Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	22.17%	20.63%	14.13%	11.41%
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.28%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2007, except for Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index 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 Morningstar® Dividend Leaders IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.30%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.46%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.45%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.45% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.45% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$46	$147	$257	$578

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by Morningstar, Inc. (the “Index Provider”). S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC serves as the index calculation agent. The Index Provider continually reviews the Index methodology to account for factors such as evolving market trends, feedback received from market participants or as an endeavor to adopt evolving best practices in the industry. Such reviews may cause the Index Provider to change the Index construction or calculation methodology, as well as the Index's treatment of various corporate actions. Such changes can impact the Index’s selection universe, portfolio composition or the Index’s on-going maintenance.

The Index is designed to measure the performance of the 100 highest-yielding stocks that have a consistent record of dividend payment and have the ability to sustain their dividend payments. The securities comprising the Morningstar® US Market IndexSM (the “Base Index”) serve as the Fund’s selection universe. The Base Index is a broad market index representing 97% of U.S. equity market capitalization. To be eligible for inclusion in the Base Index, a security must be listed on a qualifying U.S. securities exchange and be issued by a company incorporated in the United States or its territories and whose primary stock market activities are carried out in the United States. Securities issued by companies incorporated outside the United States and its territories may nonetheless be included in the Base Index if the company files a Form 10-K/10-Q or equivalents, and its primary business activities, as measured by the geographic distribution of revenue and assets, are conducted in the United States. The Base Index also excludes securities with more than 10 non-trading days in the prior quarter and those securities not ranked in the top 75% of the companies in the investable universe based on liquidity score, which is the average of a security’s rank on each of the following measures: (i) average monthly trading volume in U.S. dollars during the six calendar months immediately before reconstitution or, in the case of corporate entities younger than six months, since the security was first issued; and (ii) the security’s lowest two months’ total trading volume during the six calendar months immediately before reconstitution (the months need not be sequential).

From this universe, the Index further excludes any securities issuing dividend payments that do not constitute qualifying income (i.e., real estate investment trusts). The Index also excludes securities issued by companies with a five-year indicated dividend per share growth of less than zero and a coverage ratio of one or less than one. A security’s coverage ratio equals its one-year forecast of earnings per share divided by its indicated dividend per share. All remaining securities are then ranked by indicated dividend yield and the top 100 securities are selected for inclusion in the Index. The Index weights the component securities based upon an indicated dividend dollar weighted methodology. Weights are adjusted so that no individual security has a weight of greater than 10% and securities with a weight of more than 5% do not collectively exceed 50% of the entire portfolio.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 94 securities. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)

DIVIDENDS RISK. The Fund’s investment in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform similar funds that invest without consideration of an issuer’s track record of paying dividends. Companies that issue dividend-paying securities are not required to continue to pay dividends on such securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future, which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)

may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)

Annual Total Return

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
15.31%	June 30, 2020	-30.57%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	-4.42%	8.62%	10.40%	6.74%	3/9/2006
Return After Taxes on Distributions	-6.38%	6.91%	8.75%	5.15%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	-2.78%	5.95%	7.65%	4.61%
Morningstar® Dividend Leaders IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-3.87%	9.19%	10.97%	7.28%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	9.84%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)

Investment Objective

The First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index 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 NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.18%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.58%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.58%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$59	$186	$324	$726

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Index is the equal-weighted version of the Nasdaq-100 Index®. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes 100 of the largest U.S. and international non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq based on market capitalization. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must meet the following criteria: (i) the issuer of the security’s primary U.S. listing must be exclusively listed on Nasdaq (unless the security was dually listed on another U.S. market prior to January 1, 2004 and has continuously maintained such listing); (ii) the security must be issued by a non-financial company; (iii) the security must have an average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares over the previous three months; and (iv) if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, then such security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the United States or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized options market in the United States. The 100 securities with the largest capitalizations meeting these criteria are included in the Index and are each assigned a weight of 1.00%. Once selected for inclusion in the Index, in addition to the criteria set forth above, the issuer of a security must have an adjusted market capitalization equal to or exceeding 0.10% of the aggregate adjusted market capitalization of the Nasdaq-100 Index® at each month-end in order to remain eligible for inclusion in the Index. In the event a company does not meet this criterion for two consecutive month-ends, it will be removed from the Index. The Index may contain securities issued by mid and large capitalization companies.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 102 securities and the Fund had significant investments in information technology companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)

competitors with lower production costs. Information technology companies also heavily rely on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by the loss or impairment of those rights.

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)

the prices of the holdings of the Fund trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. However, given that shares can only be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units, and only to and from broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset value), the Fund’s investment advisor believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of shares should not be sustained. During stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and their net asset value.

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and a market index. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
28.33%	June 30, 2020	-15.43%	September 30, 2011

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)

distributions and sale of shares assume you sold your shares at period end, and, therefore, are also adjusted for any capital gains or losses incurred. Returns for the market indices do not include expenses, which are deducted from Fund returns, or taxes.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	37.35%	18.99%	16.33%	12.20%	4/19/2006
Return After Taxes on Distributions	37.10%	18.71%	16.02%	11.97%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	22.08%	15.32%	13.73%	10.39%
NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	38.19%	19.71%	17.06%	12.90%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	9.69%
NASDAQ-100 Index® (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	48.88%	24.27%	20.63%	15.75%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)

Investment Objective

The First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index 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 NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.22%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.62%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.60%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$61	$197	$344	$772

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Index is an equal-weighted index composed of the securities comprising the Nasdaq-100 Index® that are not classified as “technology” according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”) classification system. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes 100 of the largest U.S. and international non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq based on market capitalization. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must meet the following criteria: (i) the issuer of the security’s primary U.S. listing must be exclusively listed on Nasdaq (unless the security was dually listed on another U.S. market prior to January 1, 2004 and has continuously maintained such listing); (ii) the security must be issued by a non-financial company; (iii) the security must have an average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares over the previous three months; and (iv) if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, then such security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the United States or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized options market in the United States. Once selected for inclusion in the Index, in addition to the criteria set forth above, the issuer of a security must have an adjusted market capitalization equal to or exceeding 0.10% of the aggregate adjusted market capitalization of the Nasdaq-100 Index® at each month-end in order to remain eligible for inclusion in the Index. In the event a company does not meet this criterion for two consecutive month-ends, it will be removed from the Index. The Index may contain securities issued by mid and large capitalization companies.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 61 securities and the Fund had significant investments in consumer discretionary companies and health care companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)

may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests or the Fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Although the Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers.

HEALTH CARE COMPANIES RISK. Health care companies, such as companies providing medical and healthcare goods and services, companies engaged in manufacturing medical equipment, supplies and pharmaceuticals, as well as operating health care facilities and the provision of managed health care, may be affected by government regulations and government health care programs, increases or decreases in the cost of medical products and services and product liability claims, among other factors. Many health care companies are heavily dependent on patent protection, and the expiration of a company’s patent may adversely affect that company’s profitability. Health care companies are also subject to competitive forces that may result in price discounting, may be thinly capitalized and susceptible to product obsolescence.

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)

nor the Advisor can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)

Annual Total Return

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
27.43%	June 30, 2020	-15.39%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	36.48%	14.28%	14.75%	10.93%	2/8/2007
Return After Taxes on Distributions	36.29%	14.12%	14.52%	10.74%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	21.58%	11.40%	12.36%	9.20%
NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	37.34%	14.94%	15.45%	11.62%
Russell 1000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.96%	15.60%	14.01%	9.55%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2007, except for Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)

Investment Objective

The First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index 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 NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.17%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.57%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.57%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$58	$183	$318	$714

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Index is an equal-weighted index composed of the securities comprising the Nasdaq-100 Index® that are classified as “technology” according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”) classification system. The Nasdaq-100 Index® includes 100 of the largest U.S. and international non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq based on market capitalization. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must meet the following criteria: (i) the issuer of the security’s primary U.S. listing must be exclusively listed on Nasdaq (unless the security was dually listed on another U.S. market prior to January 1, 2004 and has continuously maintained such listing); (ii) the security must be issued by a non-financial company; (iii) the security must have an average daily trading volume of at least 200,000 shares over the previous three months; and (iv) if the issuer of the security is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, then such security must have listed options on a recognized options market in the United States or be eligible for listed-options trading on a recognized options market in the United States. Once selected for inclusion in the Index, in addition to the criteria set forth above, the issuer of a security must have an adjusted market capitalization equal to or exceeding 0.10% of the aggregate adjusted market capitalization of the Nasdaq-100 Index® at each month-end in order to remain eligible for inclusion in the Index. In the event a company does not meet this criterion for two consecutive month-ends, it will be removed from the Index. The Index may contain securities issued by mid and large capitalization companies.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 41 securities and the Fund had significant investments in information technology companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)

competitors with lower production costs. Information technology companies also heavily rely on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by the loss or impairment of those rights.

First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and a market index. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
29.56%	June 30, 2020	-15.89%	September 30, 2011

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	38.82%	27.65%	19.36%	14.77%	4/19/2006
Return After Taxes on Distributions	38.49%	27.17%	18.92%	14.47%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	22.93%	22.71%	16.42%	12.74%
NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	39.70%	28.47%	20.11%	15.49%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	9.69%
S&P 500® Information Technology Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	43.89%	27.79%	20.68%	15.14%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)

Investment Objective

The First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index 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 NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.24%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.64%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.60%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$61	$201	$353	$795

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Index is designed to track the performance of small, mid and large capitalization companies that comprise the community banking industry. To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, the issuer of the security’s primary U.S. listing must be exclusively listed on Nasdaq (unless the security was dually listed on another U.S. market prior to January 1, 2004 and has continuously maintained such listing). The Index’s initial universe consists of all such Nasdaq-listed securities issued by companies classified as “banks” according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (“ICB”) classification system, or that the ABA determines should be classified as “banks.” This classification includes banks, thrifts or their holding companies. From this initial universe, the Index excludes the securities of the 50 largest banks, thrifts and their holding companies by asset size, as determined by the most recently available call report data as compiled by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). In addition, the Index excludes securities issued by banks or thrifts with either an international specialization or a credit card specialization (and holding companies if such banks or thrifts constitute the majority of the relevant holding company’s assets), as determined by the most recently available call report data as compiled by the FDIC. Banks with an international specialization are generally those institutions with assets greater than $10 billion and more than 25% of total assets in non-U.S. offices. Banks with a credit card specialization are generally those institutions with credit card loans plus securitized receivables in excess of 50% of total assets plus securitized receivables. Securities issued by companies with market capitalizations of less than $200 million and three-month average daily trading volumes of less than $500,000 are also ineligible for inclusion in the Index.

Securities selected for inclusion in the Index are weighted according to market capitalization. However, the maximum weight for an individual component security is capped at 25% and securities weighing more than 5% cannot collectively exceed 50% of the entire portfolio. If either threshold is broken, the Index would be rebalanced using a modified market capitalization-weighting such that the maximum weight of any security will not exceed 8% and no more than five securities are at that cap. The excess weight of any capped security would be distributed proportionally across the remaining securities. If after redistribution, any of the five highest-ranked securities are weighted below 8%, these securities would not be capped. Next, any remaining securities with weights in excess of 4% would be capped at 4% and the excess weight would be redistributed proportionally across the remaining securities. The process would be repeated, if necessary, to derive the final weights.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted semi-annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 154 securities and the Fund had significant investments in financial companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)

COMMUNITY BANK RISK. Community banks were significantly impacted by the downturn in the United States and world economies that began with the decline in the subprime mortgage lending market in the United States. These conditions have brought about legislative and regulatory changes, changes in short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation and changes in government monetary and fiscal policies, all of which have had a significant impact on the banking business. Community banks may also be affected by anticipated government fiscal policy initiatives relating to the current period of historically low interest rates and the market reaction to those initiatives. Unlike larger national or other regional banks that are more geographically diversified, a community bank’s financial performance may be highly dependent upon the business environment in certain geographic regions of the United States and may be adversely impacted by any downturn or unfavorable economic or employment developments in its local market and the United States as a whole. In particular, this environment impacts the ability of borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans. Also, the securities of community banks are often subject to low trading volume and low analyst coverage.

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)

costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances also expose the Fund to additional tracking error risk. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the Index is less commonly used as a benchmark by funds or advisors. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and a market index. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
41.89%	December 31, 2020	-36.34%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	-11.00%	4.86%	7.86%	9.05%	6/29/2009
Return After Taxes on Distributions	-12.15%	4.01%	7.11%	8.33%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	-6.66%	3.38%	6.00%	7.10%
NASDAQ OMX®ABA Community Bank IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-10.36%	5.53%	8.55%	9.75%
S&P Composite 1500® Financials Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-1.91%	10.96%	10.76%	12.34%
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	15.41%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2009, except for Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

Investment Objective

The First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index 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 NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy IndexSM (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.20%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.60%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.60%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$61	$192	$335	$750

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and depositary receipts that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by Nasdaq, Inc. and Clean Edge, Inc. (“Clean Edge” and together with Nasdaq Inc., the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure Index integrity.

The Index is designed to track the performance of small, mid and large capitalization clean energy companies that are publicly traded in the United States. To be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must be issued by companies classified, according to Clean Edge, as technology manufacturers, developers, distributors, and/or installers in one of the following sub-sectors:

•

Advanced Materials (nanotech, membranes, silicon, lithium, carbon capture and utilization and other materials and processes that enable clean-energy technologies)

•

Energy Intelligence (conservation, automated meter reading, energy management systems, smart grid, superconductors and power controls)

•

Energy Storage & Conversion (advanced batteries, hybrid drivetrains, hydrogen, fuel cells for stationary, portable and transportation applications)

•

Renewable Electricity Generation & Renewable Fuels (solar photovoltaics, concentrating solar, wind, geothermal, and ethanol, biodiesel, biofuel enabling enzymes)

In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must also be listed on a qualifying U.S. securities exchange, be issued by a company with a market capitalization of at least $150 million, have a minimum average daily trading volume of at least 100,000 shares and have a minimum closing price per share of $1. Securities selected for inclusion in the Index are weighted according to modified market capitalization methodology. At each quarter, the Index is rebalanced so that the maximum weight of any component security does not exceed 8% and no more than five securities have a weight of 8%. The excess weight of any capped security is distributed proportionally across the other component securities. If after redistribution any of the five highest ranked securities are weighted below 8%, these securities are not capped. Next, any remaining securities with weights in excess of 4% are capped at 4% and the excess weight is redistributed proportionally across the remaining securities. The process is repeated, if necessary, to derive the final weights.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted semi-annually and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 53 securities and the Fund had significant investments in information technology companies and industrials companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

CLEAN ENERGY COMPANIES RISK. Renewable and alternative energy companies can be significantly affected by the following factors: obsolescence of existing technology, short product cycles, legislation resulting in more strict government regulations and enforcement policies, fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of alternative energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, the supply of and demand for oil and gas, world events and economic conditions. In addition,

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

shares of clean energy companies have been significantly more volatile than shares of companies operating in other more established industries and the securities included in the Fund may be subject to sharp price declines. This industry is relatively nascent and under-researched in comparison to more established and mature sectors, and should therefore be regarded as having greater investment risk.

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in the Index, and do not guarantee that the Index will be calculated in accordance with its stated methodology. The Advisor’s mandate as described in this prospectus is to manage the Fund consistently with the Index provided by the Index Provider. The Advisor relies upon the Index provider and its agents to accurately compile, maintain, construct, reconstitute, rebalance, compose, calculate and disseminate the Index accurately. Therefore, losses or costs associated with any Index Provider or agent errors generally will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. To correct any such error, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out an unscheduled rebalance of the Index or other modification of Index constituents or weightings. When the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances also expose the Fund to additional tracking error risk. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the Index is less commonly used as a benchmark by funds or advisors. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

For example, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe impacts, on markets worldwide. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged disruptions to the normal business operations of companies around the world and the impact of such disruptions is hard to predict. Such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Such events could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of the Fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, the Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value.

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

more than if the Fund were more broadly diversified. A significant exposure makes the Fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the Fund to greater market risk than a fund that is more broadly diversified.

Annual Total Return

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
58.73%	December 31, 2020	-34.55%	September 30, 2011

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	183.52%	35.57%	16.51%	10.05%	2/8/2007
Return After Taxes on Distributions	182.69%	35.06%	16.15%	9.81%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	108.36%	29.69%	13.83%	8.33%
NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy IndexSM (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	184.83%	35.64%	16.50%	10.26%
Russell 2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	19.96%	13.26%	11.20%	8.05%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2007, except for Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)

Investment Objective

The First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index 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 NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.15%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.55%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.55%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$56	$176	$307	$689

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and depositary receipts that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by ICE Data Indices, LLC (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider reserves the right to, at any time, change the number of stocks comprising the Index by adding or deleting one or more stocks, or replacing one or more stocks contained in the Index with one or more substitute stocks of its choice, if in the Index Provider's discretion such addition, deletion or substitution is necessary or appropriate to maintain the quality and/or character of the Index.

The Index is an equal-dollar weighted index designed to measure the performance of a cross section of small, mid and large capitalization companies in the biotechnology industry that are primarily involved in the use of biological processes to develop products or provide services. Such processes include, but are not limited to, recombinant DNA technology, molecular biology, genetic engineering, monoclonal antibody based technology, lipid/liposome technology and genomics. In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Index, a security must be listed on a qualifying U.S. securities exchange, be issued by a company with a market capitalization of at least $1 billion, have an average daily trading value of at least $1 million over the prior three months and have a current last-traded price of greater than $3. The securities selected for inclusion in the Index are equally weighted. Once included in the Index, it is required that a security maintain a market capitalization of at least $900 million, an average daily trading value of at least $900,000 over the prior three months and a current last-traded price of greater than $1.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted quarterly and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance and reconstitution schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 30 securities and the Fund had significant investments in health care companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES RISK. Biotechnology companies invest heavily in research and development which may not necessarily lead to commercially successful products. Biotechnology companies are subject to increased governmental regulation which may delay or inhibit the release of new products. The effects of high development costs and increased regulation may be exacerbated by a company’s inability to raise prices to cover costs because of managed care pressure or price controls. Many biotechnology companies are dependent upon their ability to use and enforce intellectual property rights and patents. Any impairment of such rights may have adverse financial consequences. Biotechnology stocks, especially those issued by smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Biotechnology companies can also be significantly affected by technological change and obsolescence, product liability lawsuits and consequential high insurance costs.

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES RISK. Pharmaceuticals companies may be affected by industry competition, dependency on a limited number of products, obsolescence of products, government approvals and regulations, loss or impairment of intellectual property rights and litigation regarding product liability. Pharmaceutical are subject to competitive forces that

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)

may make it difficult to raise prices of their products and may result in price discounting. The profitability of some pharmaceuticals companies may be dependent on a relatively limited number of products. The research and development costs required to bring a new product to market are substantial with no guarantee that the product will ever become profitable. Many new products are subject to gaining the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), which can be long and costly. Many pharmaceutical companies are heavily dependent on patents and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Pharmaceuticals companies may also be subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims.

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and two market indices. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
29.25%	March 31, 2012	-24.61%	September 30, 2011

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	12.93%	8.25%	15.73%	15.88%	6/19/2006
Return After Taxes on Distributions	12.93%	8.25%	15.72%	15.84%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	7.65%	6.51%	13.41%	13.98%
NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	13.57%	8.83%	16.31%	16.50%
S&P Composite 1500® Health Care Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	14.55%	12.12%	16.16%	12.07%
NASDAQ® Biotechnology Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	26.42%	6.64%	17.69%	14.24%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	10.20%

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

Investment Objective

The First Trust S&P REIT Index 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 S&P United States REIT Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.30%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.22%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.52%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.02%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.50%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.50% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.50% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$51	$165	$289	$651

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider reserves the right to make exceptions when applying the methodology if the need arises. In addition, the Index Provider may revise Index policy covering rules for selecting companies, treatment of dividends, share counts or other matters.

The Index seeks to measure the performance of publicly-traded REITs domiciled in the United States that meet certain eligibility requirements. Generally, REITs are companies that own and most often actively manage income-generating commercial real estate. Some REITs make or invest in loans and other obligations that are secured by real estate collateral. REITs receive special tax considerations and can be a liquid method of investing in real estate.

The S&P Global Property Index, which is a market capitalization-weighted index that contains property companies engaged in real estate ownership, development and/or management that trade in developed and merging countries, serves as the initial universe for the Index. The constituents of the S&P Global Property Index are drawn from the S&P Global Broad Market Index, which is an index that measures global stock market performance and excludes securities issued by companies with a market capitalization of less than $100 million.

The Index does not include timber REITs, mortgage REITs or mortgage-backed REITs. The Index may contain securities issued by small, mid and large capitalization companies. Securities selected for inclusion in the Index are weighted pursuant to a float-adjusted market capitalization weighted methodology. The Index Provider may make changes to the Index’s methodology or constituents on an as-needed basis.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 151 securities and the Fund had significant investments in real estate companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

100

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

REAL ESTATE COMPANIES RISK. Real estate companies include REITs and other companies involved in the operation and development of commercial, residential and industrial real estate. An investment in a real estate company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real estate companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property. The price of a real estate company’s securities may also drop because of dividend reductions, lowered credit ratings, poor management, or other factors that affect companies in general.

101

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

REIT RISK. REITs typically own and operate income-producing real estate, such as residential or commercial buildings, or real-estate related assets, including mortgages. As a result, investments in REITs are subject to the risks associated with investing in real estate, which may include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the value of underlying properties; defaults by borrowers or tenants; market saturation; changes in general and local operating expenses; and other economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting companies in the real estate sector. REITs are also subject to the risk that the real estate market may experience an economic downturn generally, which may have a material effect on the real estate in which the REITs invest and their underlying portfolio securities. REITs may have also a relatively small market capitalization which may result in their shares experiencing less market liquidity and greater price volatility than larger companies. Increases in interest rates typically lower the present value of a REIT's future earnings stream, and may make financing property purchases and improvements more costly. Because the market price of REIT stocks may change based upon investors' collective perceptions of future earnings, the value of the Fund will generally decline when investors anticipate or experience rising interest rates.

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and a market index. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

102

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
15.54%	March 31, 2019	-27.01%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	-8.10%	4.05%	7.59%	3.88%	5/8/2007
Return After Taxes on Distributions	-9.35%	2.78%	6.40%	2.78%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	-4.87%	2.55%	5.54%	2.50%
S&P United States REIT Index(1) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-7.52%	4.62%	8.17%	N/A
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT North America Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-9.75%	4.09%	7.51%	4.01%
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.28%

(1)

On November 6, 2008, the Fund’s underlying index changed from the S&P REIT Composite Index to the S&P United States REIT Index. Effective December 31, 2008, the S&P REIT Composite Index was discontinued. Therefore, the Fund’s performance and historical total returns shown for the periods prior to November 6, 2008, are not necessarily indicative of the performance that the Fund, based on its current Index, would have generated. The inception date of the Index was June 30, 2008. Returns for the Index are only disclosed for those periods in which the Index was in existence for the whole period.

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

103

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2007, except for Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

104

Summary Information
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)

Investment Objective

The First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (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 IPOX®-100 U.S. Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.40%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.17%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.57%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.57%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.60% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.60% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$58	$183	$318	$714

Portfolio Turnover

105

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by IPOX® Schuster LLC (the “Index Provider”). Solactive serves as the index calculation agent. It is the sole responsibility of the Index Provider to decide on all matters relating to the Index methodology and Index constituent selection. The Index Provider may make exceptions to the Index methodology regarding constituent inclusion, exclusion and weighting.

The Index seeks to measure the performance of the equity securities of the 100 largest and typically most liquid initial public offerings (“IPOs”) (including spin-offs and equity carve-outs) of U.S. companies. An IPO is a public offering in which the shares of stock in a company are sold to the general public for the first time on an exchange. The Index measures the performance of a company’s equity securities for the 1,000 trading days following its IPO. A company is eligible for inclusion in the Index on the close of the 6th trading day following its IPO and is eligible to remain in the Index until the close of the 1,000th trading day. The IPOX Global Composite Index (the “Base Index”) serves as the initial universe for the Index. The Base Index is a market capitalization-weighted index which seeks to provide exposure to the aftermarket performance of the global IPO market. Securities issued by companies without a minimum market capitalization of $50 million on the close of the first trading day following the IPO, companies with less than 15% public float at the IPO and companies that experience abnormally large “underpricing” in their IPO are not eligible for inclusion in the Base Index. The Index is selected by first excluding all securities comprising the Base Index that are issued by non-U.S. companies. The remaining securities are then ranked according to market capitalization. The 100 securities with the largest market capitalizations are included in the Index. While the Index is market-capitalization weighted, individual securities are capped at a weight of 10%. The Index may contain the securities of small, mid and large capitalization companies.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted quarterly and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 100 securities and the Fund had significant investments in information technology companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

In certain circumstances, such as pending corporate actions, economically significant IPOs, or spin-offs, mergers or acquisitions involving Index constituents, the Index Provider may make exceptions to the initial screening rebalancing and exit process described above. In addition, subject to the terms of the license agreement that permits the Fund to use the Index, the Index Provider may have the ability to change the Index methodology, terminate the license agreement or cease compiling, calculating and publishing the Index, in each case without the consent of the Fund, the Advisor or the Fund’s shareholders.

Principal Risks

106

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)

107

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)

competitors with lower production costs. Information technology companies also heavily rely on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by the loss or impairment of those rights.

IPO RISK. Shares issued by companies that have recently conducted an IPO are often subject to extreme price volatility and speculative trading due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer’s business model, quality of management, earnings growth potential and other criteria used to evaluate its investment prospects. Such stocks may have exhibited price appreciation in connection with the IPO that is not sustained, and it is not uncommon for stocks to decline in value in the period following the IPO. addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to obtain allocable portions of IPO shares. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for a Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Investors in IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

108

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)

In the event that the Index is no longer calculated, the Index license is terminated or the identity or character of the Index is materially changed, the Fund will seek to engage a replacement index.

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index and two broad-based market indices. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

109

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
33.35%	June 30, 2020	-21.47%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	47.76%	19.10%	18.45%	13.73%	4/12/2006
Return After Taxes on Distributions	47.51%	18.76%	18.08%	13.39%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	28.22%	15.37%	15.64%	11.73%
IPOX®-100 U.S. Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	48.44%	19.66%	19.09%	14.38%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	9.80%
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.85%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

110

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

111

Summary Information
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index 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 Value Line® Dividend Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.50%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.20%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.70%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.70%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.70% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.70% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$72	$224	$390	$871

Portfolio Turnover

112

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Index seeks to measure the performance of the securities ranked #1 or #2 according to the Index Provider’s proprietary Value Line® SafetyTM Ranking System (the “Safety Ranking System”) that are also still expected to provide above-average dividend yield. According to information published by Value Line, the Safety Ranking System seeks to measure the total risk of a security relative to the total risk of the approximately 1,700 securities comprising the Index’s initial universe. The initial universe of 1,700 U.S.-listed equity securities accounts for approximately 90% of the market capitalization of all stocks traded on U.S. securities exchanges and is intended to provide broad industry coverage.

On a weekly basis, the Safety Ranking System assigns a rank of #1 (safest) to #5 (riskiest) to each of the securities in the initial universe based on each security’s expected total risk relative to the other securities in the universe. According to information published by Value Line, the Safety Rank is derived from two equally weighted measurements, a security’s “price stability rank” and “financial strength rating.” A security’s “price stability rank” is based on the standard deviation of weekly percent changes in the price of the security over the last five years. A company’s “financial strength rating” is the Index Provider’s measure of a company’s financial condition. The Index excludes all securities that are not assigned a Safety Rank of #1 or #2. The Index also excludes all securities issued by companies with a market capitalization of less than $1 billion and those companies with a lower than average dividend yield, as compared to the indicated dividend yield of the S&P 500 Index. The remaining securities are selected for inclusion in the Index and are equally weighted. Because the Safety Ranking System assigns ranks weekly and the Index reconstitutes monthly, the Index may, for the remainder of any given monthly period, contain securities that are no longer assigned a Safety Rank of #1 or #2. The Index may contain the securities of small, mid and large capitalization companies.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted monthly and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s monthly rebalance and reconstitution schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 189 securities. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

113

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)

114

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)

may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

115

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)

cannot predict whether shares will trade below, at or above their net asset value because the shares trade on the Exchange at market prices and not at net asset value. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for shares will be closely related, but not identical, to the same forces influencing the prices of the holdings of the Fund trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. However, given that shares can only be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units, and only to and from broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset value), the Fund’s investment advisor believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of shares should not be sustained. During stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and their net asset value.

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index, a broad-based market index and a market index. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

116

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
12.53%	March 31, 2013	-22.54%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	-0.04%	10.51%	11.50%	9.55%	8/19/2003
Return After Taxes on Distributions	-1.06%	9.47%	10.40%	8.09%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	-0.08%	7.81%	8.91%	7.25%
Value Line® Dividend Index(1),(2) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	0.99%	11.43%	12.41%	N/A
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	10.12%
Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend IndexSM(2) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-4.56%	9.25%	11.00%	N/A

(1)

117

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)

from the reorganization date (12/15/06) through period end (12/31/20) were 8.17% and 8.21% at NAV and Market Value, respectively. That compares to an Index return of 9.68% for the same period.NAV and Market Value returns assume that all dividend distributions have been reinvested in the Fund at NAV and Market Value, respectively. Prior to December 15, 2006, NAV and Market Value returns assumed that all dividend distributions were reinvested at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan of the Predecessor FVD Fund and the price used to calculate Market Value return was the AMEX (now known as the NYSE American) closing market price of the Predecessor FVD Fund.

(2)

Performance data is not available for all the periods shown in the table because performance data does not exist for the periods shown.

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Predecessor FVD Fund and the Fund since 2003, with the exception of Daniel Lindquist, Stan Ueland, Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo who have served as members of the portfolio management team since 2004, 2006, 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

118

Additional Information on the Funds' Investment Objectives and Strategies

Each Fund is a series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund and is regulated as an “investment company” under the 1940 Act. Each Fund operates as an index fund and is not actively managed by First Trust. As such, each Fund’s investment objective is to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of its Index. In seeking to achieve this objective, each Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise its Index. ICE Data Indices, LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund. International Securities Exchange, LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Chindia ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF and First Trust Water ETF. IPOX Schuster LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF. Morningstar, Inc. serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund and First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. and American Bankers Association serve as the index providers for the index tracked by the First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. and Clean Edge, Inc. serve as the index providers for the index tracked by the First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund. S&P Dow Jones Indices, LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund and First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund. Value Line Publishing, LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund. ICE Data Indices, LLC, International Securities Exchange, LLC, IPOX Schuster LLC, Morningstar, Inc., Nasdaq, Inc., American Bankers Association, Clean Edge, Inc., S&P Dow Jones Indices, LLC and Value Line Publishing, LLC may individually be referred to throughout this prospectus as an “Index Provider” and collectively as the “Index Providers.”

Each Fund will generally employ a full replication strategy, meaning that it will normally invest in all of the securities comprising its Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. However, under various circumstances, full replication of the Index may not be possible or practicable. In those circumstances, a Fund may purchase a sample of securities in its Index. There may also be instances in which First Trust may choose to overweight certain securities in an Index, purchase securities not in an Index which First Trust believes are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in the Index, use futures or derivative instruments or utilize various combinations of the above techniques in seeking to track an Index. Each Fund may sell securities that are represented in its Index in anticipation of their removal from the Index or purchase securities not represented in the Index in anticipation of their addition to the Index.

Each Fund’s investment objective, (with the exception of the First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF and First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund) its 90% investment strategy and each of the policies described herein are non-fundamental policies that may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. With respect to each of the First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF and First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund, the investment objective is a fundamental policy that may be changed only with shareholder approval. Certain fundamental policies of the Funds are set forth in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) under “Investment Objective and Policies.”

While it is not expected that the Funds will invest in the securities of other investment companies, any such investments would be subject to limitations imposed by the 1940 Act and the related rules and interpretations. Each Fund has adopted a policy that it will not invest in other investment companies in excess of 1940 Act limits in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

Capital Strength Index℠

The Capital Strength Index℠ is an equal-dollar weighted index that seeks to provide exposure to well-capitalized companies with strong market positions that have the potential to provide stockholders with a greater degree of stability and performance over time. The Index is reconstituted and rebalanced quarterly in January, April, July and October.

Dow Jones Internet Composite Index℠

The Dow Jones Internet Composite Index℠ is a float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to represent the largest and most actively traded stocks of U.S. companies in the internet industry. The Index is rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

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Dow Jones Select Microcap Index℠

The Dow Jones Select Microcap Index℠ is a float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure the performance of U.S. micro-cap stocks meeting specific size, liquidity, and fundamental eligibility criteria. The Index is reconstituted annually in August and rebalanced quarterly.

ISE ChIndia IndexTM

The ISE ChIndia IndexTM is a modified market capitalization-weighted index designed to track the performance of companies from the emerging markets of China and India. The Index is reconstituted and rebalanced semi-annually in June and December.

ISE-Revere Natural GasTM Index

The ISE-Revere Natural GasTM Index is a linear-based capitalization-weighted index designed to track public companies that derive a substantial portion of their revenues from midstream activities and/or the exploration and production of natural gas. The Index is reconstituted and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

ISE Clean Edge Water Index

The ISE Clean Edge Water Index is a modified market capitalization-weighted index designed to track the performance of companies that derive a substantial portion of their revenues from the potable water and wastewater industry. The Index is reconstituted and rebalanced semi-annually in March and September.

Morningstar® Dividend Leaders Index℠

The Morningstar® Dividend Leaders Index℠ is a modified market capitalization-weighted index designed to capture the performance of 100 publicly traded companies that have shown a consistent record of dividend payments and ability to sustain those payments. The Index is reconstituted annually in June and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index℠

The NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index℠ is an equal-weighted index of the NASDAQ-100 Index, which seeks to include 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market by market value. The Index is reconstituted annually in December and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector Index℠

The NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector Index℠ is an equal-weighted index based on non-technology companies included in the NASDAQ-100 Index, which seeks to include 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market by market value. The Index is reconstituted annually in December and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index℠

The NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index℠ is an equal-weighted index based on the securities of the NASDAQ-100 Index, which seeks to include 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market by market value, that are classified as Technology according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) classification system. The Index is reconstituted annually in December and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank Index℠

The NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank Index℠ is a market capitalization-weighted index that seeks to include a subset of banks and thrifts or their holding companies listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market. The Index is reconstituted semi-annually in June and December and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index℠

The NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index℠ is a modified market capitalization-weighted index designed to track the performance of companies that are primarily manufacturers, developers, distributors, or installers of clean-energy technologies. The Index is reconstituted semi-annually in March and September and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

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NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index

The NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index is an equal dollar weighted index designed to measure the performance of publicly traded companies in the biotechnology industry that are primarily involved in the use of biological processes to develop products or provide services. The Index is reconstituted and rebalanced quarterly in January, April, July and October.

S&P United States REIT Index

The S&P United States REIT Index is designed to measure the investable U.S. real estate investment trust market and maintain a constituency that reflects the market’s overall composition. The Index is rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

IPOX®-100 U.S. Index

The IPOX®-100 U.S. Index is an applied market capitalization-weighted price index designed to measure the performance of the top 100 U.S. companies ranked quarterly by market capitalization in the IPOX® Global Composite Index. The Index is rebalanced quarterly. Under certain circumstances, the Index Provider may make exceptions to the stated methodology. See the Index Provider’s website for additional details.

Value Line® Dividend Index

The Value Line® Dividend Index is an equal-dollar weighted index that seeks to include U.S. exchange-listed securities of companies that pay above-average dividends and which Value Line® gives a SafetyTM Ranking of #1 or #2 using the Value Line® SafetyTM Ranking System. The Index is evaluated and rebalanced monthly.

More information regarding each Index, including additional detail on the Index methodology, may be found on an Index Provider’s website. Neither the Fund, the Board, First Trust, or any of their affiliates, are responsible for the information set forth on an Index Provider’s website. Information from an Index Provider’s website and any other information not expressly included in this prospectus is not incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered part of, this prospectus.

Fund Investments

Principal Investments

Equity Securities

The Funds invest in equity securities, including common stocks and depositary receipts. Common stock represents an equity ownership interest in issuers. Holders of common stock are entitled to the income and increase in the value of the assets and business of the issuers after all debt obligations and obligations to preferred stockholders are satisfied. Depositary receipts are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership interests in securities of non-U.S. companies. Depositary receipts may or may not be jointly sponsored by the underlying issuer.

Master Limited Partnerships

Certain Funds invest in units of MLPs. An MLP is a limited partnership or a limited liability company that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the interests in which (known as units) are traded on securities exchanges or over-the-counter. MLPs are typically engaged in one or more aspects of the exploration, production, processing, transmission, marketing, storage or delivery of energy-related commodities such as natural gas, natural gas liquids, coal, crude oil or refined petroleum products. Holders of MLP units have limited control and voting rights on matters affecting the partnership. If publicly traded, to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the MLP must receive at least 90% of its income from qualifying sources, including interest, dividends, real estate rents, gain from the sale or disposition of real property, income and gain from mineral or natural resources activities, income and gain from the transportation or storage of certain fuels, gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset held for the production of income described in the foregoing. Mineral or natural resources activities include exploration, development, production, mining, refining, marketing and transportation (including pipelines), of oil and gas, minerals, geothermal energy, fertilizer, timber or carbon dioxide.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Certain Funds invest in REITS. REITs are financial vehicles that pool investors’ capital to purchase or finance real estate. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets

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in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with the applicable tax requirements.

Non-Principal Investments

Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Normally, a Fund invests substantially all of its assets to meet its investment objectives. Each Fund may invest the remainder of its assets in securities with maturities of less than one year or cash equivalents, or it may hold cash. The percentage of a Fund invested in such holdings varies and depends on several factors, including market conditions. For temporary defensive purposes and during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, a Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies and invest part or all of its assets in these securities, or it may hold cash. During such periods, a Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objectives. A Fund may adopt a defensive strategy when its portfolio managers believe securities in which the Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to political or economic factors and in other extraordinary circumstances. For more information on eligible short-term investments, see the SAI.

Illiquid Investments

A Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in investments and other instruments that are, at the time of investment, illiquid (determined using the Securities and Exchange Commission's standard applicable to investment companies, i.e., any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment).

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

Each Fund’s portfolio holdings are available on the Funds' website at www.ftportfolios.com. A description of the policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Fund's portfolio securities is included in the Funds' SAI, which is also available on the Funds' website.

Risks of Investing in the Funds

Risk is inherent in all investing. Investing in a Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may lose all or part of your investment. There can be no assurance that a Fund will meet its stated objective. Before you invest, you should consider the following risks in addition to the Principal Risks set forth above in this prospectus. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular risk factor.

Principal Risks

ASIA RISK. The Fund invests significantly in the securities of Asian issuers. Such investments subject the Fund to certain risks associated specifically with investments in securities of Asian issuers, including distinct legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Many Asian economies have experienced rapid growth and industrialization, and there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. Some Asian economies are highly dependent on trade, and economic conditions in other countries within and outside Asia can impact these economies. Certain of these economies may be adversely affected by trade or policy disputes with its major trade partners. There is also a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries. Certain Asian countries have experienced and may in the future experience expropriation and nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, currency manipulation, political instability, armed conflict and social instability as a result of religious, ethnic, socio-economic and/or political unrest. In particular, escalated tensions involving North Korea and any outbreak of hostilities involving North Korea could have a severe adverse effect on Asian economies. Governments of certain Asian countries have exercised, and continue to exercise, substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In certain cases, the government owns or controls many companies, including the largest in the country. Accordingly, government actions could have a significant effect on the issuers of the Fund’s securities or on economic conditions generally. Issuers in Asia may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards as U.S. companies and if their securities are not listed on a U.S. exchange, they may not be subject to the same corporate governance standards as U.S. issuers. In addition, satisfactory custodial services for investment securities may not be available in some Asia countries, which may result in the Fund incurring additional costs and delays in providing transportation and custody services for such securities outside such countries. Recent developments in relations between the U.S. and China have heightened concerns of increased tariffs and restrictions on trade between the two countries. An increase in tariffs or trade restrictions, or even the threat of such

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developments, could lead to a significant reduction in international trade, which could have a negative impact on the economy of Asian countries and a commensurately negative impact on the Fund.

AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANT CONCENTRATION RISK. Only an authorized participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with a Fund. A limited number of institutions act as authorized participants for a Fund. Although participants are not obligated to make a market in a Fund’s shares or submit purchase and redemption orders for creation units. To the extent that these institutions exit the business, reduce their role or are unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders and no other authorized participant steps forward to create or redeem, a Fund’s shares may trade at a premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value and possibly face delisting.

BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in biotechnology companies. Biotechnology companies invest heavily in research and development which may not necessarily lead to commercially successful products. Biotechnology companies are subject to increased governmental regulation which may delay or inhibit the release of new products. The effects of high development costs and increased regulation may be exacerbated by a company’s inability to raise prices to cover costs because of managed care pressure or price controls. Many biotechnology companies are dependent upon their ability to use and enforce intellectual property rights and patents. Any impairment of such rights may have adverse financial consequences. Biotechnology stocks, especially those issued by smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Biotechnology companies can also be significantly affected by technological change and obsolescence, product liability lawsuits and consequential high insurance costs.

CHINA RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in the securities of Chinese issuers. Therefore, in addition to the risks associated with investments in non-U.S. securities generally, the Fund is subject to certain risks associated specifically with investments in securities of Chinese issuers, including those issuers with securities listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. China is an emerging market and demonstrates significantly higher volatility from time to time in comparison to developed markets. The central government has historically exercised substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership and actions of the Chinese central and local government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on economic conditions in China. Furthermore, China’s economy is dependent on the economies of other Asian countries and can be significantly affected by currency fluctuations and increasing competition from Asia’s other emerging economies. China has experienced security concerns, such as terrorism and strained international relations. Incidents involving China’s or the region’s security may cause uncertainty in Chinese markets and may adversely affect the Chinese economy and the value of the Fund’s investments. Export growth continues to be a major driver of China’s rapid economic growth. Reduction in spending on Chinese products and services, institution of tariffs or other trade barriers, or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. Recent developments in relations between the U.S. and China have heightened concerns of increased tariffs and restrictions on trade between the two countries. An increase in tariffs or trade restrictions, or even the threat of such developments, could lead to a significant reduction in international trade, which could have a negative impact on China’s export industry and a commensurately negative impact on the Fund.

As of the date of this prospectus, Executive Order 13959, as amended or supplemented from time to time, regarding securities investments that finance Communist Chinese Military Companies (the "Executive Order") remains in effect. To comply with the Executive Order, a Fund may be forced to sell certain securities impacted by the Executive Order ("Prohibited Securities"). Certain securities that are designated as Prohibited Securities may have less liquidity as a result of such designation and the market price of such Prohibited Securities may decline and a Fund may incur a loss as a result. In addition, the market for securities of other Chinese-based issuers may also be negatively impacted resulting in reduced liquidity and price declines. Additionally, certain Prohibited Securities that have been, or will be, sold by a Fund may not be immediately removed from the Fund's corresponding Index. This disparity between a Fund's portfolio and its Index constituents could result in tracking error and a greater difference between the Fund's performance and the performance of its Index for any period during which a Prohibited Security remains in the Fund's Index.

CLEAN ENERGY COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in clean energy companies. Renewable and alternative energy companies can be significantly affected by the following factors: obsolescence of existing technology, short product cycles, legislation resulting in more strict government regulations and enforcement policies, fluctuations in energy prices and supply and demand of alternative energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, the supply of and demand for oil and gas, world events and economic conditions. In addition, shares of clean energy companies have been significantly more volatile than shares of companies operating in other more established industries and the securities included in the Fund may be subject to sharp price declines. This industry is relatively nascent and under-researched in comparison to more established and mature sectors, and should therefore be regarded as having greater investment risk.

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COMMUNICATION SERVICES COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in communication services companies. Communication services companies may be subject to specific risks associated with legislative or regulatory changes, adverse market conditions, and/or increased competition. Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to rapid advancements in technology, the innovation of competitors, rapid product obsolescence and government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally. Communication services companies also rely on the use of intellectual property such as patents, copyrights and trademarks owned internationally or licensed through third-parties. Legal check-ups or claims regarding infringement of intellectual property could cause an adverse effect on the reputation of the company. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company’s profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain communication services companies may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.

COMMUNITY BANK RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in community banks. Community banks were significantly impacted by the downturn in the United States and world economies that began with the decline in the subprime mortgage lending market in the United States. These conditions have brought about legislative and regulatory changes, changes in short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation and changes in government monetary and fiscal policies, all of which have had a significant impact on the banking business. Community banks may also be affected by anticipated government fiscal policy initiatives relating to the current period of historically low interest rates and the market reaction to those initiatives. Unlike larger national or other regional banks that are more geographically diversified, a community bank’s financial performance may be highly dependent upon the business environment in certain geographic regions of the United States and may be adversely impacted by any downturn or unfavorable economic or employment developments in its local market and the United States as a whole. In particular, this environment impacts the ability of borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans. Also, the securities of community banks are often subject to low trading volume and low analyst coverage.

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in consumer discretionary companies. Consumer discretionary companies, such as retailers, media companies and consumer services companies, provide non-essential goods and services. These companies manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to the consumer, and the success of these companies is tied closely to the performance of the overall domestic and international economy, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Consumer discretionary companies may also be strongly affected by social trends and marketing campaigns. These companies may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on their profitability. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer discretionary products in the marketplace. Consumer discretionary companies have historically been characterized as relatively cyclical and therefore more volatile in times of change.

CYBER SECURITY RISK. The Funds are susceptible to operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause a Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. These risks typically are not covered by insurance. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber incidents include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. Cyber attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). Cyber security failures by or breaches of the systems of the Advisor, distributor and other service providers (including, but not limited to, sub-advisors, index providers, fund accountants, custodians, transfer agents and administrators), market makers, authorized participants or the issuers of securities in which a Fund invests, have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in: financial losses; interference with a Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value; disclosure of confidential trading information; impediments to trading; submission of erroneous trades or erroneous creation or redemption orders; the inability of a Fund or its service providers to transact business; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs; or additional compliance costs. Substantial costs may be incurred by a Fund in order to resolve or prevent cyber incidents in the future. While the Funds have established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified and that prevention and remediation efforts will not be successful. Furthermore, the Funds cannot control the cyber security plans and systems put

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in place by service providers to the Funds, issuers in which the Funds invest, market makers or authorized participants. However, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, and the Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS RISK. Depositary receipts are securities issued by a bank or trust company reflecting ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign company. An investment in depositary receipts involves further risks due to certain unique features. Any distributions paid to the holders of depositary receipts are usually subject to a fee charged by the depositary. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited voting rights pursuant to a deposit agreement between the underlying issuer and the depositary. In certain cases, the depositary will vote the shares deposited with it as directed by the underlying issuer’s board of directors. Furthermore, investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of depositary receipts because such restrictions may limit the ability to convert shares into depositary receipts and vice versa. Such restrictions may cause shares of the underlying issuer to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the depositary receipt. Moreover, if depositary receipts are converted into shares, the laws in certain countries may limit the ability of a non-resident to trade the shares and to reconvert the shares to depositary receipts. Depositary receipts may be “sponsored” or “unsponsored.” Sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depositary and the underlying issuer, whereas unsponsored depositary receipts may be established by a depositary without participation by the underlying issuer. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs associated with establishing the unsponsored depositary receipts. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the U.S. and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts.

DIVIDENDS RISK. Certain Funds invest in dividend-paying securities. A Fund’s investment in dividend-paying securities could cause the Fund to underperform similar funds that invest without consideration of an issuer’s track record of paying dividends. Companies that issue dividend-yielding securities are not required to continue to pay dividends on such securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that such companies could reduce or eliminate the payment of dividends in the future especially if the companies are facing an economic downturn, which could negatively affect a Fund’s performance.

EMERGING MARKETS RISK. Certain Funds invest in securities issued by emerging market governments and companies incorporated in emerging market countries. Investments in securities issued by governments and companies operating in emerging market countries involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in securities and instruments issued by U.S. companies or by companies operating in other developed market countries. This is due to, among other things, the potential for greater market volatility, lower trading volume, higher levels of inflation, political and economic instability, greater risk of a market shutdown and more governmental limitations on foreign investments in emerging market countries than are typically found in more developed market countries. Moreover, emerging market countries often have less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements, unsettled securities laws, less reliable securities valuations and greater risks associated with custody of securities than developed markets. In addition, emerging market countries often have greater risk of capital controls through such measures as taxes or interest rate control than developed markets. Certain emerging market countries may also lack the infrastructure necessary to attract large amounts of foreign trade and investment. Local securities markets in emerging market countries may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible. Settlement procedures in emerging market countries are frequently less developed and reliable than those in the U.S. and other developed market countries. In addition, significant delays may occur in registering the transfer of securities. Settlement or registration problems may make it more difficult for a Fund to value its portfolio securities and could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Investing in emerging market countries involves a higher risk of expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and on repatriation of capital invested by certain emerging market countries. Enforcing legal rights may be made difficult, costly and slow in emerging markets as there may be additional problems enforcing claims against non-U.S. governments.

ENERGY COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in energy companies. The success of energy companies may be cyclical and highly dependent on energy prices. The market value of securities issued by energy companies may decline for many reasons, including, among other things, changes in the levels and volatility of global energy prices, energy supply and demand, capital expenditures on exploration and production of energy sources, exchange rates, interest rates, economic conditions, tax treatment, energy conservation efforts, increased competition and technological advances. Energy companies may be subject to substantial government regulation and contractual fixed pricing, which may increase the cost of doing business and limit the earnings of these companies. A significant portion of the revenues of these companies may depend on a relatively small number of customers, including governmental entities and utilities. As a result, governmental budget constraints may have a material adverse effect on the stock prices of energy companies. Energy companies may also operate

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in, or engage in transactions involving, countries with less developed regulatory regimes or a history of expropriation, nationalization or other adverse policies. Energy companies also face a significant risk of liability from accidents resulting in injury or loss of life or property, pollution or other environmental problems, equipment malfunctions or mishandling of materials and a risk of loss from terrorism, political strife or natural disasters. Energy companies can be significantly affected by the supply of, and demand for, specific products (e.g., oil and natural gas) and services, exploration and production spending, government subsidization, world events and general economic conditions. Energy companies may have relatively high levels of debt and may be more likely than other companies to restructure their businesses if there are downturns in energy markets or in the global economy.

EQUITY SECURITIES RISK. The value of a Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities in which it invests. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors' perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant equity market, such as market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. Common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market. Additionally, holders of an issuer's common stock may be subject to greater risks than holders of its preferred stock and debt securities because common stockholders' claims are subordinated to those of holders of preferred stocks and debt securities upon the bankruptcy of an issuer.

FINANCIAL COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in financial companies. Financial companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation and intervention, which may adversely affect the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge, the amount and types of capital they must maintain and, potentially, their size. Governmental regulation may change frequently and may have significant adverse consequences for financial companies, including effects not intended by such regulation. The impact of more stringent capital requirements, or recent or future regulation in various countries, on any individual financial company or on financial companies as a whole cannot be predicted. Certain risks may impact the value of investments in financial companies more severely than those of investments in other issuers, including the risks associated with companies that operate with substantial financial leverage. Financial companies may also be adversely affected by volatility in interest rates, loan losses and other customer defaults, decreases in the availability of money or asset valuations, credit rating downgrades and adverse conditions in other related markets. Insurance companies in particular may be subject to severe price competition and/or rate regulation, which may have an adverse impact on their profitability. Financial companies are also a target for cyber attacks and may experience technology malfunctions and disruptions as a result.

HEALTH CARE COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in health care companies. Health care companies, such as companies providing medical and health care goods and services, companies engaged in manufacturing medical equipment, supplies and pharmaceuticals, as well as operating healthcare facilities and the provision of managed healthcare, may be affected by government regulations and government health care programs, increases or decreases in the cost of medical products and services and product liability claims, among other factors. Many health care companies are heavily dependent on patent protection, and the expiration of a company’s patent may adversely affect that company’s profitability. Research and development costs of bringing new drugs to market are substantial, and there is no guarantee that a proposed product will ever come to market. Health care companies are also subject to competitive forces that may result in price discounting, may be thinly capitalized and susceptible to product obsolescence.

INDEX OR MODEL CONSTITUENT RISK. Each Fund may be a constituent of one or more indices or ETF models. As a result, a Fund may be included in one or more index-tracking ETFs or mutual funds. Being a component security of such a vehicle could greatly affect the trading activity involving a Fund, the size of the Fund and the market volatility of the Fund’s shares. Inclusion in an index could increase demand for a Fund and removal from an index could result in outsized selling activity in a relatively short period of time. As a result, a Fund’s net asset value could be negatively impacted and the Fund’s market price may be below the Fund’s net asset value during certain periods. In addition, index rebalances may potentially result in increased trading activity. To the extent buying or selling activity increases, a Fund can be exposed to increased brokerage costs and adverse tax consequences and the market price of the Fund can be negatively affected.

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maintain, construct, reconstitute, rebalance, compose, calculate and disseminate an Index accurately. Therefore, losses or costs associated with any Index Provider or agent errors generally will be borne by a Fund and its shareholders. To correct any such error, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out an unscheduled rebalance of an Index or other modification of Index constituents or weightings. When a Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by a Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances also expose a Fund to additional tracking error risk. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile an Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where an Index is less commonly used as a benchmark by funds or advisors. For example, during a period where an Index contains incorrect constituents, a Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact a Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in an Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither a Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that an Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause an Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of an Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to an Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

INDIA RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in the securities of Indian issuers. Investment in Indian securities involves risks in addition to those associated with investments in securities of issuers in more developed countries, which may adversely affect the value of a Fund’s assets. Such heightened risks include, among others, political and legal uncertainty, greater government control over the economy, currency fluctuations or blockage and the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets. In addition, religious and border disputes persist in India. Moreover, India has experienced civil unrest and hostilities with neighboring countries, including Pakistan, and the Indian government has confronted separatist movements in several Indian states. In addition, inflation in India remains at very high levels. High inflation may lead to the adoption of corrective measures designed to moderate growth, regulate prices of staples and other commodities and otherwise contain inflation. Such measures could inhibit economic activity in India. The securities market of India is characterized by a small number of listed companies that have significantly smaller market capitalizations, greater price volatility, greater delays and possibility of disruptions in settlement transactions, greater political uncertainties and greater dependence on international trade or development assistance and substantially less liquidity than companies in more developed markets. The securities industry in India is also subject less governmental regulation than in other countries. Indian issuers are subject to less regulation and scrutiny with regard to financial reporting, accounting and auditing than U.S. companies. Therefore, information regarding Indian corporations may be less reliable and all material information may not be available. Certain restrictions on foreign investment may decrease the liquidity of a Fund’s portfolio or subject the Fund to higher transaction costs. Investments in Indian securities may also be limited or prevented, at times, due to the limits on foreign ownership imposed by the RBI. The Indian government has exercised, and continues to exercise, significant influence over many aspects of the Indian economy, and the number of public sector enterprises in India is substantial. Accordingly, Indian government actions in the future could have a significant effect on the Indian economy, which could affect the prices and yields of securities in a Fund’s portfolio. In addition, the economy of India may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as the rate of growth of gross domestic product, the rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Agriculture occupies a more prominent position in the Indian economy than in the U.S. economy, and therefore the Indian economy is more susceptible to adverse changes in weather. Furthermore, monsoons and other natural disasters in India and surrounding regions also can affect the value of a Fund’s investments.

INDUSTRIALS COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in industrials companies. The value of securities issued by industrials companies may be adversely affected by supply and demand related to their specific products or services and industrials sector products in general. The products of manufacturing companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction. World events and changes in government regulations, import controls, economic conditions and exchange rates may adversely affect the performance of companies in the industrials sector. Industrials companies may be adversely affected by liability for environmental damage and product liability claims. Industrials companies may also be adversely affected by changes or trends in commodity prices, which may be influenced by unpredictable factors. Industrials companies, particularly aerospace and defense companies, may also be adversely affected

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by government spending policies because companies in this sector tend to rely to a significant extent on government demand for their products and services.

INFLATION RISK. Inflation risk 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. As inflation increases, the present value of a Fund’s assets and distributions may decline. Inflation creates uncertainty over the future real value (after inflation) of an investment. Inflation rates may change frequently and drastically as a result of various factors, including unexpected shifts in the domestic or global economy, and a Fund’s investments may not keep pace with inflation, which may result in losses to Fund investors.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in information technology companies. Information technology companies produce and provide hardware, software and information technology systems and services. Information technology companies are generally subject to the following risks: rapidly changing technologies and existing product obsolescence; short product life cycles; fierce competition; aggressive pricing and reduced profit margins; the loss of patent, copyright and trademark protections; cyclical market patterns; evolving industry standards; and frequent new product introductions and new market entrants. Information technology companies may be smaller and less experienced companies, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources and fewer experienced management or marketing personnel. Information technology company stocks, particularly those involved with the internet, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated to their operating performance. In addition, information technology companies are particularly vulnerable to federal, state and local government regulation, and competition and consolidation, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Information technology companies also face competition for services of qualified personnel and heavily rely on patents and intellectual property rights and the ability to enforce such rights to maintain a competitive advantage.

INTERNET COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in Internet companies. Internet companies are subject to rapid changes in technology, hacking or other cyber security events, worldwide competition, rapid obsolescence of products and services, loss of patent protections, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions and the considerable risk of owning small capitalization companies that have recently begun operations. Many Internet companies have incurred large losses since their inception and may continue to incur large losses in the hope of capturing market share and generating future revenues. Accordingly, many such companies expect to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future, and may never be profitable. The markets in which many Internet companies compete face rapidly evolving industry standards, frequent new service and product announcements, introductions and enhancements and changing customer demands. The failure of an Internet company to adapt to such changes could have a material adverse effect on the company's business. In addition, the widespread adoption of new Internet, networking, telecommunications technologies, or other technological changes could require substantial expenditures by an Internet company to modify or adapt its services or infrastructure, which could have a material adverse effect on an Internet company's business.

IPO RISK. Certain Funds invest in companies that have recently conducted an IPO. Shares issued by such companies are often subject to extreme price volatility and speculative trading due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, the small number of shares available for trading and limited information about the issuer’s business model, quality of management, earnings growth potential and other criteria used to evaluate its investment prospects. Such stocks may have exhibited price appreciation in connection with the IPO that is not sustained, and it is not uncommon for stocks to decline in value in the period following the IPO. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Investors in IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

LOW VOLATILITY RISK. Certain Funds seek to invest in low volatility stocks. Although subject to the risks of common stocks, low volatility stocks are seen as having a lower risk profile than the overall markets. However, 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 and may reduce a Fund’s participation in market gains.

MARKET CAPITALIZATION DEVIATION RISK. Certain Funds seek to hold securities with a market capitalization that falls within a specific range. However, because of possible corporate action or market movement, there can be no assurance that the securities held by a Fund will stay within the Fund’s intended market capitalization range. As a result, a Fund may be exposed to additional risk or investors may not be given the opportunity to invest fully in a certain market capitalization range.

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MARKET MAKER RISK. The Funds face numerous market trading risks, including the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares due to a limited number of market markers. Decisions by market makers or authorized participants to reduce their role or step away from these activities in times of market stress could inhibit the effectiveness of the arbitrage process in maintaining the relationship between the underlying values of a Fund’s portfolio securities and the Fund’s market price. A Fund may rely on a small number of third-party market makers to provide a market for the purchase and sale of shares. Any trading halt or other problem relating to the trading activity of these market makers could result in a dramatic change in the spread between a Fund’s net asset value and the price at which the Fund’s shares are trading on the Exchange, which could result in a decrease in value of the Fund’s shares. This reduced effectiveness could result in Fund shares trading at a discount to net asset value and also in greater than normal intraday bid-ask spreads for Fund shares.

MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular security, or shares of a Fund in general, may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of a Fund could decline in value or underperform other investments due to short-term market movements or any longer periods during more prolonged market downturns. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant negative impact on a Fund and its investments. For example, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe impacts, on markets worldwide. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged disruptions to the normal business operations of companies around the world and the impact of such disruptions is hard to predict. Such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Such events could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of a Fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of a Fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, a Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value.

MICRO-CAP COMPANIES RISK. First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund invests in micro-capitalization companies. Micro-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments, may be less liquid, and may experience greater price volatility than larger, more established companies as a result of several factors, including limited trading volume, products or financial resources, management inexperience and less publicly available information. Accordingly, such companies are generally subject to greater market risk than larger, more established companies.

MLP RISK. Certain Funds invest in securities issued by MLPs. Investments in securities of MLPs involve certain risks different from or in addition to the risks of investing in common stocks, including for example risks related to the limited ability of investors to control an MLP and to vote on matters affecting the MLP, risks related to potential conflicts of interest between an MLP and the MLP's general partner, the risk that an MLP will generate insufficient cash flow to meet its current operating requirements, the risk that an MLP will issue additional securities or engage in other transactions that will have the effect of diluting the interests of existing investors, and risks related to the general partner's right to require investors to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price. MLP common units can be affected by macro-economic and other factors affecting the stock market in general, changes or anticipated changes in interest rates, investor sentiment towards MLPs or the energy sector generally, changes in a particular issuer's financial condition, or unfavorable or unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer (in the case of MLPs, generally measured in terms of distributable cash flow). Prices of common units of individual MLPs also can be affected by other factors unique to the partnership or company, including earnings power and coverage ratios. Certain MLP securities may trade in relatively low volumes due to their smaller capitalizations or other factors, which may cause them to have a high degree of price volatility and lack sufficient market liquidity to enable a Fund to effect a sale at an advantageous time or price. Because many MLPs pay out most of their operating cash flows, the MLPs rely on capital markets for access to equity and debt financing to fund growth through organization. If market conditions limit an MLPs access to capital markets, the MLPs growth prospects could diminish and its costs of capital increase, which would decrease the value of the common units held by a Fund.

MLP TAX RISK. A Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective relies in part upon the level of taxable income it receives from the MLPs in which it invests, a factor over which a Fund has no control. The benefit a Fund derives from its investment in MLPs is largely dependent on their being treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Partnerships do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner is allocated a share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in the MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax (as well as state and local income taxes) on its taxable income at the applicable

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corporate tax rate. This would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by an MLP and could result in a significant reduction in the value of a Fund’s investment. The classification of an MLP as a corporation for U. S. federal income tax purposes would have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP and causing any such distributions received by a Fund to be taxed as dividend income to the extent of the MLP’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. To the extent a distribution received by a Fund from an MLP is treated as a return of capital, the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in the interests of the MLP may be reduced, which will result in an increase in the amount of income or gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes upon the sale of any such interests or upon subsequent distributions in respect of such interests. Furthermore, any return of capital distribution received from an MLP may require a Fund to restate the character of its distributions and amend any shareholder tax reporting previously issued. On March 15, 2018, the FERC changed its long-standing tax allowance policy which no longer permits MLPs to include in their cost of service an income tax allowance. This has had a negative impact on the performance of some MLPs affected by this decision. This policy change and any similar policy changes in the future could adversely impact an MLP’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and ability to pay cash distributions or dividends.

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unexpected drilling conditions;

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pressure or irregularities in formations;

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equipment failures or repairs;

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fires or other accidents;

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adverse weather conditions;

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pipeline ruptures or spills; and

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shortages or delays in the availability of drilling rigs and the delivery of equipment.

NON-CORRELATION RISK. A Fund’s return may not match the return of its Index for a number of reasons. A Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to its Index and may incur costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s portfolio holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index. In addition, a Fund’s portfolio holdings may not exactly replicate the securities included in its Index or the ratios between the securities included in the Index.

NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. As a “non-diversified” fund, a Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds and may be more sensitive to any single economic, business, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund. To the extent a Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers due to the high percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in that security, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of a Fund’s shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds.

NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK. Certain Funds invest in non-U.S. securities. An investment in securities of non-U.S. companies involves risks not associated with domestic issuers. Investment in non-U.S. securities may involve higher costs than investment in U.S. securities, including higher transaction and custody costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by non-U.S. governments. Non-U.S. investments may also involve risks associated with the level of currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity, more market volatility and political instability. Future political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on dividend income, the possible seizure or nationalization of non-U.S. holdings, the imposition of sanctions by foreign governments, the possible establishment of capital controls, exchange controls or freezes on the convertibility of currency or the adoption of other governmental restrictions might adversely affect an investment in non-U.S. securities. Additionally, non-U.S. issuers may be subject to less stringent

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regulation, and to different accounting, auditing and recordkeeping requirements. The U.S. and non-U.S. markets often rise and fall at different times or by different amounts due to economic or other regional developments particular to a given country or region.

OPERATIONAL RISK. Each Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of a Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. Although the Funds and the Advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.

PASSIVE INVESTMENT RISK. The Funds are not actively managed. Each Fund invests in securities included in or representative of its Index regardless of investment merit. The Funds generally will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets. In the event that an Index is no longer calculated, the corresponding Index license is terminated or the identity or character of an Index is materially changed, the applicable Fund will seek to engage a replacement index.

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceuticals companies may be affected by industry competition, dependency on a limited number of products, obsolescence of products, government approvals and regulations, loss or impairment of intellectual property rights and litigation regarding product liability. Pharmaceutical are subject to competitive forces that may make it difficult to raise prices of their products and may result in price discounting. The profitability of some pharmaceuticals companies may be dependent on a relatively limited number of products. The research and development costs required to bring a new product to market are substantial with no guarantee that the product will ever become profitable. Many new products are subject to gaining the approval of the FDA, which can be long and costly. Many pharmaceutical companies are heavily dependent on patents and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Pharmaceuticals companies may also be subject to extensive litigation based on product liability and similar claims.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RISK. Certain Funds have an investment strategy that may frequently involve buying and selling portfolio securities. High portfolio turnover may result in a Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and other costs and may generate greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause a Fund’s performance to be less than expected.

PREMIUM/DISCOUNT RISK. The market price of a Fund’s shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in the Fund’s net asset value as well as the relative supply of and demand for shares on the Exchange. First Trust cannot predict whether shares will trade below, at or above their net asset value because the shares trade on the Exchange at market prices and not at net asset value. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for shares will be closely related, but not identical, to the same forces influencing the prices of the holdings of a Fund trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. However, given that shares can only be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units, and only to and from broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their net asset value), First Trust believes that large discounts or premiums to the net asset value of shares should not be sustained absent disruptions to the creation and redemption mechanism, extreme market volatility or potential lack of authorized participants. During stressed market conditions, the market for a Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for a Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of a Fund’s shares and their net asset value.

REAL ESTATE COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in real estate companies. Real estate companies include REITs and other companies involved in the operation and development of commercial, residential and industrial real estate. An investment in a real estate company may be subject to risks similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate, including the possibility of declines in the value of real estate, losses from casualty or condemnation, and changes in local and general economic conditions, supply and demand, interest rates, environmental liability, zoning laws, regulatory limitations on rents, property taxes, and operating expenses. Some real property companies have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property. The performance of real estate companies has historically been cyclical and particularly sensitive to the overall economy and market changes, including declines in the value of real estate or, conversely, saturation of the real estate market, economic downturns and defaults by borrowers or tenants during such periods, increases in competition, possible lack of mortgage funds or other limits to accessing the credit or capital markets, and changes in interest rates.

REIT RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in REITs. REITs typically own and operate income-producing real estate, such as residential or commercial buildings, or real-estate related assets, including mortgages. As a result, investments in REITs

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are subject to the risks associated with investing in real estate, which may include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the value of underlying properties; defaults by borrowers or tenants; market saturation; changes in general and local operating expenses; and other economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting companies in the real estate sector. Additionally, investing in REITs involves certain other risks related to their structure and focus, which include, but are not limited to, dependency upon management skills, limited diversification, the risks of locating and managing financing for projects, heavy cash flow dependency, possible default by borrowers, the costs and potential losses of self-liquidation of one or more holdings, the risk of a possible lack of mortgage funds and associated interest rate risks, overbuilding, property vacancies, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, losses due to environmental damages, changes in neighborhood values and appeal to purchasers, the possibility of failing to maintain exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act, failure to satisfy the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for maintaining REIT status and, in many cases, relatively small market capitalization, which may result in less market liquidity and greater price volatility for a REIT’s shares. REITs are also subject to the risk that the real estate market may experience an economic downturn generally, which may have a material effect on the real estate in which the REITs invest and their underlying portfolio securities.

SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE RISK. To the extent that a Fund invests a large percentage of its assets in a single asset class or the securities of issuers within the same country, state, region, industry or sector, an adverse economic, business or political development that affected a particular asset class, region or industry may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if the Fund were more broadly diversified. A significant exposure makes a Fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the Fund to greater volatility and market risk than a fund that is more broadly diversified.

SMALLER COMPANIES RISK. The stock price of small and/or mid capitalization companies may be more volatile than those of larger companies and therefore a Fund’s share price may be more volatile than those of funds that invest a larger percentage of their assets in stocks issued by large capitalization companies. Stock prices of small and/or mid capitalization companies are also generally more vulnerable than those of large capitalization companies to adverse business and economic developments. Securities of small and/or mid capitalization companies may be thinly traded, making it difficult for a Fund to buy and sell them. In addition, small and/or mid capitalization companies are typically less financially stable than larger, more established companies and may reinvest a high proportion of their earnings in their business and may not pay dividends. Small and/or mid capitalization companies may also depend on a small number of essential personnel who may also be less experienced than the management of larger companies, making these companies more vulnerable to experiencing adverse effects due to the loss or inexperience of personnel. Small and/or mid capitalization companies also normally have less diverse product lines than those of large capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments concerning their products.

TRADING ISSUES RISK. Trading in Fund shares on an Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Fund shares on an Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to an Exchange’s “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of an Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of a Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. A Fund may have difficulty maintaining its listing on an Exchange in the event a Fund’s assets are small, the Fund does not have enough shareholders, or if the Fund is unable to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders.

UTILITY COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in utility companies. Utility companies include companies producing or providing gas, electricity or water. The risks inherent in the utilities sector include a variety of factors that may adversely affect the business or operations of utility companies, including: high interest costs associated with capital construction and improvement programs; difficulty in raising adequate capital on reasonable terms in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets; governmental regulation of rates that the issuer can charge to customers; costs associated with compliance with, and adjusting to changes to, environmental and other regulations; effects of economic slowdowns and surplus capacity; increased competition from other providers of utilities services; costs associated with the reduced availability of certain types of fuel, occasionally reduced availability and high costs of natural gas for resale, and the effects of energy conservation policies. Some utility companies also face risks associated with the effects of a national energy policy and lengthy delays, and greatly increased costs and other problems, associated with the design, construction, licensing, regulation and operation of nuclear facilities for electric generation, including, among other considerations: the problems associated with the use of radioactive materials and the disposal of radioactive wastes; technological innovations that may render existing plants, equipment or products obsolete; difficulty in obtaining regulatory approval of new technologies; lack of compatibility of telecommunications equipment; potential impacts of terrorist activities on the utilities industry and its customers; and the impact of natural or man-made disasters. Utility companies may also be subject to regulation by various governmental authorities and may be affected by the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards. Deregulation is subjecting utility companies to greater competition and may adversely affect profitability. As

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deregulation allows utilities to diversify outside of their original geographic regions and their traditional lines of business, utility companies may engage in riskier ventures. There is no assurance that regulatory authorities will, in the future, grant rate increases, or that such increases will be adequate to permit the payment of dividends on stocks issued by a utility company.

WATER COMPANIES RISK. Certain Funds invest significantly in water companies. Water companies can be significantly affected by the availability of water, the level of rainfall and the occurrence of other climatic and environmental events, changes in water consumption and water conservation. Water companies may also be negatively affected by changes in governmental regulation and spending, technological advances and increases in inflation, interest rates or the cost of raw materials. Water companies may be subject to liability for environmental damage, depletion of resources, conflicts with local communities over water rights and mandated expenditures for safety and pollution control.

Non-Principal Risks

BORROWING AND LEVERAGE RISK. If a Fund borrows money, it must pay interest and other fees, which may reduce the Fund’s returns. Any such borrowings are intended to be temporary. However, under certain market conditions, including periods of low demand or decreased liquidity, such borrowings might be outstanding for longer periods of time. As prescribed by the 1940 Act, a Fund will be required to maintain specified asset coverage of at least 300% with respect to any bank borrowing immediately following such borrowing and at all times thereafter. A Fund may be required to dispose of assets on unfavorable terms if market fluctuations or other factors reduce the Fund’s asset coverage to less than the prescribed amount.

CASH TRANSACTIONS RISK. The Funds may, under certain circumstances, effect a portion of their redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind securities. As a result, an investment in such a Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an ETF that effects its creations and redemptions only in-kind. ETFs are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gains on the distributed portfolio securities at the fund level. A Fund that effects redemptions for cash may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. Any recognized gain on these sales by a Fund will generally cause the Fund to recognize a gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities only in-kind. The Funds intend to distribute these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if a Fund sold and redeemed its shares in-kind, will be passed on to those purchasing and redeeming Creation Units in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of a Fund’s shares than for ETFs that distribute portfolio securities in-kind.

EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND RECOUPMENT RISK. The Advisor has entered into an agreement with the Trust in which the Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and/or reimburse certain of the Funds for expenses exceeding an agreed upon amount. This agreement may be terminated by the Trust on behalf of a Fund at any time and by the Advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice. The Advisor is also entitled to recoup from the Funds any waived fees or reimbursed amounts pursuant to the agreement for a period of up to three years from the date of waiver or reimbursement. Any such recoupment or modification or termination of the agreement could negatively affect the Funds’ returns.

FAILURE TO QUALIFY AS A REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY RISK. If, in any year, a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under the applicable tax laws, that Fund would be taxed as an ordinary corporation. In such circumstances, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment. If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company, distributions to the Fund’s shareholders generally would be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. For additional information, please see the section entitled “Federal Tax Matters.”

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RISK. Each Fund relies on a license and related sublicense that permits a Fund to use its Index and associated trade names, trademarks and service marks (the “Intellectual Property”) in connection with the Fund’s name and investment strategies. Such license and related sublicense may be terminated by the Index Provider, and, as a result, a Fund may lose its ability to use the Intellectual Property. There is also no guarantee that the Index Provider has all rights to license the Intellectual Property for use by a Fund. Accordingly, in the event the license is terminated or the Index Provider does not have rights to license the Intellectual Property, it may have a significant effect on the operation of a Fund.

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ISSUER SPECIFIC CHANGES RISK. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole.

LEGISLATION/LITIGATION RISK. From time to time, various legislative initiatives are proposed in the United States and abroad, which may have a negative impact on certain companies in which a Fund invests. In addition, litigation regarding any of the issuers of the securities owned by a Fund, or industries represented by these issuers, may negatively impact the value of the securities. Such legislation or litigation may cause a Fund to lose value or may result in higher portfolio turnover if the Advisor determines to sell such a holding.

Fund Organization

Each Fund is a series of the Trust, an investment company registered under the 1940 Act. Each Fund is treated as a separate fund with its own investment objectives and policies. The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The Board is responsible for the overall management and direction of the Trust. The Board elects the Trust’s officers and approves all significant agreements, including those with the Advisor, custodian and fund administrative and accounting agent.

Management of the Funds

First Trust Advisors L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, is the investment advisor to the Funds. In this capacity, First Trust is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the securities in each Fund’s portfolio and certain other services necessary for the management of the portfolios.

First Trust is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. Grace Partners of DuPage L.P. is a limited partnership with one general partner, The Charger Corporation, and a number of limited partners. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, the Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust discharges its responsibilities subject to the policies of the Board.

First Trust serves as advisor or sub-advisor for 8 mutual fund portfolios, 10 exchange-traded funds consisting of 179 series and 16 closed-end funds. It is also the portfolio supervisor of certain unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), an affiliate of First Trust, 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. FTP specializes in the underwriting, trading and distribution of unit investment trusts and other securities. FTP is the principal underwriter of the shares of each Fund.

There is no one individual primarily responsible for portfolio management decisions for the Funds. Investments are made under the direction of the Investment Committee. The Investment Committee consists of Daniel J. Lindquist, Jon C. Erickson, David G. McGarel, Roger F. Testin, Stan Ueland, Chris A. Peterson and Erik Russo.

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Mr. Lindquist is Chairman of the Investment Committee and presides over Investment Committee meetings. Mr. Lindquist is responsible for overseeing the implementation of each Fund’s investment strategy. Mr. Lindquist was a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP from September 2005 to July 2012 and is now a Managing Director of First Trust and FTP. Mr. Lindquist is a recipient of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

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Mr. Erickson joined First Trust in 1994 and is a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP. As the head of First Trust’s Equity Research Group, Mr. Erickson is responsible for determining the securities to be purchased and sold by funds that do not utilize quantitative investment strategies. Mr. Erickson is a recipient of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

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Mr. McGarel is the Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a Managing Director of First Trust and FTP. As First Trust’s Chief Investment Officer, Mr. McGarel consults with the other members of the Investment Committee on market conditions and First Trust’s general investment philosophy. Mr. McGarel was a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP from January 2004 to July 2012. Mr. McGarel is a recipient of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

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Mr. Testin is a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP. Mr. Testin is the head of First Trust’s Portfolio Management Group. Mr. Testin has been a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP since November 2003. Mr. Testin is a recipient of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

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Mr. Ueland joined First Trust as a Vice President in August 2005 and has been a Senior Vice President of First Trust and FTP since September 2012. At First Trust, he plays an important role in executing the investment strategies of each portfolio of exchange-traded funds advised by First Trust.

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Mr. Peterson is a Senior Vice President and head of First Trust’s strategy research group. He joined First Trust in January of 2000. Mr. Peterson is responsible for developing and implementing quantitative equity investment strategies. Mr. Peterson received his B.S. in Finance from Bradley University in 1997 and his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2005. He has over 20 years of financial services industry experience and is a recipient of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

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Mr. Russo is a Vice President of First Trust. He is responsible for implementing the investment strategies of each portfolio of exchange-traded funds advised by First Trust in his role as a Portfolio Manager. Mr. Russo joined First Trust in January of 2010.

For additional information concerning First Trust, including a description of the services provided to the Funds, see the Funds' SAI. Additional information about the compensation of Investment Committee members, other accounts managed by members of the Investment Committee and ownership by members of the Investment Committee of shares of the Funds is provided in the SAI.

Management Fee

Pursuant to an investment management agreement between First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of the Funds (the "Investment Management Agreement"), First Trust manages each Fund’s assets. First Trust is paid an annual management fee based upon each Fund’s average daily net assets at the rate set forth in the table below. Additionally, First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, have entered into an Expense Reimbursement, Fee Waiver and Recovery Agreement (“Recovery Agreement”) pursuant to which First Trust has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of each such Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed the amounts set forth in the table below as a percentage of such Fund’s average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Caps”) at least through April 30, 2022 (the "Expense Cap Termination Date"). Each Fund is responsible for all of its expenses, including management fees, costs of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses related to the execution of portfolio transactions, paying for its sublicensing fees related to the Fund’s Index, any distribution fees or expenses, and extraordinary expenses. Pursuant to the Recovery Agreement, expenses borne and fees waived by First Trust are subject to reimbursement by a Fund for up to three years from the date the fee or expense was incurred by the Fund, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund at any time if it would result in the Fund’s expenses exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation.

The table below sets forth the annual management fee that First Trust may receive from each Fund. In addition, the table sets forth each Fund’s Expense Cap and Expense Cap Termination Date. The table also shows the amounts paid by each Fund to First Trust for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (net of fees waived and expense reimbursements) as a percentage of a Fund’s average daily net assets.

Fund	Annual Management Fee (% of average daily net assets)	Annual Expense Cap (% of average daily net assets)	Expense Cap Termination Date	Management Fee Paid for the Year Ended 12/31/2020 (% of average daily net assets)
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	0.50%	0.65%	April 30, 2022	N/A
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.40%
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	0.50%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.39%
First Trust Chindia ETF	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.40%
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.33%
First Trust Water ETF	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.40%
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	0.30%	0.45%	April 30, 2022	0.29%
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.40%
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.38%
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.40%
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.36%

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Fund	Annual Management Fee (% of average daily net assets)	Annual Expense Cap (% of average daily net assets)	Expense Cap Termination Date	Management Fee Paid for the Year Ended 12/31/2020 (% of average daily net assets)
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.37%
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.40%
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	0.30%	0.50%	April 30, 2022	0.29%
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	0.40%	0.60%	April 30, 2022	0.40%
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	0.50%	0.70%	April 30, 2022	0.50%

A discussion regarding the basis of the Board’s approval of the continuation of the Investment Management Agreement is available in the Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2020.

How to Buy and Sell Shares

Most investors buy and sell shares of a Fund in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares of each Fund are listed for trading on the secondary market on one or more national securities exchanges. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded shares. There is no minimum investment when buying shares on an Exchange. Although shares are generally purchased and sold in “round lots” of 100 shares, brokerage firms typically permit investors to purchase or sell shares in smaller “odd lots,” at no per-share price differential. When buying or selling shares through a broker, investors should expect to pay brokerage commissions, investors may receive less than the net asset value of the shares because shares are bought and sold at market prices rather than at net asset value, and investors may pay some or all of the bid-ask spread for each transaction (purchase or sale) of Fund shares. Share prices are reported in dollars and cents per share.

Under normal circumstances, a Fund will pay out redemption proceeds to a redeeming authorized participant within two days after the authorized participant’s redemption request is received, in accordance with the process set forth in a Fund’s SAI and in the agreement between the authorized participant and the Fund’s distributor. However, each Fund reserves the right, including under stressed market conditions, to take up to seven days after the receipt of a redemption request to pay an authorized participant, all as permitted by the 1940 Act. If a Fund has foreign investments in a country where a local market holiday, or series of consecutive holidays, or the extended delivery cycles for transferring foreign investments to redeeming authorized participants prevents the Fund from delivering such foreign investments to an authorized participant in response to a redemption request, a Fund may take up to 15 days after the receipt of the redemption request to deliver such investments to the authorized participant.

For purposes of the 1940 Act, each Fund is treated as a registered investment company, and, absent an available exemption or exemptive relief, the acquisition of shares by other registered investment companies and companies relying on Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits certain registered investment companies to invest in a Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions, including that any such investment companies enter into agreements with a Fund regarding the terms of any investment.

Book Entry

Shares are held in book-entry form, which means that no share certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding shares of a Fund and is recognized as the owner of all shares for all purposes.

Investors owning shares are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for all shares. Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of share certificates or to have shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other stocks that you hold in book-entry or “street name” form.

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Share Trading Prices

The trading price of shares of a Fund on the secondary market is based on market price and may differ from such Fund’s daily net asset value and can be affected by market forces of supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors.

Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of the Funds' Shares

The Funds impose no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions (“market timing”). In determining not to approve a written, established policy, the Board evaluated the risks of market timing activities by the Funds' shareholders. The Board considered that the Funds' shares can only be purchased and redeemed directly from the Funds in Creation Units by broker-dealers and large institutional investors that have entered into participation agreements (i.e., authorized participants (“APs”)) and that the vast majority of trading in the Funds' shares occurs on the secondary market. Because the secondary market trades do not involve the Funds directly, it is unlikely those trades would cause many of the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of portfolio management, increases in the Funds' trading costs and the realization of capital gains. With respect to trades directly with the Funds, to the extent effected in-kind (i.e., for securities), those trades do not cause any of the harmful effects that may result from frequent cash trades. To the extent that a Fund may effect the purchase or redemption of Creation Units in exchange wholly or partially for cash, the Board noted that such trades could result in dilution to a Fund and increased transaction costs, which could negatively impact the Funds' ability to achieve their investment objective. However, the Board noted that direct trading by APs is critical to ensuring that the shares trade at or close to net asset value. In addition, the Funds impose fixed and variable transaction fees on purchases and redemptions of Creation Units to cover the custodial and other costs incurred by the Funds in effecting trades. Finally, the Advisor monitors purchase and redemption orders from APs for patterns of abusive trading and the Funds reserve the right to not accept orders from APs that the Advisor has determined may be disruptive to the management of the Funds, or otherwise not in the Funds' best interests.

Dividends, Distributions and Taxes

Dividends from net investment income from the Funds, if any, are declared and paid quarterly by each Fund. Each Fund distributes its net realized capital gains, if any, to shareholders at least annually.

Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional whole shares only if the broker through whom you purchased shares makes such option available. Such shares will generally be reinvested by the broker based upon the market price of those shares and investors may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by the broker.

Federal Tax Matters

This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning shares of the Funds. This section is current as of the date of this prospectus. Tax laws and interpretations change frequently, and these summaries do not describe all of the tax consequences to all taxpayers. For example, these summaries generally do not describe your situation if you are a corporation, a non-U.S. person, a broker-dealer, or other investor with special circumstances. In addition, this section does not describe your state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.

This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Funds. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. In addition, counsel to the Funds was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to, the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be included in the Funds. The following disclosure may not be sufficient for you to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law.

As with any investment, you should seek advice based on your individual circumstances from your own tax advisor.

Fund Status

Each Fund intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the federal tax laws. If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes its income as required by the tax law, the Fund generally will not pay federal income taxes.

An adverse federal income tax audit of a partnership that a Fund invests in could result in the Fund being required to pay federal income tax or pay a deficiency dividend (without having received additional cash).

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Distributions

The Funds' distributions are generally taxable. After the end of each year, you will receive a tax statement that separates the distributions of a Fund into two categories: ordinary income distributions and capital gain dividends. Ordinary income distributions are generally taxed at your ordinary tax rate, however, as further discussed below certain ordinary income distributions received from a Fund may be taxed at the capital gains tax rates. Some portion of the ordinary income distributions that are attributable to dividends received by a Fund from shares in certain real estate investment trusts may be designated by the Fund as eligible for a deduction for qualified business income, provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied. Generally, you will treat all capital gain dividends as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your shares.

To determine your actual tax liability for your capital gain dividends, you must calculate your total net capital gain or loss for the tax year after considering all of your other taxable transactions, as described below. In addition, the Funds may make distributions that represent a return of capital for tax purposes and thus will generally not be taxable to you; however, such distributions may reduce your tax basis in your shares, which could result in you having to pay higher taxes in the future when shares are sold or redeemed, even if you sell or redeem the shares at a loss from your original investment. A “return of capital” is a return, in whole or in part, of the funds that you previously invested in the Fund. A return of capital distribution should not be considered part of a Fund’s dividend yield or total return of an investment in Fund shares. The tax status of your distributions from a Fund is not affected by whether you reinvest your distributions in additional shares or receive them in cash. The income from a Fund that you must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced by amounts used to pay a deferred sales fee, if any. The tax laws may require you to treat distributions made to you in January as if you had received them on December 31 of the previous year.

Income from a Fund may also be subject to a 3.8% “Medicare tax.” This tax generally applies to your net investment income if your adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts, which are $250,000 in the case of married couples filing joint returns and $200,000 in the case of single individuals.

Capital Gains and Losses and Certain Ordinary Income Dividends

If you are an individual, the maximum stated marginal federal tax rate for net capital gain is generally 20% (15% or 0% for taxpayers with taxable incomes below certain thresholds). Some capital gains, including some portion of your capital gain dividends, may be taxed at a higher maximum stated federal tax rate. Some portion of your capital gain dividends may be attributable to the Fund’s interest in a master limited partnership which may be subject to a maximum marginal stated federal tax rate of 28%, rather than the rates set forth above. In addition, capital gain received from assets held for more than one year that is considered “unrecaptured section 1250 gain” (which may be the case, for example, with some capital gains attributable to equity interests in real estate investment trusts that constitute interests in entities treated as real estate investment trusts for federal income tax purposes) is taxed at a maximum marginal stated federal tax rate of 25%. In the case of capital gain dividends, the determination of which portion of the capital gain dividend, if any, is subject to the 28% tax rate or the 25% tax rate, will be made based on rules prescribed by the United States Treasury. Capital gains may also be subject to the Medicare tax described above.

Net capital gain equals net long-term capital gain minus net short-term capital loss for the taxable year. Capital gain or loss is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more than one year and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is one year or less. You must exclude the date you purchase your shares to determine your holding period. However, if you receive a capital gain dividend from a Fund and sell your share at a loss after holding it for six months or less, the loss will be recharacterized as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain dividend received. The tax rates for capital gains realized from assets held for one year or less are generally the same as for ordinary income. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, treats certain capital gains as ordinary income in special situations.

An election may be available to you to defer recognition of the gain attributable to a capital gain dividend if you make certain qualifying investments within a limited time. You should talk to your tax advisor about the availability of this deferral election and its requirements.

Ordinary income dividends received by an individual shareholder from a regulated investment company such as the Funds are generally taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain (as discussed above), provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied and provided the dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Funds themselves. Each Fund will provide notice to its shareholders of the amount of any distribution which may be taken into account as a dividend which is eligible for the capital gains tax rates.

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Dividends Received Deduction

A corporation that owns shares generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to many dividends received from the Funds because the dividends received deduction is generally not available for distributions from regulated investment companies. However, certain ordinary income dividends on shares that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Funds from certain corporations may be reported by the Funds as being eligible for the dividends received deduction.

Sale of Shares

If you sell or redeem your shares, you will generally recognize a taxable gain or loss. To determine the amount of this gain or loss, you must subtract your tax basis in your shares from the amount you receive in the transaction. Your tax basis in your shares is generally equal to the cost of your shares, generally including sales charges. In some cases, however, you may have to adjust your tax basis after you purchase your shares. An election may be available to you to defer recognition of capital gain if you make certain qualifying investments within a limited time. You should talk to your tax advisor about the availability of this deferral election and its requirements.

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

If you exchange securities for Creation Units, you will generally recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time and your aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the cash component paid. If you exchange Creation Units for securities, you will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between your basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities received and the cash redemption amount. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units or Creation Units for securities cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

Treatment of Fund Expenses

Expenses incurred and deducted by the Funds will generally not be treated as income taxable to you.

Non-U.S. Tax Credit

Because the Funds may invest in non-U.S. securities, the tax statement that you receive may include an item showing non-U.S. taxes a Fund paid to other countries. In this case, dividends taxed to you will include your share of the taxes a Fund paid to other countries. You may be able to deduct or receive a tax credit for your share of these taxes.

Non-U.S. Investors

If you are a non-U.S. investor (i.e., an investor other than a U.S. citizen or resident or a U.S. corporation, partnership, estate or trust), you should be aware that, generally, subject to applicable tax treaties, distributions from a Fund will be characterized as dividends for federal income tax purposes (other than dividends which the Fund properly reports as capital gain dividends) and will be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes, subject to certain exceptions described below. However, distributions received by a non-U.S. investor from a Fund that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes, provided that the Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met. Distributions from a Fund that are properly reported by the Fund as an interest-related dividend attributable to certain interest income received by the Fund or as a short-term capital gain dividend attributable to certain net short-term capital gain income received by the Fund may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes when received by certain non-U.S. investors, provided that the Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met.

Distributions may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax of 30% in the case of distributions to (i) certain non-U.S. financial institutions that have not entered into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury to collect and disclose certain information and are not resident in a jurisdiction that has entered into such an agreement with the U.S. Treasury and (ii) certain other non-U.S. entities that do not provide certain certifications and information about the entity’s U.S. owners. This withholding tax is also currently scheduled to apply to the gross proceeds from the disposition of securities that produce U.S. source interest or dividends. However, proposed regulations may eliminate the requirement to withhold on payments of gross proceeds from dispositions.

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Investments in Certain Non-U.S. Corporations

If a Fund holds an equity interest in any “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”), which are generally certain non-U.S. corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, a Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. A Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. A Fund may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, a Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, a Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax. Dividends paid by PFICs are not treated as qualified dividend income.

Distribution Plan

FTP serves as the distributor of Creation Units for the Funds on an agency basis. FTP does not maintain a secondary market in shares.

The Board has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with the Rule 12b-1 plan, the Funds are authorized to pay an amount up to 0.25% of their average daily net assets each year to reimburse FTP for amounts expended to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units or the provision of investor services. FTP may also use this amount to compensate securities dealers or other persons that are APs for providing distribution assistance, including broker-dealer and shareholder support and educational and promotional services.

The Funds do not currently pay 12b-1 fees, and pursuant to a contractual arrangement, the Funds will not pay 12b-1 fees any time before April 30, 2022. However, in the event 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, because these fees are paid out of the Funds' assets, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.

Net Asset Value

Each Fund's net asset value is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for trading. If the NYSE closes early on a valuation day, the Fund’s net asset value will be determined as of that time. Net asset value per share is calculated for a Fund by taking the market price of the Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), and dividing such amount by the total number of shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net asset value per share. All valuations are subject to review by the Board or its delegate.

Each Fund's investments are valued daily at market value or, in the absence of market value with respect to any portfolio securities, at fair value, in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Board and in accordance with the 1940 Act. Portfolio securities listed on any exchange other than Nasdaq and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) are valued at the last sale price on the business day as of which such value is being determined. Securities listed on Nasdaq or AIM are valued at the official closing price on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such day, or no official closing price in the case of securities traded on Nasdaq or AIM, the securities are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and ask price on such day.

Portfolio securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as applicable, on the business day as of which such value is being determined at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities. Portfolio securities traded in the over-the-counter market, but excluding securities trading on Nasdaq or AIM, are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at the closing bid price. Short-term investments that mature in less than 60 days when purchased are fair valued at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discount, provided the Advisor’s Pricing Committee has determined that the use of amortized cost is an appropriate reflection of fair value given market and issuer-specific conditions existing at the time of the determination.

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procedures adopted by the Board and in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, certain restricted securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market or fair value price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of the Fund's net asset value or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the pricing service, does not reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security would appear to be the amount which the owner might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale. When fair value prices are used, generally they will differ from the current market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable exchange. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities. See the Funds' SAI for details.

Because foreign securities exchanges may be open on different days than the days during which an investor may buy or sell shares of a Fund, the value of such Fund's securities may change on days when investors are not able to buy or sell shares of the Fund. The value of securities denominated in foreign currencies is converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation. Any use of a different rate from the rates used by a Fund’s Index may adversely affect such Fund’s ability to track its Index.

Fund Service Providers

The Bank of New York Mellon, 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, acts as the administrator, custodian and fund accounting and transfer agent for the Funds. Chapman and Cutler LLP, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, serves as legal counsel to the Funds. First Trust serves as the fund reporting agent for the Funds.

Index Providers

The Indices are compiled by the Index Providers. The Index Providers are not affiliated with the Funds, FTP or First Trust. Each Fund is entitled to use the applicable Index pursuant to a sublicensing arrangement with First Trust, which in turn has a licensing agreement with each Index Provider. With the exception of the First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund and First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF, each Index Provider or its agent also serves as calculation agent for the Index they provide (each, an “Index Calculation Agent”). Each Index Calculation Agent is responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations of the applicable Index, including calculating the value of such Index every 15 seconds, widely disseminating the Index values every 15 seconds and tracking corporate actions resulting in Index adjustments.

Disclaimers

First Trust does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Indices or any data included therein, and First Trust shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein. First Trust makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Funds, owners of the shares of the Funds or any other person or entity from the use of the Indices or any data included therein. First Trust makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Indices or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall First Trust have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect or consequential damages (including lost profits) arising out of matters relating to the use of the Indices, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

First Trust Capital Strength ETF

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. (“Nasdaq”) or its affiliates (Nasdaq with its affiliates are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Fund. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of The Capital Strength IndexSM to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to First Trust with respect to the Fund is in the licensing of The Capital Strength IndexSM, and certain trade names of the Corporations and the use of The Capital Strength IndexSM, which are determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq without regard to First Trust or the Fund. Nasdaq has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating The Capital Strength IndexSM. The

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Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of Fund Shares to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which Fund Shares are to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE CAPITAL STRENGTH INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE PRODUCT(S) OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE CAPITAL STRENGTH INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE CAPITAL STRENGTH INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund

The “Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM” and “Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM” are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), and have been licensed for use by First Trust. Dow Jones®, Dow Jones Internet Composite Index and Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index are trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). The foregoing marks have been licensed to SPDJI and have been sublicensed for use for certain purposes by First Trust on behalf of the Funds. The First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund and First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones or their respective affiliates. SPDJI, Dow Jones and their respective affiliates make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund and First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund and First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund particularly. The only relationship of SPDJI, Dow Jones or any of their respective affiliates to the Licensee with respect to the Indexes is the licensing of certain trademarks, trade names and service marks and of the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index and Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index which are determined, composed and calculated by SPDJI without regard to First Trust, First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund. SPDJI and Dow Jones have no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index and Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index. SPDJI, Dow Jones and their respective affiliates are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund are to be converted into cash. SPDJI, Dow Jones and their respective affiliates have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund. There is no assurance that investment products based on the Dow Jones Internet Composite Index and the Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. SPDJI is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by SPDJI to buy, sell or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.

SPDJI, DOW JONES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE DOW JONES INTERNET COMPOSITE INDEX AND DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND SPDJI, DOW JONES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. SPDJI, DOW JONES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OF THE FIRST TRUST DOW JONES INTERNET INDEX FUND OR FIRST TRUST DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEX FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DOW JONES INTERNET COMPOSITE INDEX AND DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. SPDJI, DOW JONES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE DOW JONES INTERNET COMPOSITE INDEX AND DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL SPDJI, DOW JONES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN

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CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN SPDJI AND FIRST TRUST, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF SPDJI.

First Trust Chindia ETF
First Trust Natural Gas ETF
First Trust Water ETF

The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by International Securities Exchange, LLC, as Index Provider. The Index Provider makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of trading in the Funds. The Index Provider’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of the Index Provider and of the Indexes which are determined, composed and calculated by the Index Provider without regard to First Trust or the Funds. The Index Provider has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Funds into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Indexes. The Index Provider is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Funds to be listed or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Funds are to be converted into cash. The Index Provider has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.

THE INDEX PROVIDER DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND THE INDEX PROVIDER SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. THE INDEX PROVIDER MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OF THE FUNDS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE INDEX PROVIDER MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE INDEX PROVIDER HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE INDEX PROVIDER AND FIRST TRUST.

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Morningstar Inc. Morningstar makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund in particular or the ability of the Morningstar Dividend Leaders IndexSM to track general stock market performance. Morningstar’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of: (i) certain service marks and service names of Morningstar; and (ii) the Morningstar Dividend Leaders IndexSM which is determined, composed and calculated by Morningstar without regard to First Trust or the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund. Morningstar has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Morningstar Dividend Leaders IndexSM. Morningstar is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund or the timing of the issuance or sale of the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund is converted into cash. Morningstar has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund.

MORNINGSTAR, INC. (“MORNINGSTAR”), DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE MORNINGSTAR® DIVIDEND LEADERS INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND MORNINGSTAR SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. MORNINGSTAR MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OR USERS OF THE FIRST TRUST MORNINGSTAR DIVIDEND LEADERS INDEX FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE MORNINGSTAR® DIVIDEND LEADERS INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. MORNINGSTAR MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE MORNINGSTAR® DIVIDEND LEADERS INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL MORNINGSTAR HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

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First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund

The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. (“Nasdaq”) or its affiliates (Nasdaq with its affiliates are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Funds. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly, or the ability of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM, the NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM and the NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to First Trust with respect to the Funds is in the licensing of the NASDAQ®, NASDAQ OMX®, NASDAQ-100®, NASDAQ-100 Index®, NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM, NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM and NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM trademarks, and certain trade names of the Corporations and the use of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM, NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM and the NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM which are determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq without regard to First Trust or the Funds. Nasdaq has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Funds into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM, NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM or the NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of Fund shares to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which Fund shares are to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NASDAQ-100 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEXSM, THE NASDAQ-100 EX-TECH SECTOR INDEXSM AND THE NASDAQ-100 TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE PRODUCT(S) OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ-100 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEXSM, THE NASDAQ-100 EX-TECH SECTOR INDEXSM AND THE NASDAQ-100 TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ-100 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEXSM, THE NASDAQ-100 EX-TECH SECTOR INDEXSM AND THE NASDAQ-100 TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. (“Nasdaq”), American Bankers Association (“ABA”) or their affiliates (Nasdaq and ABA, collectively with their affiliates, are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Fund. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of the NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to First Trust Advisors L.P. (“Licensee”) is in the licensing of the NASDAQ®, OMX®, NASDAQ OMX®, American Bankers Association, ABA, and NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM trademarks, and certain trade names and service marks of the Corporations and the use of the NASDAQ OMX ABA Community Bank IndexSM which is determined and composed by the Corporations without regard to Licensee or the Fund. The Corporations have no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NASDAQ OMX ABA COMMUNITY BANK INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST OR THE FUND, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ OMX ABA COMMUNITY BANK INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A

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PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ OMX ABA COMMUNITY BANK INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

All price history data for the NASDAQ OMX®ABA Community Bank IndexSM prior to its dissemination date, June 8, 2009 is indicative and NASDAQ OMX® makes no guarantee of the accuracy of back-tested data.

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc., Clean Edge®, Inc. or their affiliates (Nasdaq, Inc. and Clean Edge®, Inc., collectively with their affiliates, are referred to herein as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Fund. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of the NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy IndexSM to track general stock market or sector performance. The Corporations’ relationship to First Trust, with respect to the Fund, consists of: (i) the licensing of certain indexes, trade names, trademarks, and service marks and other proprietary data; (ii) the listing and trading of certain exchange-traded funds; and (iii) the calculating of intra-day portfolio values for the Fund’s shares. The Corporations neither recommend nor endorse any investment in the Index or the Fund based thereon. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund. Neither the Index nor the Fund should be construed as investment advice by the Corporations.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NASDAQ® CLEAN EDGE® GREEN ENERGY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ® CLEAN EDGE® GREEN ENERGY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ® CLEAN EDGE® GREEN ENERGY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Nasdaq, Inc. and Clean Edge®, Inc. are not affiliates, but jointly own the Index and have cross-licensed to one another the rights in their respective marks in connection with the Index.

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund

Source ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE Data”), is used with permission. “NYSE®” and “NYSE® Arca®” are service/trade marks of ICE Data Indices, LLC or its affiliates and have been licensed, along with the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index (“Index”) for use by First Trust Advisors L.P. in connection with the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (the “Product”). Neither First Trust Advisors L.P., First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund (the “Trust”) nor the Product, as applicable, is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by ICE Data Indices, LLC, its affiliates or its Third Party Suppliers (“ICE Data and its Suppliers”). ICE Data and its Suppliers make no representations or warranties regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally, in the Product particularly, the Trust or the ability of the Index to track general stock market performance. ICE Data’s only relationship to First Trust Advisors L.P. is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names and the Index or components thereof. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by ICE Data without regard to First Trust Advisors L.P. or the Product or its holders. ICE Data has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust Advisors L.P. or the holders of the Product into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. ICE Data is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of the Product to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Product is to be priced, sold, purchased, or redeemed. Except for certain custom index calculation services, all information provided by ICE Data is general in nature and not tailored to the needs of First Trust Advisors L.P. or any other person, entity or group of persons. ICE Data has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the Product. ICE Data is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by ICE Data to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.

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INDICES, INDEX DATA AND ANY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN, RELATED TO, OR DERIVED THEREFROM (“INDEX DATA”). ICE DATA AND ITS SUPPLIERS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INDICES AND THE INDEX DATA, WHICH ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS AND YOUR USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund

The S&P United States REIT Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”). Standard & Poor’s® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“SPFS”). The foregoing marks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed by First Trust Advisors L.P. The First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI or its affiliates, and SPDJI and its affiliates make no representation, warranty or condition regarding the advisability of buying, selling or holding shares of the Fund.

THE FUND IS NOT SPONSORED, ENDORSED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY SPDJI, SPFS AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY, “SPDJI”). SPDJI DOES NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION, CONDITION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE OWNERS OF THE FUND OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY OF INVESTING IN SECURITIES GENERALLY OR IN THE FUND PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX TO TRACK GENERAL STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE. SPDJI’S ONLY RELATIONSHIP TO FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. (“FTA”) IS THE LICENSING OF CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES AND OF THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX WHICH IS DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY SPDJI WITHOUT REGARD TO FTA OR THE FUND. SPDJI HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF FTA OR THE OWNERS OF THE FUND INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX. SPDJI IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND AMOUNT OF THE FUND OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF THE FUND OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH THE FUND SHARES ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. SPDJI HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, OR TRADING OF THE FUND. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT INVESTMENT PRODUCTS BASED ON THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX WILL ACCURATELY TRACK INDEX PERFORMANCE OR PROVIDE POSITIVE INVESTMENT RETURNS. S&P DOW JONES INDICES LLC IS NOT AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR. INCLUSION OF A SECURITY WITHIN AN INDEX IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION BY SPDJI TO BUY, SELL, OR HOLD SUCH SECURITY, NOR IS IT CONSIDERED TO BE INVESTMENT ADVICE.

SPDJI DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND SPDJI SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. SPDJI MAKES NO WARRANTY, CONDITION OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FTA, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. SPDJI MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR CONDITIONS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE AND ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL SPDJI HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN SPDJI AND FIRST TRUST, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF SPDJI.

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by IPOX®. IPOX® 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. IPOX®’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of IPOX® and of the U.S. IPOX® 100 Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by IPOX® without regard to First Trust or the Fund.

IPOX® is a registered international trademark of IPOX® Schuster LLC and IPOX® Schuster, IPOX 100 and IPOX 30 are trademarks of IPOX Schuster LLC (www.ipox.com) and have been licensed for certain purposes from IPOX Schuster LLC to First Trust pursuant to the product license agreement.

A patent with respect to the IPOX® index methodology has been issued (U.S. Pat. No. 7,698,197). IPOX® is a registered international trademark of IPOX® Schuster LLC (www.ipox.com).

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First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund

VALUE LINE PUBLISHING LLC’S (“VLP”) ONLY RELATIONSHIP TO FIRST TRUST IS VLP’S LICENSING TO FIRST TRUST OF CERTAIN VLP TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES AND THE VALUE LINE® DIVIDEND INDEX (THE “INDEX”), WHICH IS COMPOSED BY VLP WITHOUT REGARD TO FIRST TRUST AND THE FIRST TRUST VALUE LINE® DIVIDEND INDEX FUND (THE “PRODUCT”) OR ANY INVESTOR. VLP HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF FIRST TRUST OR ANY INVESTOR IN THE PRODUCT INTO CONSIDERATION IN COMPOSING THE INDEX. THE PRODUCT’S RESULTS MAY DIFFER FROM THE HYPOTHETICAL OR PUBLISHED RESULTS OF THE INDEX. VLP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW FIRST TRUST MAKES USE OF INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY VLP. VLP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND COMPOSITION OF THE PRODUCT OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE FOR SALE OF THE PRODUCT OR IN THE CALCULATION OF THE EQUATIONS BY WHICH THE PRODUCT IS TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. VLP MAKES NO WARRANTY CONCERNING THE INDEX, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY PERSON’S INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARISING FROM USAGE OF TRADE, COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, AND VLP MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE POTENTIAL PROFITS OR ANY OTHER BENEFITS THAT MAY BE ACHIEVED BY USING THE INDEX OR ANY INFORMATION OR MATERIALS GENERATED THEREFROM. VLP DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE INDEX WILL MEET ANY REQUIREMENTS OR BE ACCURATE OR ERROR-FREE. VLP ALSO DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANY USES, INFORMATION, DATA OR OTHER RESULTS GENERATED FROM THE INDEX OR PRODUCT. VLP HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY (I) IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING OR TRADING OF THE PRODUCT; OR (II) FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, COST OR EXPENSE SUFFERED OR INCURRED BY ANY INVESTOR OR OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PRODUCT, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL VLP BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR OTHER CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE INDEX OR THE PRODUCT.

VALUE LINE, THE VALUE LINE INVESTMENT SURVEY, TIMELINESS AND SAFETY ARE TRADEMARKS OR REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF VALUE LINE, INC. THAT ARE LICENSED TO FIRST TRUST. THE PRODUCT IS NOT SPONSORED, RECOMMENDED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY VALUE LINE PUBLISHING LLC, VALUE LINE, INC. OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES. FIRST TRUST IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY VALUE LINE COMPANY.

VALUE LINE HAS NOT PASSED ON THE LEGALITY OR SUITABILITY OF, OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF DESCRIPTIONS AND DISCLOSURES RELATING TO THE PRODUCT.

Premium/Discount Information

Information showing the number of days the market price of the Funds' shares was greater (at a premium) and less (at a discount) than the Funds' net asset value for the most recently completed year, and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year (or life of a Fund, if shorter), is available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx.

Total Return Information

The tables below compare the total return of each Fund to the total return of the Index on which it is based and each Fund’s benchmark index(es). The information presented for each Fund is for the period indicated. The total returns would have been lower if certain fees had not been waived and expenses reimbursed by First Trust.

“Average annual total returns” represent the average annual change in the value of an investment over the period indicated. “Cumulative total returns” represent the total change in value of an investment over the period indicated. The return information shown under “Annual Total Return” in a Fund’s summary prospectus represents the average annual total returns of the Fund as of the calendar year end, while the information presented below is as of the Fund’s fiscal year end. The net asset value per share of a Fund is the value of one share of the Fund and is computed by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), by the total number of outstanding shares. The net asset value return is based on the net asset value per share of a Fund and the market return is based on the market price per share of a Fund. The price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is determined by using the midpoint of the national best bid and offer price (“NBBO”) as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. Under SEC rules, the NBBO consists of the highest displayed buy and lowest sell prices among the various exchanges trading the Fund at the time a Fund's NAV is calculated. Prior to January 1, 2019, the price used was the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the stock exchange on which shares of a Fund were listed for trading as of the time that a Fund's NAV was calculated. Since the shares of each Fund typically do not trade in the secondary market until several days after a Fund's inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary market trading in shares of a Fund, the net asset value of a Fund is used as a proxy for the secondary market trading price to calculate market returns. Market and net asset

147

value returns assume that all distributions have been reinvested in a Fund at Market Price and net asset value, respectively. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike each Fund, an index does not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore does not incur the expenses incurred by a Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of each Fund. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower. The total returns reflect the reinvestment of dividends on securities in the index. The returns shown in the table below do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of shares of a Fund. The investment return and principal value of shares of a Fund will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares of a Fund may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. The Funds’ past performance is no guarantee of future results.

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (7/6/2006)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (7/6/2006)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	13.07%	13.54%	13.12%	10.38%	88.71%	243.09%	318.11%
Market Price	13.06%	13.53%	13.11%	10.38%	88.62%	242.78%	317.93%
Index Performance
The Capital Strength IndexSM (1)	13.77%	14.27%	N/A	N/A	94.86%	N/A	N/A
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	10.02%	103.04%	267.00%	298.75%

(1)

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (6/19/2006)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (6/19/2006)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	52.65%	23.26%	20.02%	17.69%	184.55%	520.08%	966.39%
Market Price	52.68%	23.26%	20.00%	17.68%	184.55%	519.27%	966.24%
Index Performance
Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM	53.51%	23.95%	20.69%	18.33%	192.59%	555.85%	1054.49%
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	10.20%	103.04%	267.00%	310.09%
S&P Composite 1500® Information Technology Index	43.23%	27.39%	20.22%	16.04%	235.47%	530.75%	768.92%

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (9/27/2005)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (9/27/2005)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	-4.25%	9.34%	9.40%	7.00%	56.26%	145.57%	180.66%
Market Price	-4.04%	9.40%	9.41%	7.01%	56.69%	145.90%	181.04%
Index Performance
Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM	-2.93%	10.13%	10.14%	7.74%	62.00%	162.77%	212.08%
Russell 2000® Index	19.96%	13.26%	11.20%	8.93%	86.36%	189.20%	268.97%

148

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (5/8/2007)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (5/8/2007)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	49.25%	17.09%	10.21%	9.36%	120.13%	164.30%	239.27%
Market Price	49.27%	17.09%	10.20%	9.36%	120.14%	164.01%	239.15%
Index Performance
ISE ChIndiaTM Index	50.30%	17.74%	10.72%	9.94%	126.26%	176.84%	264.68%
Russell 3000® Index	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.28%	104.95%	264.07%	235.82%
MSCI Emerging Markets Index	18.31%	12.81%	3.63%	4.39%	82.70%	42.82%	79.86%

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (5/8/2007)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (5/8/2007)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	-23.22%	-14.93%	-20.06%	-15.14%	-55.45%	-89.35%	-89.36%
Market Price	-23.21%	-14.97%	-20.08%	-15.14%	-55.55%	-89.38%	-89.36%
Index Performance
ISE-Revere Natural GasTM Index	-26.53%	-15.33%	-20.22%	-15.10%	-56.48%	-89.55%	-89.29%
S&P Composite 1500® Energy Index	-33.81%	-6.02%	-3.43%	-1.82%	-26.70%	-29.45%	-22.14%
Russell 3000® Index	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.28%	104.95%	264.07%	235.82%

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (5/8/2007)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (5/8/2007)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	21.20%	19.99%	13.44%	10.72%	148.70%	252.76%	301.36%
Market Price	21.21%	20.01%	13.42%	10.72%	148.94%	252.36%	301.45%
Index Performance
ISE Clean Edge Water Index	22.17%	20.63%	14.13%	11.41%	155.43%	274.92%	336.87%
Russell 3000® Index	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.28%	104.95%	264.07%	235.82%

149

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (3/9/2006)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (3/9/2006)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	-4.42%	8.62%	10.40%	6.74%	51.19%	168.90%	162.76%
Market Price	-4.42%	8.62%	10.37%	6.73%	51.20%	168.29%	162.59%
Index Performance
Morningstar® Dividend Leaders IndexSM	-3.87%	9.19%	10.97%	7.28%	55.22%	183.22%	183.06%
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	9.84%	103.04%	267.00%	301.68%

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (2/8/2007)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (2/8/2007)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	36.48%	14.28%	14.75%	10.93%	94.92%	295.88%	322.57%
Market Price	36.49%	14.31%	14.74%	10.93%	95.18%	295.65%	322.52%
Index Performance
NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM	37.34%	14.94%	15.45%	11.62%	100.63%	320.82%	360.38%
Russell 1000® Index	20.96%	15.60%	14.01%	9.55%	106.40%	271.02%	254.97%

First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (4/19/2006)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (4/19/2006)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	38.82%	27.65%	19.36%	14.77%	238.96%	486.83%	657.42%
Market Price	38.77%	27.63%	19.34%	14.76%	238.66%	485.88%	657.07%
Index Performance
NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM	39.70%	28.47%	20.11%	15.49%	249.91%	524.96%	730.79%
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	9.69%	103.04%	267.00%	289.56%
S&P 500® Information Technology Index	43.89%	27.79%	20.68%	15.14%	240.82%	554.90%	694.60%

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (2/8/2007)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (2/8/2007)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	183.52%	35.57%	16.51%	10.05%	357.87%	361.00%	278.48%
Market Price	183.48%	35.57%	16.52%	10.06%	358.00%	361.18%	278.63%
Index Performance
NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy IndexSM	184.83%	35.64%	16.50%	10.26%	359.09%	360.43%	288.37%
Russell 2000® Index	19.96%	13.26%	11.20%	8.05%	86.36%	189.20%	193.12%

150

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (4/19/2006)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (4/19/2006)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	37.35%	18.99%	16.33%	12.20%	138.52%	353.92%	443.30%
Market Price	37.30%	18.98%	16.33%	12.20%	138.48%	353.74%	443.08%
Index Performance
NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM	38.19%	19.71%	17.06%	12.90%	145.84%	383.04%	495.08%
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	9.69%	103.04%	267.00%	289.56%
NASDAQ-100 Index®	48.88%	24.27%	20.63%	15.75%	196.31%	552.24%	758.23%

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (6/19/2006)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (6/19/2006)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	12.93%	8.25%	15.73%	15.88%	48.67%	330.88%	751.79%
Market Price	12.94%	8.26%	15.72%	15.88%	48.72%	330.44%	751.79%
Index Performance
NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index	13.57%	8.83%	16.31%	16.50%	52.67%	352.93%	820.66%
S&P Composite 1500® Health Care Index	14.55%	12.12%	16.16%	12.07%	77.21%	347.25%	423.77%
NASDAQ® Biotechnology Index	26.42%	6.64%	17.69%	14.24%	37.90%	409.78%	592.07%
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	10.20%	103.04%	267.00%	310.09%

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (6/29/2009)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (6/29/2009)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	-11.00%	4.86%	7.86%	9.05%	26.78%	113.13%	171.10%
Market Price	-10.87%	4.86%	7.85%	9.06%	26.80%	112.88%	171.32%
Index Performance
NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM	-10.36%	5.53%	8.55%	9.75%	30.89%	127.15%	191.79%
S&P Composite 1500® Financials Index	-1.91%	10.96%	10.76%	12.34%	68.19%	177.94%	281.38%
Russell 3000® Index	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	15.41%	104.95%	264.07%	420.40%

151

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (5/8/2007)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (5/8/2007)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	-8.10%	4.05%	7.59%	3.88%	21.96%	107.88%	68.15%
Market Price	-8.07%	4.03%	7.59%	3.88%	21.85%	107.74%	68.16%
Index Performance
S&P United States REIT Index(1)	-7.52%	4.62%	8.17%	N/A	25.32%	119.39%	N/A
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT North America Index	-9.75%	4.09%	7.51%	4.01%	22.18%	106.33%	71.00%
Russell 3000® Index	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.28%	104.95%	264.07%	235.82%

(1)

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (4/12/2006)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (4/12/2006)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	47.76%	19.10%	18.45%	13.73%	139.66%	443.66%	564.87%
Market Price	47.85%	19.11%	18.44%	13.74%	139.79%	443.38%	565.11%
Index Performance
IPOX®-100 U.S. Index	48.44%	19.66%	19.09%	14.38%	145.32%	473.75%	622.51%
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	9.80%	103.04%	267.00%	296.19%
Russell 3000® Index	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.85%	104.95%	264.07%	298.46%

152

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (8/19/2003)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (8/19/2003)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	-0.04%	10.51%	11.50%	9.55%	64.86%	196.94%	387.13%
Market Price	0.02%	10.52%	11.49%	9.55%	64.90%	196.82%	387.27%
Index Performance
Value Line® Dividend Index(1),(2)	0.99%	11.43%	12.41%	N/A	71.78%	222.22%	N/A
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	13.88%	10.12%	103.04%	267.00%	433.86%
Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend IndexSM (2)	-4.56%	9.25%	11.00%	N/A	55.60%	183.93%	N/A

(1)

On December 15, 2006, the Fund acquired the assets and adopted the financial and performance history of First Trust Value Line® Dividend Fund (the “Predecessor FVD Fund,” a closed-end fund), which had an inception date of August 19, 2003. The inception date total returns at Net Asset Value (“NAV”) include the sales load of $0.675 per share on the initial offering. The investment goals, strategies and policies of the Fund are substantially similar to those of the Predecessor FVD Fund. The inception date of the Index was July 3, 2006. Returns for the Index are only disclosed for those periods in which the Index was in existence for the entire period. The cumulative total returns for the period from the reorganization date (12/15/06) through period end (12/31/20) were 201.17% and 202.69% at NAV and Market Value, respectively. That compares to an Index return of 236.93% for the same period. The average annual total returns for the period from the reorganization date (12/15/06) through period end (12/31/20) were 8.17% and 8.21% at NAV and Market Value, respectively. That compares to an Index return of 9.03% for the same period.NAV and Market Value returns assume that all dividend distributions have been reinvested in the Fund at NAV and Market Value, respectively. Prior to December 15, 2006,NAV and Market Value returns assumed that all dividend distributions were reinvested at prices obtained by the Dividend Reinvestment Plan of the Predecessor FVD Fund and the price used to calculate Market Value return was the AMEX (now known as the NYSE American) closing market price of the Predecessor FVD Fund.

(2)

Performance data is not available for all the periods shown in the table because performance data does not exist for the periods shown.

153

Financial Highlights

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand each Fund's financial performance for the periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share of each Fund. The total returns represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the periods indicated has been derived from financial statements audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report, along with each Fund's financial statements, is included in each Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders dated December 31, 2020 and is incorporated by reference in each Fund's SAI, which is available upon request.

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Capital Strength ETF (FTCS)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 60.37	$ 48.29	$ 50.95	$ 40.79	$ 38.12
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.63	0.76	0.60	0.59	0.58
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	7.18	12.08	(2.65)	10.16	2.67
Total from investment operations	7.81	12.84	(2.05)	10.75	3.25
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.63)	(0.76)	(0.61)	(0.59)	(0.58)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 67.55	$ 60.37	$ 48.29	$ 50.95	$ 40.79
Total Return (a)	13.07%	26.72%	(4.09)%	26.49%	8.57%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 7,021,909	$ 3,392,623	$ 1,376,131	$ 624,099	$ 320,190
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.56%	0.58%	0.60%	0.61%	0.64%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.56%	0.58%	0.60%	0.61%	0.64%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	1.10%	1.46%	1.30%	1.33%	1.55%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	133%	125%	117%	85%	85%

(a)

(b)

Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions and in-kind transactions.

154

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 139.12	$ 116.66	$ 109.82	$ 79.79	$ 74.64
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	(0.34)	(0.14)	(0.35)	(0.28)	(0.27)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	73.59	22.60	7.19	30.31	5.42
Total from investment operations	73.25	22.46	6.84	30.03	5.15
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	—	—	—	—	—
Net asset value, end of period	$ 212.37	$ 139.12	$ 116.66	$ 109.82	$ 79.79
Total Return (a)	52.65%	19.26%	6.23%	37.62%	6.91%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 11,075,029	$ 7,853,367	$ 7,016,807	$ 5,490,820	$ 3,486,734
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.51%	0.52%	0.52%	0.53%	0.54%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.51%	0.52%	0.52%	0.53%	0.54%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	(0.20)%	(0.10)%	(0.27)%	(0.32)%	(0.35)%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	39%	28%	21%	22%	21%

(a)

(b)

155

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 51.09	$ 40.76	$ 47.21	$ 43.98	$ 32.92
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.80	0.66	0.56	0.42	0.49
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(3.15)	10.37	(6.50)	3.27	11.07
Total from investment operations	(2.35)	11.03	(5.94)	3.69	11.56
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.80)	(0.70)	(0.51)	(0.46)	(0.50)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 47.94	$ 51.09	$ 40.76	$ 47.21	$ 43.98
Total Return (a)	(4.25)%	27.25%	(12.68)%	8.44%	35.45%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 122,482	$ 156,067	$ 138,777	$ 97,012	$ 116,776
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.71%	0.70%	0.73%	0.71%	0.75%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	1.88%	1.42%	1.29%	0.89%	1.52%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	95%	64%	75%	55%	48%

(a)

Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year. The total returns would have been lower if certain fees had not been waived and expenses reimbursed by the investment advisor.

(b)

156

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 39.75	$ 30.93	$ 39.57	$ 27.39	$ 28.36
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.09	0.14	0.04	0.34	0.25
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	19.42	8.81	(8.16)	12.61	(0.85)
Total from investment operations	19.51	8.95	(8.12)	12.95	(0.60)
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.19)	(0.13)	(0.52)	(0.77)	(0.37)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 59.07	$ 39.75	$ 30.93	$ 39.57	$ 27.39
Total Return (a)	49.25%	28.96%	(20.68)%	47.36%	(2.15)%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 256,949	$ 111,291	$ 133,007	$ 375,915	$ 131,466
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.59%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.59%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	0.20%	0.35%	1.06%	0.91%	0.91%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	46%	26%	22%	35%	47%

(a)

(b)

157

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 12.05	$ 14.69	$ 22.75	$ 26.15	$ 22.30
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income	0.10	0.10	0.02	(0.02)	0.13
Net realized and unrealized gain	(3.01)	(2.39)	(7.86)	(3.02)	4.16
Total from investment operations	(2.91)	(2.29)	(7.84)	(3.04)	4.29
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	—	(0.11)	—	(0.23)	(0.44)
Return of capital	(0.34)	(0.24)	(0.22)	(0.13)	—
Total distributions	(0.34)	(0.35)	(0.22)	(0.36)	(0.44)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 8.80	$ 12.05	$ 14.69	$ 22.75	$ 26.15
Total Return (a)	$ (23.22)%	(15.87)%	(34.77)%	(11.53)%	19.48%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 103,429	$ 95,209	$ 88,874	$ 184,262	$ 251,024
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.67%	0.65%	0.63%	(b)0.64%	(b)0.64%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	(b)0.63%	(b)0.61%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	1.48%	0.65%	0.07%	(0.11)%	0.54%
Portfolio turnover rate(c)	103%	61%	47%	53%	103%

(a)

(b)

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, ratios reflect excise tax of 0.03% and 0.01%, respectively, which are not included in the expense cap.

(c)

158

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Water ETF (FIW)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 59.91	$ 43.96	$ 48.58	$ 39.61	$ 30.13
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.38	0.32	0.35	0.54	0.20
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	12.24	15.96	(4.65)	8.98	9.48
Total from investment operations	12.62	16.28	(4.30)	9.52	9.68
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.40)	(0.33)	(0.32)	(0.55)	(0.20)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 72.13	$ 59.91	$ 43.96	$ 48.58	$ 39.61
Total Return (a)	21.20%	37.11%	(8.89)%	24.25%	32.21%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 688,794	$ 536,168	$ 290,107	$ 298,775	$ 221,791
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.54%	0.55%	0.55%	0.56%	0.57%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.54%	0.55%	0.55%	0.56%	0.57%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	0.66%	0.61%	0.72%	1.26%	0.58%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	15%	12%	11%	24%	42%

(a)

(b)

159

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 32.58	$ 27.24	$ 30.06	$ 27.75	$ 23.69
Income from investment operations
Net investment income (loss)	1.32	1.22	1.09	0.93	0.82
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(2.98)	5.34	(2.83)	2.34	4.05
Total from investment operations	(1.66)	6.56	(1.74)	3.27	4.87
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(1.33)	(1.22)	(1.08)	(0.96)	(0.81)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 29.59	$ 32.58	$ 27.24	$ 30.06	$ 27.75
Total Return (a)	(4.42)%	24.36%	(5.87)%	11.93%	20.72%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 1,399,483	$ 1,841,000	$ 1,386,483	$ 1,719,299	$ 1,778,464
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.46%	0.46%	0.47%	0.47%	0.48%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.45%	0.45%	0.45%	0.45%	0.45%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	4.73%	4.06%	3.70%	3.18%	3.27%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	63%	39%	39%	43%	50%

(a)

(b)

160

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 73.78	$ 54.61	$ 57.88	$ 46.18	$ 43.48
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.34	0.36	0.32	0.24	0.31
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	27.11	19.16	(a)(3.29)	11.74	2.73
Total from investment operations	27.45	19.52	(2.97)	11.98	3.04
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.35)	(0.35)	(0.30)	(0.28)	(0.34)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 100.88	$ 73.78	$ 54.61	$ 57.88	$ 46.18
Total Return (b )	37.35%	35.78%	(a)(5.16)%	26.00%	7.02%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 1,175,270	$ 907,438	$ 461,464	$ 529,632	$ 404,044
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.58%	0.59%	0.60%	0.60%	0.61%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.58%	0.59%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	0.41%	0.56%	0.52%	0.45%	0.72%
Portfolio turnover rate(c)	28%	29%	27%	26%	29%

(a)

The Fund received a reimbursement from the Advisor in the amount of $22,098 in connection with a trade error, which represents less than $0.01 per share. Since the Advisor reimbursed the Fund, there was no effect on the Fund's total return.

(b)

(c)

161

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 58.39	$ 45.66	$ 48.53	$ 40.44	$ 41.45
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.22	0.20	0.18	0.12	0.09
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	21.04	12.73	(2.88)	8.13	(0.98)
Total from investment operations	21.26	12.93	(2.70)	8.25	(0.89)
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.22)	(0.20)	(0.17)	(0.16)	(0.12)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 79.43	$ 58.39	$ 45.66	$ 48.53	$ 40.44
Total Return (a)	36.48%	28.35%	(5.58)%	20.41%	(2.13)%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 146,938	$ 102,183	$ 77,618	$ 101,914	$ 103,118
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.62%	0.64%	0.64%	0.63%	0.64%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	0.34%	0.38%	0.34%	0.25%	0.23%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	35%	31%	26%	25%	30%

(a)

(b)

162

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 100.08	$ 67.97	$ 71.92	$ 52.62	$ 42.64
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.58	0.70	0.65	0.48	0.67
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	38.09	32.09	(3.98)	19.39	9.99
Total from investment operations	38.67	32.79	(3.33)	19.87	10.66
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.61)	(0.68)	(0.62)	(0.57)	(0.68)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 138.14	$ 100.08	$ 67.97	$ 71.92	$ 52.62
Total Return (a)	38.82%	48.36%	(4.70)%	37.86%	25.27%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 3,349,911	$ 2,912,388	$ 1,950,669	$ 2,200,711	$ 1,570,855
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.57%	0.57%	0.57%	0.58%	0.60%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.57%	0.57%	0.57%	0.58%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	0.50%	0.82%	0.84%	0.76%	1.40%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	31%	23%	21%	21%	27%

(a)

(b)

163

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 51.91	$ 43.16	$ 52.34	$ 52.81	$ 38.94
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	1.11	1.04	0.81	0.74	0.58
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(7.13)	8.72	(9.17)	(0.46)	13.89
Total from investment operations	(6.02)	9.76	(8.36)	0.28	14.47
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(1.14)	(1.01)	(0.82)	(0.75)	(0.60)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 44.75	$ 51.91	$ 43.16	$ 52.34	$ 52.81
Total Return (a)	(11.00)%	22.80%	(16.14)%	0.55%	37.57%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 85,020	$ 142,752	$ 228,762	$ 314,032	$ 404,023
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.64%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.61%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	2.75%	1.98%	1.50%	1.37%	1.54%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	14%	15%	11%	14%	16%

(a)

(b)

164

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 24.91	$ 17.63	$ 20.28	$ 15.47	$ 16.01
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.11	0.13	0.12	0.05	0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	45.36	7.36	(2.59)	4.85	(0.52)
Total from investment operations	45.47	7.49	(2.47)	4.90	(0.35)
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.21)	(0.21)	(0.11)	(0.09)	(0.19)
Return of capital	—	—	(0.07)	—	—
Total distributions	(0.21)	(0.21)	(0.18)	(0.09)	(0.19)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 70.17	$ 24.91	$ 17.63	$ 20.28	$ 15.47
Total Return (a)	183.52%	42.69%	(12.22)%	31.73%	(2.12)%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 1,999,803	$ 144,467	$ 83,731	$ 91,262	$ 51,837
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.63%	0.65%	0.66%	0.68%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average %net assets	0.04%	0.58%	0.59%	0.23%	1.18%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	43%	26%	45%	32%	49%

(a)

(b)

165

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 148.84	$ 124.26	$ 124.52	$ 90.89	$ 113.06
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	(0.45)	(0.51)	(0.22)	(0.08)	(0.32)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	19.69	25.09	(0.04)	33.71	(21.85)
Total from investment operations	19.24	24.58	(0.26)	33.63	(22.17)
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	—	—	—	—	—
Net asset value, end of period	$ 168.08	$ 148.84	$ 124.26	$ 124.52	$ 90.89
Total Return (a)	12.93%	19.78%	(0.21)%	36.99%	(19.60)%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 2,042,173	$ 1,800,927	$ 2,342,213	$ 1,207,811	$ 804,385
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.55%	0.55%	0.57%	0.56%	0.56%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.55%	0.55%	0.57%	0.56%	0.56%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	(0.28)%	(0.25)%	(0.21)%	(0.08)%	(0.27)%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	26%	31%	37%	36%	42%

(a)

(b)

166

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 26.14	$ 21.63	$ 23.28	$ 23.07	$ 22.07
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.52	0.56	0.69	0.71	0.62
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(2.72)	4.55	(1.65)	0.16	1.13
Total from investment operations	(2.20)	5.11	(0.96)	0.87	1.75
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.71)	(0.60)	(0.69)	(0.66)	(0.75)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 23.23	$ 26.14	$ 21.63	$ 23.28	$ 23.07
Total Return (a)	(8.10)%	23.67%	(4.19)%	3.79%	7.92%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 74,344	$ 198,642	$ 115,696	$ 161,791	$ 236,426
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.52%	0.51%	0.52%	0.48%	0.49%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.50%	0.50%	0.50%	0.48%	0.49%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	2.04%	2.40%	3.05%	2.77%	2.52%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	6%	10%	10%	7%	6%

(a)

(b)

167

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (FPX)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 80.41	$ 62.07	$ 68.18	$ 54.10	$ 51.11
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.24	0.58	0.52	0.43	0.31
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	38.01	18.30	(6.08)	14.12	3.10
Total from investment operations	38.25	18.88	(5.56)	14.55	3.41
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.34)	(0.54)	(0.55)	(0.47)	(0.42)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 118.32	$ 80.41	$ 62.07	$ 68.18	$ 54.10
Total Return (a)	47.76%	30.45%	(8.22)%	26.96%	6.70%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 1,946,373	$ 1,330,835	$ 912,479	$ 981,732	$ 614,024
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.57%	0.58%	0.59%	0.59%	0.60%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.57%	0.58%	0.59%	0.59%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	0.26%	0.79%	0.74%	0.71%	0.58%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	75%	81%	57%	31%	41%

(a)

(b)

168

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (FVD)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 36.03	$ 29.07	$ 30.84	$ 28.02	$ 23.86
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.79	0.73	0.73	0.63	0.56
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(0.91)	6.96	(1.77)	2.84	4.17
Total from investment operations	(0.12)	7.69	(1.04)	3.47	4.73
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.81)	(0.73)	(0.73)	(0.65)	(0.57)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 35.10	$ 36.03	$ 29.07	$ 30.84	$ 28.02
Total Return (a)	(0.04)%	26.60%	(3.44)%	12.48%	19.94%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 10,149,204	$ 9,665,219	$ 4,374,483	$ 4,194,830	$ 2,892,982
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.70%	0.71%	0.72%	0.72%	0.73%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.70%	0.70%	0.70%	0.70%	0.70%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	2.47%	2.36%	2.40%	2.19%	2.31%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	86%	53%	58%	50%	60%

(a)

(b)

169

Other Information

Continuous Offering

Each Fund will issue, on a continuous offering basis, its shares in one or more groups of a fixed number of Fund shares (each such group of such specified number of individual Fund shares, a “Creation Unit Aggregation”). The method by which Creation Unit Aggregations of Fund shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Unit Aggregations of shares are issued and sold by a Fund on an ongoing basis, a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act, may occur at any point. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and liability provisions of the Securities Act.

For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Unit Aggregations after placing an order with FTP, breaks them down into constituent shares and sells such shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a characterization as an underwriter.

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, however, has received from the Securities and Exchange Commission an exemption from the prospectus delivery obligation in ordinary secondary market transactions under certain circumstances, on the condition that purchasers are provided with a product description of the shares. As a result, broker-dealer firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with the shares that are part of an overallotment within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares are reminded that, under the Securities Act Rule 153, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to a broker-dealer in connection with a sale on the applicable Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available from the applicable Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is available with respect to transactions on a national securities exchange, a trading facility or an alternative trading system.

170

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First Trust

Exchange-Traded Fund

First Trust Capital Strength ETF
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund
First Trust Chindia ETF
First Trust Natural Gas ETF
First Trust Water ETF
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund

For More Information

For more detailed information on the Funds, several additional sources of information are available to you. The SAI, incorporated by reference into this prospectus, contains detailed information on the Funds' policies and operation. Additional information about the Funds' investments is available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds’ annual reports, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly impacted the Funds' performance during the last fiscal year. The Funds’ most recent SAI, annual and semi-annual reports and certain other information are available free of charge by calling the Funds at (800) 621-1675, on the Funds' website at www.ftportfolios.com or through your financial advisor. Shareholders may call the toll-free number above with any inquiries.

You may obtain this and other information regarding the Funds, including the SAI and the Codes of Ethics adopted by First Trust, FTP and the Trust, directly from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Information on the SEC’s website is free of charge. Visit the SEC’s online EDGAR database at www.sec.gov. You may also request information regarding the Funds by sending a request (along with a duplication fee) to the SEC by sending an electronic request to publicinfo@sec.gov.

First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(800) 621-1675

www.ftportfolios.com

SEC File #: 333-125751811-21774

First Trust

Exchange-Traded Fund

Prospectus

FUND NAME	TICKER SYMBOL	EXCHANGE
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF	DWPP	Nasdaq
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	EDOW	NYSE Arca
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	FCTR	Cboe BZX
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	TUSA	Nasdaq

Each of the funds listed above (each a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”) lists and principally trades its shares on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) or Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. ("Cboe BZX") (each an “Exchange,” and collectively, the “Exchanges”). Market prices may differ to some degree from the net asset value of the shares. Unlike mutual funds, each Fund issues and redeems shares at net asset value, only in large blocks of shares called "Creation Units."

Each Fund is a series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund (the “Trust”) and an exchange-traded index fund organized as a separate series of a registered management investment company.

Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the shares are not redeemable securities of the Funds.

NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE

May 3, 2021

Table of Contents

Summary Information
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)	3
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)	12
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)	18
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX ® ETF (TUSA)	25
Additional Information on the Funds' Investment Objectives and Strategies	32
Fund Investments	33
Risks of Investing in the Funds	34
Fund Organization	43
Management of the Funds	43
How to Buy and Sell Shares	45
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes	46
Federal Tax Matters	46
Distribution Plan	49
Net Asset Value	49
Fund Service Providers	50
Index Providers	50
Disclaimers	50
Premium/Discount Information	53
Total Return Information	53
Financial Highlights	56
Other Information	60

Summary Information
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (the “Fund”), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of an index called the Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.60%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.60%
Fee Waiver(1)	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver	0.60%

(1)

Pursuant to a contractual agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, the management fees paid to the Fund’s investment advisor will be reduced by the proportional amount of the acquired fund fees and expenses of the shares of investment companies held by the Fund so that the Fund would not bear the indirect costs of holding them, provided that the investment companies are advised by the Fund’s investment advisor. This contractual agreement shall continue until the earlier of (i) its termination at the direction of the Trust’s Board of Trustees or (ii) upon the termination of the Fund’s management agreement with the Fund’s investment advisor, however, it is expected to remain in place for no less than one year from the date of this prospectus.

Example

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$61	$192	$335	$750

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 114% of the average value of its portfolio.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks or an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an “indexing” investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is owned and was developed by Nasdaq, Inc. (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure Index integrity.

The Index is a modified market-capitalization weighted index designed to tactically allocate exposure to one of three allocations: (i) Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index; (ii) Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Equal Weight Index; or (iii) First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF (“FTSM”) (each, an “Underlying Allocation”), based on daily relative strength readings. The Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index and the Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Equal Weight Index (each, an “Underlying Equity Index”) are equity indices that seek to provide exposure to the 500 securities with the highest float-adjusted market capitalization comprising the Nasdaq US Benchmark Index. Therefore, each Underlying Equity Index is composed of the same constituent securities. What differs, however, is the methodology each Underlying Equity Index utilizes to assign security weights. The Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index assigns security weights based on market capitalization and the Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Equal Weight Index weights components equally. The third Underlying Allocation is FTSM. FTSM is an actively-managed ETF that invests in short-duration securities, which are primarily U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade securities. See below for important information regarding FTSM.

The Index is designed upon the principle that the Underlying Allocation exhibiting the highest levels of “relative strength,” based on current prices, will be the Allocation with the best performance over the near term. A relative strength calculation is an objective method of comparing two investment options to determine which of the two is exhibiting greater forward price momentum. To determine which of the three Underlying Allocations is exhibiting the greatest price momentum, on a daily basis, the Index compares the relative strength of the three Underlying Allocations using “point and figure” charting. The Index first compares the relative strength of the two Underlying Equity Indices. The Index then compares the relative strength of the “winning” Underlying Equity Index (the Underlying Equity Index with the greater relative strength) against that of FTSM. The Index will select and weight the components of either the “winning” Underlying Equity Index or will invest in FTSM, depending on which exhibits the greatest levels of relative strength. This process is conducted on a daily basis. As a result of this daily determination, the Fund’s strategy may involve frequently buying and selling portfolio securities to reallocate the Fund’s exposure to the equity securities or to FTSM. The Underlying Equity Indices are rebalanced and reconstituted semi-annually. If the Index is invested in an Underlying Equity Index on a date when the Underlying Equity Index rebalances, the Index will also rebalance.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted periodically and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s periodic rebalance and reconstitution schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021 the Index was composed of 500 securities and the Fund had significant investments in information technology companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

FTSM

FTSM’s investment objective is to seek current income, consistent with preservation of capital and daily liquidity. Under normal market conditions, FTSM intends to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in a portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated fixed or floating rate debt securities, including securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or U.S. government-sponsored entities, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, U.S. corporate bonds, fixed income securities issued by non-U.S. corporations and governments, municipal obligations, privately issued securities and other debt securities bearing fixed or floating interest rates. FTSM may also invest in money market securities. FTSM may invest up to 20% of its net assets in privately-issued, non-agency sponsored mortgage- and asset-backed securities and may invest up to 20% of its net assets in floating rate loans representing amounts borrowed by companies or other entities from banks and other lenders. Under normal market conditions, FTSM’s portfolio is expected to have an average duration of less than one year and an average maturity of less than three years. Additional information regarding FTSM, including its prospectus and most recent annual report, is available without charge by visiting www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/Etf/EtfFundNews.aspx?Ticker=FTSM.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

Principal Risks

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold asset- backed securities. Asset-backed securities are debt securities typically created by buying and pooling loans or other receivables other than mortgage loans and creating securities backed by those similar type assets. As with other debt securities, asset-backed securities are subject to credit risk, extension risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk. These securities are generally not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and are subject to the risk of default on the underlying asset or loan, particularly during periods of economic downturn. The impairment of the value of collateral or other assets underlying an asset-backed security, such as a result of non-payment of loans or non-performance of underlying assets, may result in a reduction in the value of such asset-backed securities and losses to an underlying ETF.

CALL RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Some debt securities may be redeemed, or “called,” at the option of the issuer before their stated maturity date. In general, an issuer will call its debt securities if they can be refinanced by issuing new debt securities which bear a lower interest rate. An underlying ETF is subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates an issuer will call its high yielding debt securities. An underlying ETF would then be forced to invest the proceeds at lower interest rates, likely resulting in a decline in the ETF’s income.

CREDIT RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. An issuer or other obligated party of a debt security held by an underlying ETF may be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments when due. In addition, the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability or unwillingness to make such payments.

DEBT SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Investments in debt securities subject the holder to the credit risk of the issuer. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer or other obligor of a security will not be able or willing to make payments of interest and principal when due. Generally, the value of debt securities will change inversely with changes in interest rates. To the extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. During periods of falling interest rates, the income received by an underlying ETF may decline. If the principal on a debt security is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. Debt securities generally do not trade on a securities exchange making them generally less liquid and more difficult to value than common stock.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

economic events affecting an issuer occur. Common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market.

ETF RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs. The Fund’s investment in shares of ETFs subjects it to the risks of owning the securities underlying the ETF, as well as the same structural risks faced by an investor purchasing shares of the Fund, including authorized participant concentration risk, market maker risk, premium/discount risk and trading issues risk. As a shareholder in another ETF, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses, subjecting Fund shareholders to duplicative expenses.

EXTENSION RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Extension risk is the risk that, when interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the issuer (or other obligated party) more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of these debt securities to fall. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of debt securities, making their market value more sensitive to changes in interest rates. The value of longer-term debt securities generally changes more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term debt securities. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, securities may exhibit additional volatility and may lose value.

FLOATING RATE SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold floating rate securities. Floating rate securities are structured so that the security’s coupon rate fluctuates based upon the level of a reference rate. As a result, the coupon on floating rate securities will generally decline in a falling interest rate environment, causing an underlying ETF to experience a reduction in the income it receives from the security. A floating rate security’s coupon rate resets periodically according to the terms of the security. Consequently, in a rising interest rate environment, floating rate securities with coupon rates that reset infrequently may lag behind the changes in market interest rates. Floating rate securities may also contain terms that impose a maximum coupon rate the issuer will pay, regardless of the level of the reference rate which would decrease the value of the security.

INCOME RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. An underlying ETF’s income may decline when interest rates fall or if there are defaults in its portfolio. This decline can occur because an underlying ETF may subsequently invest in lower-yielding securities as debt securities in its portfolio mature, are near maturity or are called, or the ETF otherwise needs to purchase additional debt securities.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

INTEREST RATE RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the debt securities in an underlying ETF’s portfolio will decline because of rising market interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally lower for shorter term debt securities and higher for longer-term debt securities. An underlying ETF may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. Duration is a reasonably accurate measure of a debt security’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates and a common measure of interest rate risk. Duration measures a debt security’s expected life on a present value basis, taking into account the debt security’s yield, interest payments and final maturity. In general, duration represents the expected percentage change in the value of a security for an immediate 1% change in interest rates. For example, the price of a debt security with a three-year duration would be expected to drop by approximately 3% in response to a 1% increase in interest rates. Therefore, prices of debt securities with shorter durations tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than debt securities with longer durations. As the value of a debt security changes over time, so will its duration.

LIBOR RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities that pay coupons that are based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, intends to cease making LIBOR available as a reference rate over a phase-out period that is currently expected to begin after the end of 2021, although the specific timing of the phase out of LIBOR continues to be discussed and negotiated across the industry and in various jurisdictions. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain underlying ETF investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on an underlying ETF can be difficult to ascertain, and they may vary depending on a variety of factors. Any such effects of the transition away from LIBOR, as well as other unforeseen effects, could result in losses to the underlying ETF.

LIQUIDITY RISK. The Fund may hold certain investments that may be subject to restrictions on resale, trade over-the-counter or in limited volume, or lack an active trading market. Accordingly, the Fund may not be able to sell or close out of such investments at favorable times or prices (or at all), or at the prices approximating those at which the Fund currently values them. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

could result in a decrease in value of the Fund’s shares. This reduced effectiveness could result in Fund shares trading at a discount to net asset value and also in greater than normal intraday bid-ask spreads for Fund shares.

MOMENTUM INVESTING RISK. The Fund employs a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes selecting stocks that have had higher recent price performance compared to other stocks. Momentum can change quickly and stocks that previously exhibited high momentum characteristics may not experience positive momentum or may experience more volatility than the market as a whole. In addition, there may be periods when the momentum style of investing is out of favor and the investment performance of the Fund may suffer.

MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold mortgage-related securities. Mortgage-related securities are subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt securities, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk. However, these investments make an underlying ETF more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory events that affect the value of real estate. Mortgage-related securities are also significantly affected by the rate of prepayments and modifications of the mortgage loans underlying those securities, as well as by other factors such as borrower defaults, delinquencies, realized or liquidation losses and other shortfalls.The incidence of borrower defaults or delinquencies may rise significantly during financial downturns and could adversely affect the value of mortgage-related securities held by the underlying ETF. Events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events that result in broad and simultaneous financial hardships for individuals and businesses could have a significant negative impact on the value of mortgage-related securities. Mortgage-related securities are particularly sensitive to prepayment risk, given that the term to maturity for mortgage loans is generally substantially longer than the expected lives of those securities. As the timing and amount of prepayments cannot be accurately predicted, the timing of changes in the rate of prepayments of the mortgage loans may significantly affect an underlying ETF's actual yield to maturity on any mortgage-related securities. Along with prepayment risk, mortgage-related securities are significantly affected by interest rate risk.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

PREPAYMENT RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security will repay principal prior to the scheduled maturity date. Debt securities allowing prepayment may offer less potential for gains during a period of declining interest rates, as an underlying ETF may be required to reinvest the proceeds of any prepayment at lower interest rates. These factors may cause the value of an investment in an underlying ETF to change.

SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE RISK. To the extent that the Fund invests a large percentage of its assets in a single asset class or the securities of issuers within the same country, state, region, industry or sector, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if the Fund were more broadly diversified. A significant exposure makes the Fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the Fund to greater market risk than a fund that is more broadly diversified.

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES RISK. U.S. government securities are subject to interest rate risk but generally do not involve the credit risks associated with investments in other types of debt securities. As a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities are generally lower than the yields available from other debt securities. U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity.While securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. federal government agencies (such as Ginnie Mae) are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, securities issued by government sponsored entities (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are solely the obligation of the issuer and generally do not carry any guarantee from the U.S. government.

VALUATION RISK. Under certain market conditions, the Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities.Unlike publicly traded securities that trade on national securities exchanges, there is no central place or exchange for trading most debt securities. Debt securities generally trade on an “over-the-counter” market. Due to the lack of centralized information and trading, and variations in lot sizes of certain debt securities, the valuation of debt securities may carry more uncertainty and risk than that of publicly traded securities. Accordingly, determinations of the fair value of debt securities may be based on infrequent and dated information. Also, because the available information is less reliable and more subjective, elements of judgment may play a greater role in valuation of debt securities than for other types of securities.

Annual Total Return

The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund and Index returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of the Index and two broad-based market indices. See “Total Return Information” for additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

On August 18, 2017, the Fund’s underlying index changed from the CBOE® VIX® Tail Hedge Index to the Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio Index. Therefore, the Fund’s performance and historical returns shown below are not necessarily indicative of the performance that the Fund, based on the Index, would have generated. Returns for an underlying index are only disclosed for those periods in which the index was in existence for the whole period. Because the Fund’s new underlying index had an inception date of July 24, 2017, it was not in existence for all of the periods disclosed.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
15.02%	March 31, 2019	-23.57%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	-14.42%	4.58%	5.74%	8/29/2012
Return After Taxes on Distributions	-14.63%	4.08%	5.16%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	-8.55%	3.32%	4.27%
Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio Index(1) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	-13.84%	N/A	N/A
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	18.40%	15.22%	14.78%
Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	21.42%	N/A	N/A

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

(1)

On August 18, 2017, the Fund's underlying index changed from the CBOE® VIX® Tail Hedge Index to the Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio Index. Therefore, the Fund’s performance and total returns shown for the periods prior to August 18, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of the performance the Fund, based on the current Index, would have generated. Since the Fund's current Index had an inception date of July 24, 2017, it was not in existence for all of the periods disclosed.

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2012, except for Chris A. Peterson, who has served as a part of the portfolio management team since 2016, and Erik Russo, who has served as a part of the portfolio management team since 2020.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (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 Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.50%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.50%

Example

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$51	$160	$280	$628

Portfolio Turnover

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an “indexing” investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is developed, maintained and sponsored by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider reserves the right to make exceptions when applying the methodology if the need arises. In addition, the Index Provider may revise Index policy covering rules for selecting companies, treatment of dividends, share counts or other matters.

The Index is the equal weight version of the Dow Jones Industrial AverageTM (the “DJIA”). The DJIA is composed of 30 securities issued by blue-chip U.S. companies covering all industries, with the exception of transportation and utilities (as of the date of this prospectus). The DJIA is maintained by the Averages Committee, which is composed of three representatives of the S&P Dow Jones Indices and two representatives of The Wall Street Journal. Additions or deletions of components may be

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)

made to achieve better representation of the broad market and of American industry. Inclusion in the DJIA is not governed by quantitative rules but rather is based on the following criteria: (i) the company is not a utility or in the transportation business; (ii) the company has a premier reputation in its field; (iii) the company has a history of successful growth; (iv) there is wide interest in the company among individual and institutional investors; and (v) the company should be incorporated and headquartered in the U.S. In addition, a plurality of revenues should be derived from the U.S. Maintaining adequate sector representation within the index is also a consideration in the selection process for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Whenever one component is changed, the others are reviewed. For the sake of historical continuity, composition changes are rarely made. In the event that there is a change in the components of the DJIA, the component removed from the DJIA will simultaneously be removed from the Index, and the component that replaces the removed component will be added to the Index at the same weight as the component that was removed.

The Index is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted as needed and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 30 securities and the Fund had significant investments in information technology companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)

the Fund’s market price may be below the Fund’s net asset value during certain periods. In addition, index rebalances may potentially result in increased trading activity in the Fund’s shares.

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged disruptions to the normal business operations of companies around the world and the impact of such disruptions is hard to predict. Such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Such events could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of the Fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, the Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value.

Annual Total Return

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)

additional performance information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com.

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
15.71%	June 30, 2020	-22.01%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	6.41%	11.68%	8/8/2017
Return After Taxes on Distributions	5.48%	10.78%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	3.71%	8.70%
Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	7.40%	12.40%
Dow Jones Industrial Average® (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	9.72%	12.68%

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2017, except for Erik Russo, who has served as a part of the portfolio management team since 2020.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (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 Lunt Capital Large Cap Factor Rotation Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.65%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	0.65%

Example

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$66	$208	$362	$810

Portfolio Turnover

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an “indexing” investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is owned and was developed by Lunt Capital Management, Inc. (the “Index Provider”) and is calculated and maintained by Nasdaq, Inc. Nasdaq, Inc. may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure Index integrity.

The Index is designed to track the performance of U.S. securities exhibiting desirable factor exposure. The Index utilizes the Index Provider’s risk-adjusted relative strength methodology to allocate exposure to securities exhibiting either high or low levels of the characteristics associated with one of four primary investing factors: (i) momentum; (ii) value; (iii) quality; and (iv) volatility. Within the Index’s selection universe, each factor is represented by two sub-indices, each of which selects 50

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)

stocks from the Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index. One sub-index selects 50 stocks exhibiting the highest levels of the factor and the other selects 50 stocks exhibiting the lowest levels of the factor. The factors are briefly defined, and their associated sub-indices are set forth below. The Index Provider’s risk-adjusted relative strength methodology is designed to identify the sub-indices with the greatest return potential with the least amount of risk and tactically allocate exposure to those sub-indices.

•

Momentum is the statistical measurement of the price performance of a security versus a market average, another security or a universe of securities. The sub-indices representing this factor are rebalanced semi-annually and evaluate the average of a security’s trailing 12-month, 9-month, 6-month, 3-month and 1-month returns.

○

Nasdaq Factor Family US Momentum Index: an index seeking to select a portfolio of securities exhibiting high momentum factor characteristics.

○

Nasdaq Factor Laggard US Momentum Index: an index seeking to select a portfolio of securities exhibiting low momentum factor characteristics.

•

Value is the statistical measurement of a security’s price relative to the fundamental value of that security. The sub-indices representing this factor are rebalanced semi-annually and select securities based on a value score that evaluates several factors, including a security’s book value to price ratio, cash flow to price, return on assets, sales enterprise value and earnings-to-price ratio.

○

Nasdaq Factor Family US Value Index: an index seeking to select a portfolio of securities exhibiting high value factor characteristics.

○

Nasdaq Factor Laggard US Value Index: an index seeking to select a portfolio of securities exhibiting low value factor characteristics.

•

Quality is the statistical measurement of the strength of a security’s fundamentals. The sub-indices representing this factor are rebalanced annually and evaluate several criteria, including a security’s earnings-per-share, operating margin, sales growth and return on equity.

○

Nasdaq Factor Family US Quality Index: an index seeking to select a portfolio of securities exhibiting high quality factor characteristics.

○

Nasdaq Factor Laggard US Quality Index: an index seeking to select a portfolio of securities exhibiting low quality factor characteristics.

•

Volatility is the statistical measurement of the magnitude of a security’s price fluctuations over time. The sub-indices representing this factor are rebalanced semi-annually and evaluate a security’s realized volatility over trailing 12-month, 9-month, 6-month and 3-month and 1-month time periods.

○

Nasdaq Factor Family US Low Volatility Index: an index seeking to select a portfolio of securities exhibiting low levels of volatility.

○

Nasdaq Factor Laggard US Low Volatility Index: an index seeking to select a portfolio of securities exhibiting high levels of volatility.

On the last trading day of each month, the Index applies the Index Provider’s risk-adjusted relative strength methodology to each pair of sub-indices and assigns each a “Risk-Adjusted Score.” The Risk-Adjusted Score is the return per unit of risk of the sub-index, measured as the standard deviation of returns over the course of the prior 12 months. From each pair of sub-indices, the Index selects the sub-index with the highest Risk-Adjusted Score for inclusion in the Index and invests in the securities comprising the four selected sub-indices. The aggregate weight assigned to each sub-index is dependent upon the Index’s holdings prior to the Index’s evaluation. If, upon the evaluation, the same four sub-indices are selected for inclusion in the Index, no changes of any kind are enacted. If, however, one or more sub-indices are to be replaced, the weight assigned to the sub-indices already included in the Index (if any) remains unchanged and the aggregate weight of the sub-indices that are removed is redistributed equally to the newly included sub-indices. Within each sub-index, the securities are weighted by factor score, with the highest scoring security receiving the highest weight.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted periodically and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s periodic rebalance and reconstitution schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 153 securities with market capitalization ranges from $5.41 billion to $641.11 billion. As of March 31, 2021, the Fund had significant investments in information technology companies, although this may change from time to time. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)

Principal Risks

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)

the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)

NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK. The Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund is only limited as to the percentage of its assets which may be invested in the securities of any one issuer by the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers. As a result, the 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 invested in certain issuers.

QUALITY STOCKS INVESTMENT RISK. A quality style of investing emphasizes companies with strong fundamentals. However, there is no guarantee that the Fund will correctly identify companies with strong fundamentals or that selected companies will maintain strong fundamentals. In addition, quality stocks are subject to the risk that the returns on quality securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market.

VALUE STOCKS INVESTMENT RISK. The intrinsic value of a stock with value characteristics may not be fully recognized by the market for a long time or a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced at a low level.

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)

Annual Total Return

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

During the period shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
35.02%	June 30, 2020	-22.51%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	30.02%	17.79%	7/25/2018
Return After Taxes on Distributions	29.71%	17.34%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	17.73%	13.66%
Lunt Capital Large Cap Factor Rotation Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	31.14%	18.71%
Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	21.42%	15.55%

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

The Investment Committee members are primarily and jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Each Investment Committee member has served as a part of the portfolio management team of the Fund since 2018, except for Erik Russo, who has served as a part of the portfolio management team since 2020.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Summary Information
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)

Investment Objective

The First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (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 NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index (the “Index”).

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees	0.50%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.00%
Other Expenses	0.66%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.16%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(1)	0.46%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement	0.70%

(1)

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund’s investment advisor, has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.70% of its average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022. Expenses reimbursed and fees waived under such agreement are subject to recovery by the Fund’s investment advisor for up to three years from the date the fee was waived or expense was incurred, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund if it results in the Fund exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by the Fund’s investment advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice.

Example

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.70% of average daily net assets per year will be terminated following April 30, 2022. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year	3 Years	5 Years	10 Years
$72	$323	$594	$1,368

Portfolio Turnover

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an “indexing” investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is owned and is developed, maintained and sponsored by Nasdaq, Inc. (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider may, from time to time, exercise reasonable discretion as it deems appropriate in order to ensure Index integrity.

The Index is a modified market capitalization index designed to quantitatively identify and select U.S. exchange-listed securities issued by small, mid and large cap U.S. companies that exhibit growth and value factors and appear to have the greatest potential for capital appreciation. The Index’s initial universe is composed of the component stocks of the NASDAQ US Large Cap Index, NASDAQ US Mid Cap Index and the 1,000 stocks comprising the NASDAQ US Small Cap Index with the largest market capitalizations. Eligible securities must also have a five-day global rolling average daily dollar trading volume over the last 60 trading days of greater than $500,000.

Eligible securities are ranked separately within each class (small, mid and large cap stocks) on the sum of ranks for both growth and value factors. The growth factors used to rank securities are 3-, 6- and 12-month price appreciation, sales to price and one-year sales growth. The value factors used to rank securities are book value to price, cash flow to price and return on assets. A security must have data for all growth and/or all value factors to receive a rank for that style. Each security is classified as either a growth stock or a value stock as determined by the Index Provider. This classification determines whether a security’s growth rank or value rank is used as its “selection score.” Securities classified as growth stocks are assigned their growth rank as their selection score and securities classified as value stocks are assigned their value rank as their selection score. The securities within each class are then ranked based upon their selection score. The Index selects the following securities for inclusion in the Index:

The 200 highest ranking securities from the NASDAQ US Large Cap Index

The 400 highest ranking securities from the NASDAQ US Mid Cap Index

The 600 highest ranking securities from the NASDAQ US Small Cap Index

The Index assigns an aggregate weight of 50% to the securities selected from the NASDAQ US Large Cap Index, 30% to the securities selected from the NASDAQ US Mid Cap Index and 20% to the securities selected from the NASDAQ US Small Cap Index. The selected securities within each class are split into quintiles based upon their selection score. The top ranked quintile receives 5/15 (33.3%) of the portfolio weight assigned to the class with successive quintiles receiving 4/15 (26.7%), 3/15 (20.0%), 2/15 (13.3%) and 1/15 (6.7%), respectively. Securities are equally weighted within each quintile.

The Index is rebalanced and reconstituted quarterly and the Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio shortly after the Index changes are made public. The Index’s quarterly rebalance and reconstitution schedule may cause the Fund to experience a higher rate of portfolio turnover. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. As of March 31, 2021, the Index was composed of 1199 securities. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a given jurisdiction or investment sector, the Fund may be exposed to the risks associated with that jurisdiction or investment sector.

Principal Risks

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)

GROWTH STOCKS INVESTMENT RISK. Stocks exhibiting growth characteristics tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices usually fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings and may lack dividend payments that can help cushion its share price during declining markets.

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)

Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)

for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the market for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which could in turn lead to differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and their net asset value.

Annual Total Return

On January 9, 2015, the Fund’s underlying index changed from the Value Line® Equity Allocation Index to the NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index. Therefore, the Fund’s performance and historical returns shown below are not necessarily indicative of the performance that the Fund, based on the Index, would have generated. Returns for an underlying index are only disclosed for those periods in which the index was in existence for the whole period. Because the Fund’s Index had an inception date of September 8, 2014, it was not in existence for all of the periods disclosed.

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF
Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)

During the periods shown in the chart above:

Best Quarter		Worst Quarter
27.56%	June 30, 2020	-31.57%	March 31, 2020

The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Return Before Taxes	13.65%	12.05%	8.45%	6.47%	12/5/2006
Return After Taxes on Distributions	13.06%	11.53%	7.94%	5.97%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares	8.00%	9.34%	6.60%	5.01%
NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index(1) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	14.57%	12.90%	0.00%	0.00%
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.54%

(1)

On January 9, 2015, the Fund’s underlying index changed from the Value Line® Equity Allocation Index to the NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index. Therefore, the Fund’s performance and total returns shown for the periods prior to January 9, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of the performance the Fund, based on its current index, would have generated. Since the Fund’s current underlying index had an inception date of September 8, 2014, it was not in existence for all of the periods disclosed.

Management

Investment Advisor

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”)

Portfolio Managers

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by a team (the “Investment Committee”) consisting of:

•

Daniel J. Lindquist, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Jon C. Erickson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of First Trust

•

Roger F. Testin, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Stan Ueland, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Chris A. Peterson, Senior Vice President of First Trust

•

Erik Russo, Vice President of First Trust

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)

except for Chris A. Peterson, who has served as a part of the portfolio management team since 2016, and Erik Russo, who has served as a part of the portfolio management team since 2020.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

Additional Information on the Funds' Investment Objectives and Strategies

Each Fund’s investment objective, its 80% or 90% investment strategy, as applicable, and each of the policies described herein are non-fundamental policies that may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. Certain fundamental policies of the Funds are set forth in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) under “Investment Objective and Policies.”

While it is not expected that the Funds (other than First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF) will invest in the securities of other investment companies, any such investments would be subject to limitations imposed by the 1940 Act and the related rules and interpretations. Each Fund other than First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF has adopted a policy that it will not invest in other investment companies in excess of 1940 Act limits in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Equal Weight Index is an equal-dollar weighted index designed to be the equal-weight version of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and seeks to measure the performance of 30 U.S. blue-chip companies. The Index is evaluated as-needed and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

Lunt Capital Large Cap Factor Rotation Index

The Lunt Capital Large Cap Factor Rotation Index is a modified equal-weighted index designed to track the performance of securities exhibiting desirable factor exposure. The Index seeks to select securities from eight single factor-oriented indexes based on the proprietary Lunt Capital Factor Allocation Methodology. The Index is evaluated and rebalanced monthly.

NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index

The NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index that seeks to employ the AlphaDEX® stock selection methodology to select stocks based on growth and value factors from the NASDAQ US Large Cap Index, the NASDAQ US Mid Cap Index and the NASDAQ US Small Cap Index. The Index is evaluated and rebalanced quarterly in March, June, September and December.

Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio Index

The Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index that seeks to allocate its stock selection between the Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index, the Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Equal Weight Index and FTSM based on daily relative strength readings. The Index is evaluated daily.

Fund Investments

Principal Investments

Equity Securities

U.S. Government Securities

U.S. government securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies of the U.S. government, or by various instrumentalities that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government. Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. government sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

Investment Companies

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in securities of ETFs. ETFs are managed registered investment companies which invest in various types of securities. ETFs issue shares of common stock that are traded on a securities exchange. ETFs trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. As a shareholder in a pooled investment vehicle, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF will bear its ratable share of that vehicle’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the fund’s advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Shareholders may therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF invests in other pooled investment vehicles. In addition, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs. Securities of other pooled investment vehicles may be leveraged, in which case the value and/or yield of such securities will tend to be more volatile than securities of unleveraged vehicles.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF’s ability to invest in other investment companies is limited by the 1940 Act and the related rules and interpretations. First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in other investment companies in excess of the limits imposed under the 1940 Act pursuant to exemptive orders obtained by certain investment companies and their sponsors from the Securities and Exchange Commission, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to a contractual arrangement between First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF and such investment companies.

Non-Principal Investments

Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Normally, a Fund invests substantially all of its assets to meet its investment objective. Each Fund may invest the remainder of its assets in securities with maturities of less than one year or cash equivalents, or it may hold cash. The percentage of a Fund invested in such holdings varies and depends on several factors, including market conditions. For temporary defensive purposes and during periods of high cash inflows or outflows, a Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies and invest part or all of its assets in these securities, or it may hold cash. During such periods, a Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective. A Fund may adopt a defensive strategy when its portfolio managers believe securities in which the Fund normally invests have elevated risks due to political or economic factors and in other extraordinary circumstances. For more information on eligible short-term investments, see the SAI.

Illiquid Investments

that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment).

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

Risks of Investing in the Funds

Principal Risks

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are debt securities typically created by buying and pooling loans or other receivables other than mortgage loans and creating securities backed by those similar type assets. They are typically issued by trusts and special purpose co-purchasers that pass income from the underlying pool to investors. As with other debt securities, asset-backed securities are subject to credit risk, extension risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk. Certain asset-backed securities do not have the benefit of the same security interest in the related collateral as do mortgage-backed securities, nor are they provided government guarantees of repayment. Credit card receivables are generally unsecured, and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give such debtors the right to set off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the balance due. In addition, some issuers of automobile receivables permit the servicers to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related automobile receivables. The impairment of the value of collateral or other assets underlying an asset-backed security, such as a result of non-payment of loans or non-performance of underlying assets, may result in a reduction in the value of such asset-backed securities and losses to an underlying ETF.

CALL RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Some debt securities may be redeemed at the option of the issuer, or “called,” before their stated maturity date. In general, an issuer will call its debt securities if they can be refinanced by issuing new debt securities which bear a lower interest rate. An underlying ETF is subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates an issuer will call its high yielding debt securities. An underlying ETF would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, likely resulting in a decline in the fund’s income. Such redemptions and subsequent reinvestments would also increase an underlying ETF’s portfolio turnover. If a called debt security was purchased by an underlying ETF at a premium, the value of the premium may be lost in the event of a redemption.

CREDIT RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. An issuer or other obligated party of a debt security held by an underlying ETF may be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments when due. In addition, the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability or unwillingness to make such payments. Debt securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk which are often reflected in credit ratings. The credit rating of a debt security may be lowered if the issuer or other obligated party suffers adverse changes to its financial condition. These adverse changes may lead to greater volatility in the price of the debt security and affect the security’s liquidity. High yield and comparable unrated debt securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment grade debt with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of dividend or interest deferral, default or bankruptcy, and are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the

issuer’s capacity to pay dividends or interest and repay principal. To the extent that an underlying ETF holds debt securities that are secured or guaranteed by financial institutions, changes in credit quality of such financial institutions could cause values of the debt security to deviate.

DEBT SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Investments in debt securities subject the holder to the credit risk of the issuer or other obligor. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will not be able or willing to make payments of interest and principal when due. Generally, the value of debt securities will change inversely with changes in interest rates. To the extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. During periods of falling interest rates, the income received by an underlying ETF may decline. If the principal on a debt security is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. Debt securities generally do not trade on a centralized securities exchange making them generally less liquid and more difficult to value than common stock. The values of debt securities may also increase or decrease as a result of market fluctuations, actual or perceived inability or unwillingness of issuers, guarantors or liquidity providers to make scheduled principal or interest payments or illiquidity in debt securities markets generally.

EQUITY SECURITIES RISK. The value of a Fund’s shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities in which it invests. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors' perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant equity market, such as market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. Common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market. Additionally, holders of an issuer's common stock may be subject to greater risks than holders of its preferred stock and debt securities because common stockholders' claims are subordinated to those of holders of preferred stocks and debt securities upon the bankruptcy of an issuer.

ETF RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs. Most ETFs use a “passive” investment strategy and seek to replicate the performance of a market index. Such ETFs do not take defensive positions in volatile or declining markets their shares may trade below net asset value. While some ETFs seek to achieve the same return as a particular market index, the performance of the ETF may diverge from the performance of the index. Some ETFs are actively managed ETFs and do not track a particular index which indirectly subjects an investor to active management risk. An active secondary market in ETF shares may not develop or be maintained and may be halted or interrupted due to actions by its listing exchange, unusual market conditions or other reasons. There can be no assurance that an ETF’s shares

will continue to be listed on an active exchange. In addition, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of a Fund’s expenses and, indirectly, the ETF’s expenses, incurred through a Fund’s ownership of the ETF. Because the expenses and costs of an ETF are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in the ETF could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such ETF. These transactions might also result in higher brokerage, tax or other costs for the ETF. This risk may be particularly important when one investor owns a substantial portion of the ETF. There is a risk that ETFs in which a Fund invests may terminate due to extraordinary events. For example, any of the service providers to ETFs, such as the trustee or sponsor, may close or otherwise fail to perform their obligations to the ETF, and the ETF may not be able to find a substitute service provider. Also, certain ETFs may be dependent upon licenses to use various indexes as a basis for determining their compositions and/or otherwise to use certain trade names. If these licenses are terminated, the ETFs may also terminate. In addition, an ETF may terminate if its net assets fall below a certain amount.

EXTENSION RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Extension risk is the risk that, when interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the issuer (or other obligated party) more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of these debt securities to fall. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of debt securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. The value of longer-term debt securities generally changes more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term debt securities. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, securities may exhibit additional volatility and may lose value. Extension risk is particularly prevalent for a callable debt security where an increase in interest rates could result in the issuer of that security choosing not to redeem the debt security as anticipated on the security’s call date. Such a decision by the issuer could have the effect of lengthening the debt security’s expected maturity, making it more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value.

FLOATING RATE SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold floating rate securities. Floating rate securities are structured so that the security’s coupon rate fluctuates based upon the level of a reference rate. Most commonly, the coupon rate of a floating rate security is set in the loan agreement at the level of a widely followed interest rate, plus a fixed spread. As a result, it is expected that when interest rates change, the value of floating rate securities will fluctuate less than the value fixed rate debt securities. The coupon on floating rate securities will generally decline in a falling interest rate environment, causing an underlying ETF to experience a reduction in the income it receives from the security. A floating rate security’s coupon rate resets periodically according to the terms of the security. Consequently, in a rising interest rate environment, floating rate securities with coupon rates that reset infrequently may lag behind the changes in market interest rates and may effect the value of the security. Floating rate securities may also contain terms that impose a maximum coupon rate the issuer will pay, regardless of the level of the reference rate which would decrease the value of the security. The secondary market value of a floating rate security is based on the volatility of the reference rate, the time remaining to maturity, the outstanding amount of such securities, market interest rates and the credit quality or perceived financial status of the issuer. Floating rate securities may be less liquid than other types of securities.

GROWTH STOCKS INVESTMENT RISK. Certain Funds utilize a growth style of investing. Growth stocks generally are priced higher than non-growth stocks in relation to an issuer’s earnings and other measures because investors believe they have greater growth potential. However, there is no guarantee that such an issuer will realize that growth potential. In addition, the market values of growth stocks may be more volatile than other types of investments, and therefore more susceptible to rapid price swings, especially during periods of economic uncertainty or in response to adverse news about the condition of the issuer, such as earnings disappointments. The returns on growth stocks may or may not move in tandem with the returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. Growth stocks may fall out of favor and trail the returns of funds employing other styles of investing. Growth stocks may also be more adversely affected in a down market, as growth stocks typically have little or no dividend income to absorb the effect of adverse market conditions.

INCOME RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. An underlying ETF’s income may decline when interest rates fall. This decline can occur because an underlying fund may subsequently invest in lower-yielding securities as debt securities in its portfolio mature, are near maturity or are called, or the fund otherwise needs to purchase additional debt securities. In addition, an underlying fund’s income could decline when a fund experiences defaults on the debt securities it holds.

may be below the Fund’s net asset value during certain periods. In addition, index rebalances may potentially result in increased trading activity. To the extent buying or selling activity increases, a Fund can be exposed to increased brokerage costs and adverse tax consequences and the market price of the Fund can be negatively affected.

INDEX PROVIDER RISK. There is no assurance that the Index Provider, or any agents that act on its behalf, will compile an Index accurately, or that an Index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated or disseminated accurately. The Index Provider and its agents do not provide any representation or warranty in relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in an Index, and do not guarantee that an Index will be calculated in accordance with its stated methodology. The Advisor’s mandate as described in this prospectus is to manage each Fund consistently with the Index provided by the Index Provider. The Advisor relies upon the Index provider and its agents to accurately compile, maintain, construct, reconstitute, rebalance, compose, calculate and disseminate an Index accurately. Therefore, losses or costs associated with any Index Provider or agent errors generally will be borne by a Fund and its shareholders. To correct any such error, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out an unscheduled rebalance of an Index or other modification of Index constituents or weightings. When a Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by a Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances also expose a Fund to additional tracking error risk. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile an Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where an Index is less commonly used as a benchmark by funds or advisors. For example, during a period where an Index contains incorrect constituents, a Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact a Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in an Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither a Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that an Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, which could cause an Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of an Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to an Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.

INTEREST RATE RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. The value of debt securities held by an underlying ETF will fluctuate in value with changes in interest rates. In general, debt securities will increase in value when interest rates fall and decrease in value when interest rates rise. An underlying ETF may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. Interest rate risk is generally lower for shorter term investments and higher for longer term investments.

Duration is a common measure of interest rate risk. Duration measures a debt security’s expected life on a present value basis, taking into account the debt security’s yield, interest payments and final maturity. Duration is a reasonably accurate measure of a debt security’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The longer the duration of a debt security, the greater the debt security’s price sensitivity is to changes in interest rates. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of debt securities with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases. An increase in interest rates could also cause principal payments on a debt security to be repaid at a slower rate than expected. This risk is particularly prevalent for a callable debt security where an increase in interest rates could cause the issuer of that security to not redeem the security as anticipated on the call date, effectively lengthening the security’s expected maturity, in turn making that security more vulnerable to interest rate risk and reducing its market value. When interest rates fall, an underlying ETF may be required to reinvest the proceeds from the sale, redemption or early prepayment of a debt security at a lower interest rate.

LIBOR RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities that pay coupons that are based on LIBOR. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, intends to cease making LIBOR available as a reference rate over a phase-out period that is currently expected to begin after the end of 2021, although the specific timing of the phase out of LIBOR continues to be discussed and negotiated across the industry and in various jurisdictions. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain underlying ETF investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on an underlying ETF can be difficult to ascertain, and they may vary depending on a variety of factors. For example, certain of the Funds’ investments may involve individual contracts that have no existing fallback provision or language that contemplates the discontinuation of LIBOR, and those investments could experience increased volatility or reduced liquidity as a result of the transition process. The transition may also result in a reduction in the value of certain instruments held by an underlying ETF, a reduction in the effectiveness of related transactions, such as hedges, or a reduction in the value of any payments due to the underlying ETFs that are linked to LIBOR. Any such effects of the transition away from LIBOR, as well as other unforeseen effects, could result in losses to the underlying ETFs.

LIQUIDITY RISK. Certain Funds may invest in securities subject to liquidity risk. The Funds may have investments that they may not be able to dispose of or close out readily at a favorable time or price (or at all), or at a price approximating a Fund’s valuation of the investment. For example, certain investments may be subject to restrictions on resale, may trade over-the-counter or in limited volume, or may not have an active trading market. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value. It may be difficult for a Fund to value illiquid securities accurately. The market for certain investments may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer. If a Fund needed to sell a large block of illiquid securities to meet shareholder redemption request or to raise cash, these sales could further reduce the securities’ prices and adversely affect performance of the Fund. Disposal of illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for liquid securities.

investments due to short-term market movements or any longer periods during more prolonged market downturns. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant negative impact on a Fund and its investments. For example, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe impacts, on markets worldwide. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged disruptions to the normal business operations of companies around the world and the impact of such disruptions is hard to predict. Such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Such events could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of a Fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of a Fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, a Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value.

MOMENTUM INVESTING RISK. Certain Funds utilize a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes selecting stocks that have had higher recent price performance compared to other stocks. Momentum can change quickly and stocks that previously exhibited high momentum characteristics may not experience positive momentum or may experience more volatility than the market as a whole. In addition, there may be periods when the momentum style of investing is out of favor and the investment performance of a Fund may suffer.

MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold mortgage-related securities,, including mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-related securities are subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt securities, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk. However, these investments make an underlying ETF more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory events that affect the value of real estate. Mortgage-related securities are also significantly affected by the rate of prepayments and modifications of the mortgage loans underlying those securities, as well as by other factors such as borrower defaults, delinquencies, realized or liquidation losses and other shortfalls. The incidence of borrower defaults or delinquencies may rise significantly during financial downturns and could adversely affect the value of mortgage-related securities held by the underlying ETF. Events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events that result in broad and simultaneous financial hardships for individuals and businesses could have a significant negative impact on the value of mortgage-related securities. Mortgage-related securities are particularly sensitive to prepayment risk, given that the term to maturity for mortgage loans is generally substantially longer than the expected lives of those securities. Nonetheless, the timing and amount of prepayments cannot be accurately predicted. The timing of changes in the rate of prepayments of the mortgage loans may significantly affect an underlying ETF's actual yield to maturity on any mortgage-related securities, even if the average rate of principal payments is consistent with the ETF's expectation. Along with prepayment risk, mortgage-related securities are significantly affected by interest rate risk. In a low interest rate environment, mortgage loan prepayments would generally be expected to increase due to factors such as re-financings and loan modifications at lower interest rates. In contrast, if prevailing interest rates rise, prepayments of mortgage loans would generally be expected to decline and therefore extend the weighted average lives of mortgage-related securities held or acquired by an underlying ETF. Underlying ETF investments in mortgage-backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Underlying ETF investments in mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and there can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities where it is not obligated to do so.

or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. Although the Funds and the Advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.

PREPAYMENT RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security will repay principal (in part or in whole) prior to the scheduled maturity date. Debt securities allowing prepayment may offer less potential for gains during a period of declining interest rates, as an underlying ETF may be required to reinvest the proceeds of any prepayment at lower interest rates, reducing its income. If an underlying ETF purchased the debt securities at a premium, prepayments on the securities could cause an underlying ETF to lose a portion of its principal investment. These factors may cause the value of an investment in an underlying ETF to change. The impact of prepayments on the price of a debt security may be difficult to predict and may increase the security’s volatility.

QUALITY STOCKS INVESTMENT RISK. Certain Funds may utilize a quality style of investing. A quality style of investing emphasizes companies with strong fundamentals. However, there is no guarantee that a Fund will correctly identify companies with strong fundamentals or that selected companies will maintain strong fundamentals. In addition, quality stocks are subject to the risk that the returns on quality securities are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market.

effects due to the loss or inexperience of personnel. Small and/or mid capitalization companies also normally have less diverse product lines than those of large capitalization companies and are more susceptible to adverse developments concerning their products.

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES RISK. Certain Funds may invest in U.S. government securities. U.S. government securities are subject to interest rate risk but generally do not involve the credit risks associated with investments in other types of debt securities. As a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities are generally lower than the yields available from other debt securities. U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. While securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. federal government agencies (such as Ginnie Mae) are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, securities issued by government sponsored entities (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are solely the obligation of the issuer and generally do not carry any guarantee from the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its government sponsored entities or any other agency if not obligated by law to do so.

VALUATION RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Unlike publicly traded securities that trade on national securities exchanges, there is no central place or exchange for trading most debt securities. Debt securities generally trade on an “over-the-counter” market which may be anywhere in the world where the buyer and seller can settle on a price. Due to the lack of centralized information and trading, and variations in lot sizes of certain debt securities, the valuation of debt securities may carry more uncertainty and risk than that of publicly traded securities. Accordingly, determinations of the fair value of debt securities may be based on infrequent and dated information. Also, because the available information is less reliable and more subjective, elements of judgment may play a greater role in valuation of debt securities than for other types of securities. Typically, debt securities are valued using information provided by a third-party pricing service utilizing a range of market- based inputs and assumptions, including broker quotations and transactions in comparable securities to value the securities. There is no assurance that an underlying ETF will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service.

VALUE STOCKS INVESTMENT RISK. Certain Funds utilize a value style of investing. A value style of investing focuses on undervalued companies with characteristics for improved valuations. Value stocks are subject to the risk that valuations never improve or that the returns on value stocks are less than returns on other styles of investing or the overall stock market. As a result, the value of a Fund’s investments will vary and at times may be lower or higher than that of other types of investments. Historically, value investments have performed best during periods of economic recovery. Therefore, the value investing style may over time go in and out of favor and may trail the returns of other styles of investing. Value stocks also may decline in price, even though in theory they are already underpriced.

Non-Principal Risks

CASH TRANSACTIONS RISK. A Fund may, under certain circumstances, effect a portion of its redemptions for cash, rather than in-kind securities. As a result, an investment in such a Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in an ETF that effects its creations and redemptions only in-kind. ETFs are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gains on the distributed portfolio securities at the fund level. A Fund that effects redemptions for cash may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. Any recognized gain on these sales by a Fund will generally cause the Fund to recognize a gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities only in-kind. The Funds intend to distribute these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that

apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than if they had made an investment in a different ETF. Moreover, cash transactions may have to be carried out over several days if the securities market is relatively illiquid and may involve considerable brokerage fees and taxes. These brokerage fees and taxes, which will be higher than if a Fund sold and redeemed its shares in-kind, will be passed on to those purchasing and redeeming Creation Units in the form of creation and redemption transaction fees. In addition, these factors may result in wider spreads between the bid and the offered prices of a Fund’s shares than for ETFs that distribute portfolio securities in-kind.

EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND RECOUPMENT RISK. For First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF, the Advisor has entered into an agreement with the Trust in which the Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and/or reimburse the Fund for expenses exceeding an agreed upon amount. This agreement may be terminated by the Trust on behalf of the Fund at any time and by the Advisor only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice. The Advisor is also entitled to recoup from the Fund any waived fees or reimbursed amounts pursuant to the agreement for a period of up to three years from the date of waiver or reimbursement. Any such recoupment or modification or termination of the agreement could negatively affect the Fund’s returns.

HIGH YIELD SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold high yield securities. An underlying ETF’s investment in high yield securities, or “junk” bonds, may entail increased credit risks and the risk that the value of the fund’s assets will decline, and may decline precipitously, with increases in interest rates. In recent years there have been wide fluctuations in interest rates and therefore in the value of debt securities generally. High yield securities are, under most circumstances, subject to greater market fluctuations and risk of loss of income and principal than are investments in lower-yielding, higher-rated debt securities. As interest rates rise, the value of high yield securities may decline precipitously. Increased rates may also indicate a slowdown in the economy which may adversely affect the credit of issuers of high yield securities resulting in a higher incidence of defaults among such issuers. A slowdown in the economy, or a development adversely affecting an issuer’s creditworthiness, may result in the issuer being unable to maintain earnings or sell assets at the rate and at the prices, respectively, that are required to produce sufficient cash flow to meet its interest and principal requirements. An underlying ETF’s portfolio managers cannot predict future economic policies or their consequences or, therefore, the course or extent of any similar market fluctuations in the future. In addition, high yield securities are generally less liquid than investment grade securities.

occurrences affecting companies in the real estate sector. Additionally, investing in REITs involves certain other risks related to their structure and focus, which include, but are not limited to, dependency upon management skills, limited diversification, the risks of locating and managing financing for projects, heavy cash flow dependency, possible default by borrowers, the costs and potential losses of self-liquidation of one or more holdings, the risk of a possible lack of mortgage funds and associated interest rate risks, overbuilding, property vacancies, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, losses due to environmental damages, changes in neighborhood values and appeal to purchasers, the possibility of failing to maintain exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act, failure to satisfy the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for maintaining REIT status and, in many cases, relatively small market capitalization, which may result in less market liquidity and greater price volatility for a REIT’s shares. REITs are also subject to the risk that the real estate market may experience an economic downturn generally, which may have a material effect on the real estate in which the REITs invest and their underlying portfolio securities.

SOVEREIGN DEBT SECURITIES RISK. Under certain market conditions, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in ETFs that hold sovereign debt securities. Sovereign debt securities are issued or guaranteed by foreign governmental entities. Investments in such securities are subject to the risk that the relevant sovereign government or governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its debt. Such delays or refusals may be due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of its debt relative to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. A governmental entity may default on its obligations or may require renegotiation as to maturity or interest rate units of debt payments. Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by an underlying ETF will likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. A restricting or default of sovereign debt security may cause additional impacts on financial markets such as downgrades to credit ratings, disruptions in trading markets, reduced liquidity and increase volatility. Additionally, an underlying ETF may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt. The sovereign debt of many non-U.S. governments, including their sub-divisions and instrumentalities, is rated below investment-grade.

Fund Organization

Each Fund is a series of the Trust, an investment company registered under the 1940 Act. Each Fund is treated as a separate fund with its own investment objective and policies. The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The Board is responsible for the overall management and direction of the Trust. The Board elects the Trust’s officers and approves all significant agreements, including those with the Advisor, custodian and fund administrative and accounting agent.

Management of the Funds

First Trust serves as advisor or sub-advisor for eight mutual fund portfolios, 10 exchange-traded funds consisting of 179 series and 16 closed-end funds. It is also the portfolio supervisor of certain unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), an affiliate of First Trust, 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. FTP specializes in the underwriting, trading and distribution of unit investment trusts and other securities. FTP is the principal underwriter of the shares of each Fund.

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Management Fee

Pursuant to investment management agreements (the "Unitary Fee Investment Management Agreements") between First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF, First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF and First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (the "Unitary Fee Funds"), First Trust manages each Unitary Fee Fund's assets. First Trust is paid an annual unitary management fee by each Unitary Fee Fund at the rate set forth below and is responsible for each Unitary Fee Fund’s expenses, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, and licensing, but excluding fee payments under the Unitary Fee Investment Management Agreement, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any), brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees payable pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses. Pursuant to a contractual agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF, and First Trust, the management fees paid to First Trust will be reduced by the proportional amount of the acquired fund fees and expenses of the shares of investment companies held by First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF so that First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF would not bear the indirect costs of holding them, provided that the investment companies are advised by First Trust. This contractual agreement shall continue until the earlier of (i) its termination at the direction of the Board or (ii) upon the termination of the Investment Management Agreement, however, it is expected to remain in place for no less than one year from the date of this prospectus.

Pursuant to a separate investment management agreement (the "Expense Cap Investment Management Agreement") between First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF, First Trust manages First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX ETF's assets and is paid an annual management fee equal to 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Additionally, First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF, have entered into an Expense Reimbursement, Fee Waiver and Recovery Agreement (“Recovery Agreement”) in which First Trust has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022 (the "Expense Cap Termination Date"). First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF is responsible for all of its expenses, including management fees, costs of transfer

agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses related to the execution of portfolio transactions, paying for its sublicensing fees related to the Fund’s Index, any distribution fees or expenses, and extraordinary expenses. Pursuant to the Recovery Agreement, expenses borne and fees waived by First Trust are subject to reimbursement by First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF for up to three years from the date the fee or expense was incurred by the Fund, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund at any time if it would result in the Fund’s expenses exceeding (i) the applicable expense limitation in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such expense limitation was in place, (ii) the applicable expense limitation in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current expense limitation. The Unitary Fee Funds are not a party to the Recovery Agreement and therefore are not subject to the Expense Cap.

The table below sets forth the annual management fee that First Trust may receive from each Fund. In addition, with regard to the First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF, the table sets forth the Expense Cap and Expense Cap Termination Date. The table also shows the amounts paid by each Fund to First Trust for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (net of fees waived and expense reimbursements) as a percentage of average daily net assets.

Fund	Annual Management Fee (% of average daily net assets)	Annual Expense Cap (% of average daily net assets)	Expense Cap Termination Date	Management Fee Paid for the Year Ended 12/31/2020 (% of average daily net assets)
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF	0.60%	N/A	N/A	0.60%
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	0.50%	N/A	N/A	0.50%
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	0.65%	N/A	N/A	0.65%
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	0.50%	0.70%	April 30, 2022	0.04%

A discussion of the basis of the Board’s approval or continuation of the Investment Management Agreement relating to the Funds is available in the Funds’ Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2020.

How to Buy and Sell Shares

Book Entry

Share Trading Prices

Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of the Funds' Shares

Dividends, Distributions and Taxes

Federal Tax Matters

As with any investment, you should seek advice based on your individual circumstances from your own tax advisor.

Fund Status

Each Fund intends to continue to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the federal tax laws. If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes its income as required by the tax law, the Fund generally will not pay federal income taxes.

Distributions

Capital Gains and Losses and Certain Ordinary Income Dividends

If you are an individual, the maximum marginal stated federal tax rate for net capital gain is generally 20% (15% or 0% for taxpayers with taxable incomes below certain thresholds). Some capital gains, including some portion of your capital gain dividends, may be taxed at a higher maximum stated federal tax rate. Capital gains may also be subject to the Medicare tax described above.

Ordinary income dividends received by an individual shareholder from a regulated investment company such as each of the Funds are generally taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain (as discussed above), provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied and provided the dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Funds themselves. Each Fund will provide notice to its shareholders of the amount of any distribution which may be taken into account as a dividend which is eligible for the capital gains tax rates.

Dividends Received Deduction

investment companies. However, certain ordinary income dividends on shares that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Funds from certain corporations may be reported by the Funds as being eligible for the dividends received deduction.

Sale of Shares

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

Treatment of Fund Expenses

Expenses incurred and deducted by the Funds will generally not be treated as income taxable to you.

Non-U.S. Tax Credit

If a Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, the tax statement that you receive may include an item showing non-U.S. taxes a Fund paid to other countries. In this case, dividends taxed to you will include your share of the taxes a Fund paid to other countries. You may be able to deduct or receive a tax credit for your share of these taxes.

Non-U.S. Investors

Investments in Certain Non-U.S. Corporations

to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. A Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. A Fund may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, a Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, a Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax. Dividends paid by PFICs are not treated as qualified dividend income.

Distribution Plan

FTP serves as the distributor of Creation Units for the Funds on an agency basis. FTP does not maintain a secondary market in shares.

Net Asset Value

Each Fund's net asset value is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for trading. If the NYSE closes early on a valuation day, the Fund’s net asset value will be determined as of that time. Net asset value per share is calculated for a Fund by taking the market price of the Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities(including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), and dividing such amount by the total number of shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net asset value per share. All valuations are subject to review by the Board or its delegate.

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Board or its delegate, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, at fair value. The use of fair value pricing by a Fund is governed by valuation procedures adopted by the Board and in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, certain restricted securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market or fair value price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of the Fund's net asset value or make it difficult

or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the pricing service, does not reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security would appear to be the amount which the owner might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale. When fair value prices are used, generally they will differ from the current market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable exchange. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities. See the Funds' SAI for details.

Fund Service Providers

Index Providers

The Indices are compiled by the Index Providers. The Index Providers are not affiliated with the Funds, FTP or First Trust. Each Fund is entitled to use the applicable Index pursuant to a sublicensing arrangement by and among the Fund, Index Provider and First Trust, which in turn has a licensing agreement with the Index Provider. With the exception of First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF, each Index Provider, or its agent, also serves as calculation agent for each Index (each, an “Index Calculation Agent”). Each Index Calculation Agent is responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations of the applicable Index, including calculating the value of such Index every 15 seconds, widely disseminating the Index values every 15 seconds and tracking corporate actions resulting in Index adjustments.

Disclaimers

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF

First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. Nasdaq, Inc. 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. Nasdaq, Inc.’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of Nasdaq, Inc. and of the Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq, Inc., or its agent, without regard to First Trust or the Fund, Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio Index. Nasdaq, Inc. is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be listed or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

NASDAQ, INC. DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE NASDAQ DORSEY WRIGHT PEOPLE'S PORTFOLIO INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND NASDAQ, INC. SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. NASDAQ, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ DORSEY WRIGHT PEOPLE'S PORTFOLIO INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NASDAQ, INC. MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS

FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ DORSEY WRIGHT PEOPLE'S PORTFOLIO INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL NASDAQ, INC. HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN NASDAQ, INC. AND FIRST TRUST.

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF

The Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by First Trust. S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”); Dow Jones® and “Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index” are trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by First Trust. First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to First Trust with respect to the Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices or its licensors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to First Trust or the Fund. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index. S&P Dow Jones Indices is notresponsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the Fund or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash, surrendered or redeemed, as the case may be. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.There is no assurance that investment products based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.

S&P DOW JONES INDICES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE EQUAL WEIGHT INDEX OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICESSHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST,OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE EQUAL WEIGHT INDEX OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND FIRST TRUST, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF

Lunt Capital Management, Inc. (“Lunt Capital”) is not affiliated with the Trust, Fund’s administrator, custodian, transfer agent or distributor. The Lunt Capital Large Cap Factor Rotation Index (the “Lunt Index”) is a product of Lunt Capital. First Trust (or, the “Licensee”) has entered into a license agreement with Lunt Capital pursuant to which the Licensee pays a fee to use the Lunt Index and the marketing names and licensed trademarks of Lunt Capital (the “Lunt Trademarks”). The Licensee is sub-licensing rights to the Lunt Index to the First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF Fund. The Lunt Index is compiled and calculated by Lunt Capital. Lunt Capital has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Lunt Index. Lunt Capital shall not be liable (whether in negligence or otherwise) to any person for any error in the Index and shall not be under any obligation to advise any person of any error therein. Neither the publication of the Lunt Index by Lunt Capital nor the granting of a license of rights relating to the Lunt Index or to the Lunt Trademarks for the utilization in connection with the Fund represents a recommendation by Lunt Capital for a capital investment or contains in any manner a warranty or opinion by Lunt Capital with respect to the attractiveness of

an investment in the Fund. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, or sold by Lunt Capital. Lunt Capital 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. Lunt Capital is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be sold or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. Lunt Capital has an obligation in connection with the administration and marketing of the Fund, but has no obligations or liabilities in connection with the trading of the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Lunt Capital may independently issue and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the Fund currently being issued by the Licensee, but which may be similar to and competitive with the Fund. In addition, Lunt Capital may trade financial products which are linked to the performance of the Lunt Index. It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the Index and the Fund.

LUNT CAPITAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE LUNT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. LUNT CAPITAL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE LICENSEES, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF LUNT THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. LUNT CAPITAL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE LUNT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL LUNT CAPITAL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

The Lunt Index is the property of Lunt Capital Management, Inc., which has contracted with Nasdaq, Inc. to calculate and maintain the Index.

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Nasdaq, Inc. Nasdaq, Inc. 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. Nasdaq, Inc.’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of Nasdaq, Inc. and of the Lunt Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq, Inc., or its agent, without regard to First Trust or the Fund, Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Lunt Index. Nasdaq, Inc. is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be listed or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

NASDAQ, INC. DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE LUNT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND NASDAQ, INC. SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. NASDAQ, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE LUNT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NASDAQ, INC. MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE LUNT INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL NASDAQ, INC. HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN NASDAQ, INC. AND FIRST TRUST.

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF

“AlphaDEX®” is a registered trademark of FTP. The Trust, and First Trust on behalf of the Trust, have been granted the right by FTP to use the name “AlphaDEX®” for certain purposes.

FTP has licensed to The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (“NASDAQ OMX”), free of charge, the right to use certain intellectual property owned by First Trust Portfolios, including the AlphaDEX® trademark and the AlphaDEX® stock selection method, in connection with NASDAQ OMX’s calculation of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index (the "AlphaDEX® Index"). A patent application with respect to the AlphaDEX® stock selection method is pending at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Notwithstanding such license, NASDAQ OMX is solely responsible for the calculating and maintaining of the AlphaDEX® Index and has the exclusive right to determine the stocks included in the AlphaDEX® Index and the AlphaDEX® Index’s methodology.

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by NASDAQ OMX or its affiliates (NASDAQ OMX with its affiliates are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or

suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Fund. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of the AlphaDEX® Index to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to First Trust with respect to the Fund is in the licensing of the AlphaDEX® Index, and certain trade names of the Corporations and the use of the AlphaDEX® Index, which are determined, composed and calculated by NASDAQ OMX without regard to First Trust or the Fund. NASDAQ OMX has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the AlphaDEX® Index. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund Shares to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

NASDAQ® and the AlphaDEX® Index are trademarks (the “Nasdaq Marks”) of the Corporations. The Nasdaq Marks are licensed for use with the Fund by First Trust. The Fund has not been passed on by NASDAQ OMX as to its legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by NASDAQ OMX. The Fund should not be construed in any way as investment advice by NASDAQ OMX. NASDAQ OMX makes no warranties and bears no liability with respect to the Fund.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE ALPHADEX® INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OF THE FUND OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE ALPHADEX® INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE ALPHADEX® INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Premium/Discount Information

Total Return Information

market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower. The total returns reflect the reinvestment of dividends on securities in the index. The returns shown in the table below do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of shares of a Fund. The investment return and principal value of shares of a Fund will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares of a Fund may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. The Funds’ past performance is no guarantee of future results.

First Trust Dorsey Wright Peoples Portfolio ETF (DWPP)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual		Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	Inception (8/29/2012)	5 Years	Inception (8/29/2012)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	-14.42%	4.58%	5.74%	25.12%	59.25%
Market Price	-14.51%	4.56%	5.72%	24.98%	59.08%
Index Performance
Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio Index(1)	-13.84%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
S&P 500® Index	18.40%	15.22%	14.78%	103.04%	215.80%
Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index	21.42%	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

(1)

On August 18, 2017, the Fund's underlying index changed from the CBOE® VIX® Tail Hedge Index to the Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio Index. Therefore, the Fund’s performance and total returns shown for the periods prior to August 8, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of the performance the Fund, based on its current index, would have generated. Since the current index had an inception date of July 24, 2017, it was not in existence for all the periods disclosed.

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual	Cumulative
	1 Year	Inception (8/8/2017)	Inception (8/8/2017)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	6.41%	11.68%	45.52%
Market Price	6.49%	11.69%	45.57%
Index Performance
Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index	7.40%	12.40%	48.74%
Dow Jones Industrial Average®	9.72%	12.68%	50.04%

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual	Cumulative
	1 Year	Inception (7/25/2018)	Inception (7/25/2018)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	30.02%	17.79%	48.99%
Market Price	29.90%	17.80%	49.04%
Index Performance
Lunt Capital Large Cap Factor Rotation Index	31.14%	18.71%	51.84%
Nasdaq US 500 Large Cap Index	21.42%	15.55%	42.20%

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)
Total Returns as of December 31, 2020

		Average Annual			Cumulative
	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (12/5/2006)	5 Years	10 Years	Inception (12/5/2006)
Fund Performance
Net Asset Value	13.65%	12.05%	8.45%	6.47%	76.60%	125.03%	141.72%
Market Price	13.87%	12.07%	8.44%	6.48%	76.80%	124.76%	141.82%
Index Performance
NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index(1)	14.57%	12.90%	N/A	N/A	83.45%	N/A	N/A
Russell 3000® Index	20.89%	15.43%	13.79%	9.54%	104.95%	264.07%	260.42%

(1)

On January 9, 2015, the Fund’s underlying index changed from the Value Line® Equity Allocation Index to the NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index. Therefore, the Fund’s performance and total returns shown for the periods prior to January 9, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of the performance the Fund, based on its current index, would have generated. Since the Fund’s current underlying index had an inception date of September 8, 2014, it was not in existence for all of the periods disclosed.

Financial Highlights

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF (DWPP)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 33.42	$ 25.96	$ 28.64	$ 23.80	$ 24.07
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.11	0.37	0.33	0.30	0.38
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(4.94)	7.45	(2.67)	4.84	(0.25)
Total from investment operations	(4.83)	7.82	(2.34)	5.14	0.13
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.15)	(0.36)	(0.34)	(0.30)	(0.40)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 28.44	$ 33.42	$ 25.96	$ 28.64	$ 23.80
Total Return (a)	(14.42)%	30.24%	(8.26)%	21.71%	0.54%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 11,375	$ 63,507	$ 35,042	$ 30,072	$ 3,569
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%	0.60%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	0.69%	1.28%	1.19%	1.29%	1.59%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	114%	30%	32%	(c)30%	4%

(a)

Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year. The total returns for First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF would have been lower if certain fees had not been waived and expenses reimbursed by the investment advisor.

(b)

(c)

The variation in the portfolio turnover rate is due to the change in the Fund’s underlying index effective August 18, 2017, which resulted in a complete rebalance of the Fund’s portfolio.

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout the period

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW)

	Year Ended December 31,			Period Ended 12/31/2017(a)
	2020	2019	2018	Period Ended 12/31/2017(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 26.11	$ 21.43	$ 22.00	$ 19.97
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.50	0.47	0.40	0.17
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	1.08	4.70	(0.58)	2.03
Total from investment operations	1.58	5.17	(0.18)	2.20
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.50)	(0.49)	(0.39)	(0.17)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 27.19	$ 26.11	$ 21.43	$ 22.00
Total Return (b)	6.41%	24.27%	(0.88)%	11.02%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 71,994	$ 43,077	$ 12,859	$ 2,200
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.50%	0.50%	0.50%	(c)0.50%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.50%	0.50%	0.50%	(c)0.50%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	2.11%	1.99%	2.33%	(c)1.99%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)	31%	13%	16%	20%

(a)

Inception date is August 8, 2017, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.

(b)

(c)

Annualized.

(d)

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout the period

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF (FCTR)

	Year Ended December 31,		Period Ended 12/31/2018(a)
	2020	2019	Period Ended 12/31/2018(a)
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 22.80	$ 17.67	$ 20.23
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.12	0.23	0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	6.68	5.12	(2.56)
Total from investment operations	6.80	5.35	(2.44)
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.13)	(0.22)	(0.12)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 29.47	$ 22.80	$ 17.67
Total Return (b)	30.02%	30.35%	(12.09)%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 131,157	$ 62,696	$ 28,269
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.65%	0.65%	(c)0.65%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.65%	0.65%	(c)0.65%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	0.42%	1.17%	(c)1.48%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)	460%	246%	183%

(a)

Inception date is July 25, 2018, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.

(b)

(c)

Annualized.

(d)

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF (TUSA)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Net asset value, beginning of period	$ 36.20	$ 29.22	$ 32.85	$ 27.74	$ 24.34
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.35	0.40	0.34	0.25	0.32
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	4.47	6.99	(3.64)	5.12	3.43
Total from investment operations	4.82	7.39	(3.30)	5.37	3.75
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.40)	(0.41)	(0.33)	(0.26)	(0.35)
Net asset value, end of period	$ 40.62	$ 36.20	$ 29.22	$ 32.85	$ 27.74
Total Return (a)	13.65%	25.36%	(10.13)%	19.44%	15.48%
Ratios/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$ 16,249	$ 18,100	$ 13,151	$ 14,783	$ 8,321
Ratios to average net assets:
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	1.16%	1.02%	1.57%	1.69%	1.96%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets	0.70%	0.70%	0.70%	0.70%	0.70%
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	1.04%	1.20%	1.03%	0.88%	1.17%
Portfolio turnover rate(b)	125%	119%	110%	112%	113%

(a)

Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year. The total returns for First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF would have been lower if certain fees had not been waived and expenses reimbursed by the investment advisor.

(b)

Other Information

Continuous Offering

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First Trust

Exchange-Traded Fund

First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF

For More Information

First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(800) 621-1675

www.ftportfolios.com

SEC File #: 333-125751811-21774

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Investment Company Act File No. 811-21774

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

FUND NAME	TICKER SYMBOL	EXCHANGE
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	FTCS	Nasdaq
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	FDN	NYSE Arca
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	FDM	NYSE Arca
First Trust Chindia ETF	FNI	NYSE Arca
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	FCG	NYSE Arca
First Trust Water ETF	FIW	NYSE Arca
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	FDL	NYSE Arca
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	QQEW	Nasdaq
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	QQXT	Nasdaq
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	QTEC	Nasdaq
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	QABA	Nasdaq
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	QCLN	Nasdaq
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	FBT	NYSE Arca
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	FRI	NYSE Arca
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	FPX	NYSE Arca
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	FVD	NYSE Arca

DATED MAY 3, 2021

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated May 3, 2021, as it may be revised from time to time (the “Prospectus”), for each of the First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Chindia ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF, First Trust Water ETF, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund, First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund, First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF and First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), each a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund (the “Trust”). Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust’s distributor, First Trust Portfolios L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, or by calling toll free at (800) 621-1675.

Table of Contents

General Description of the Trust and the Funds	1
Exchange Listing and Trading	3
Investment Objective and Policies	4
Investment Strategies	5
Sublicense Agreements	13
Investment Risks	14
Management of the Funds	17
Brokerage Allocations	28
Administrator, Fund Accounting Agent, Custodian, Transfer Agent, Distributor, Index Providers and Exchanges	30
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries	38
Additional Information	40
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures	45
Creation and Redemption of Creation Units	46
Federal Tax Matters	49
Determination of Net Asset Value	54
Dividends and Distributions	55
Miscellaneous Information	56
Financial Statements	56
Exhibit A — Principal Holders Table	A-1
Exhibit B — Proxy Voting Guidelines	B-1

The audited financial statements for the Funds' most recent fiscal year appear in the Funds' Annual Reports to Shareholders dated December 31, 2020, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 11, 2021. The financial statements from the Annual Reports are incorporated herein by reference. The Annual Reports are available without charge by calling (800) 621-1675 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

General Description of the Trust and the Funds

The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on August 8, 2003 and is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares in one or more series. The Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Trust currently offers shares in twenty-two series. Each of the Funds to which this SAI relates and its status as a diversified or non-diversified series is listed below.

Fund Name	Classification
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	Diversified
First Trust Chindia ETF	Non-Diversified
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	Non-Diversified
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	Diversified
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	Non-Diversified
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	Diversified
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	Diversified
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	Diversified
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	Diversified
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	Non-Diversified
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	Diversified
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund	Diversified
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	Diversified
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	Non-Diversified
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	Diversified
First Trust Water Index ETF	Diversified

Each Fund, as a series of the Trust, represents a beneficial interest in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets, with its own objective and policies. On June 4, 2013, First Trust Strategic Value Index Fund changed its name to First Trust Capital Strength ETF pursuant to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. Prior to June 18, 2010, First Trust Strategic Value Index Fund was named First Trust DB Strategic Value Index Fund. Prior to December 13, 2016, First Trust Chindia ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF, First Trust Water ETF and First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF were named First Trust ISE Chindia Index Fund, First Trust ISE Revere Natural Gas Index Fund, First Trust ISE Water Index Fund and First Trust US IPO Index Fund, respectively.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board,” “Board of Trustees” or “Trustees”) has the right to establish additional series in the future, to determine the preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges thereof and to modify such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges without shareholder approval. Shares of any series may also be divided into one or more classes at the discretion of the Trustees.

The Trust or any series or class thereof may be terminated at any time by the Board of Trustees upon written notice to the shareholders.

Each share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Shares of all series of the Trust vote together as a single class except as otherwise required by the 1940 Act or if the matter being voted on affects only a particular series, and, if a matter affects a particular series differently from other series, the shares of that series will vote separately on such matter. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”) requires a shareholder vote on certain matters including those matters where the 1940 Act requires a vote of shareholders, in connection with certain amendments to the Declaration and with respect to the merger or reorganization of the Trust or a series, except that the Trustees may, without shareholder approval, authorize the merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of a fund’s assets if the acquiring fund is not an operating entity. Otherwise, the Declaration generally permits the Trustees to take actions without seeking the consent of shareholders.

The Declaration provides that by becoming a shareholder of a Fund, each shareholder shall be expressly held to have agreed to be bound by the provisions of the Declaration and to any By-laws adopted by the Trust. The Declaration provides that, except as set forth therein and authorized by the Trustees, shareholders have no rights, privileges, claims or remedies under any contract or agreement entered into by the Trust or a Fund with any service provider or other agent to or contractor with the Trust or a Fund including, without limitation, any third party beneficiary rights.

Any amendment to the Declaration affecting a shareholder’s right to vote as provided in the Declaration, affecting provisions relating to the term and election of Trustees, or affecting the termination provisions requires a shareholder vote. The Trustees may otherwise generally amend the Declaration without a shareholder vote. The Declaration provides that the Trustees may establish the number of Trustees and that vacancies on the Board of Trustees may be filled by the remaining Trustees, except when election of Trustees by the shareholders is required under the 1940 Act. Trustees are then elected by a plurality of votes cast by shareholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Declaration also provides that Trustees may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the voting power of the Trust, or by a vote of three-quarters of the remaining Trustees.

The holders of Fund shares are required to disclose information on direct or indirect ownership of Fund shares as may be required to comply with various laws applicable to the Funds or as the Trustees may determine, and ownership of Fund shares may be disclosed by the Funds if so required by law or regulation. In addition, pursuant to the Declaration, the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the Trust to redeem shares held by any shareholder for any reason under terms set by the Trustees.

The Declaration provides a detailed process for the bringing of derivative actions by shareholders in order to permit legitimate inquiries and claims while avoiding the time, expense, distraction and other harm that can be caused to the Funds or its shareholders as a result of spurious shareholder demands and derivative actions. In addition, the Declaration provides that actions that are derivative in nature may not be brought directly. Prior to bringing a derivative action, a demand must first be made on the Trustees. The Declaration details various information, certifications, undertakings and acknowledgements that must be included in the demand. Following receipt of the demand, the Trustees have a period of 90 days, which may be extended by an additional 60 days, to consider the demand. If a majority of the Trustees who are considered independent for the purposes of considering the demand determine that maintaining the suit would not be in the best interests of the Funds, the Trustees are required to reject the demand and the complaining shareholder may not proceed with the derivative action unless the shareholder is able to sustain the burden of proof to a court that the decision of the Trustees not to pursue the requested action was not a good faith exercise of their business judgment on behalf of the Funds. In making such a determination, a Trustee is not considered to have a personal financial interest by virtue of being compensated for his or her services as a Trustee. If a demand is rejected, the complaining shareholder will be responsible for the costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Funds in connection with the consideration of the demand under a number of circumstances. In addition, if a court determines that a derivative action was made without reasonable cause or for an improper purpose, or if a derivative or direct action is dismissed on the basis of a failure to comply with the procedural provisions relating to shareholder actions as set forth in the Declaration, or if a direct action is dismissed by a court for failure to state a claim, the shareholder bringing the action may be responsible for a Fund's costs, including attorneys’ fees. Shareholders also have the right to vote, to the same extent as the stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding, or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders.

The provisions of the Declaration provide that any direct or derivative action commenced by a shareholder must be brought only in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Boston Division) or if any such action may not be brought in that court, then in the Business Litigation Session of Suffolk Superior Court in Massachusetts (the “Chosen Courts”). Except as prohibited by applicable law, if a shareholder commences an applicable action in a court other than a Chosen Court without the consent of the Fund, then such shareholder may be obligated to reimburse the Funds and any applicable Trustee or officer of the Funds made party to such proceeding for the costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with any successful motion to dismiss, stay or transfer of the action. The Declaration also provides that any shareholder bringing an action against the Funds waives the right to trial by jury to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The Trust is not required to and does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders.

Under Massachusetts law applicable to Massachusetts business trusts, shareholders of such a trust may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for its obligations. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of this disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Trust for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance existed and the Trust or a Fund itself was unable to meet its obligations.

act except to the extent prohibited by applicable federal law. In making any determination as to whether any person is entitled to the advancement of expenses in connection with a claim for which indemnification is sought, such person is entitled to a rebuttable presumption that he or she did not engage in conduct for which indemnification is not available. The Declaration provides that any Trustee who serves as chair of the Board of Trustees or of a committee of the Board of Trustees, as lead independent Trustee or as audit committee financial expert, or in any other similar capacity will not be subject to any greater standard of care or liability because of such position.

The Declaration further provides that no provision of the Declaration will restrict any shareholder rights expressly granted by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or the 1940 Act, or any rule, regulation or order of the Securities Exchange Commission thereunder.

The Funds are advised by First Trust Advisors L.P. (the “Advisor” or “First Trust”).

The shares of each Fund are principally listed and traded on NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) (each an "Exchange"), as shown on the cover of this SAI. ETFs, such as the Funds, do not sell or redeem individual shares of a Fund. Instead, financial entities known as “Authorized Participants” (which are discussed in greater detail below) have contractual arrangements with each Fund or the Distributor to purchase and redeem Fund shares directly with a Fund in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” An Authorized Participant that purchases a Creation Unit of Fund shares deposits with a Fund a “basket” of securities, cash and/or other assets identified by the Fund that day, and then receives the Creation Unit of Fund shares in return for those assets. The redemption process is the reverse of the purchase process: the Authorized Participant redeems a Creation Unit of Fund shares for a basket of securities, cash and/or other assets. The basket is generally representative of a Fund’s portfolio, and together with a cash balancing amount, it is equal to the NAV of the Fund shares comprising the Creation Unit. Pursuant to Rule 6c-11 of the 1940 Act, the Funds may utilize baskets that are not representative of each Fund’s portfolio. Such “custom baskets” are discussed in the section entitled “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units.”

Fund shares may be issued in advance of receipt of deposit securities subject to various conditions including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the applicable Fund cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing deposit securities. See the section entitled “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units.” In each instance of such cash creations or redemptions, transaction fees may be imposed that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations or redemptions. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

Exchange Listing and Trading

There can be no assurance that the requirements of the applicable Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of a Fund will continue to be met. The Exchanges may, but are not required to, remove the shares of a Fund from listing if (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning at the commencement of trading of a Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of the shares of such Fund for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (ii) the value of such Fund’s Index (as defined below) is no longer calculated or available; or (iii) such other event shall occur or condition exist that, in the opinion of the applicable Exchange, makes further dealings on the applicable Exchange inadvisable. Please note that NYSE Arca may have a conflict of interest with respect to the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund and the First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund because shares of such Fund are listed on NYSE Arca, and ICE Data Indices, LLC, an affiliate of NYSE Arca, is the Index Provider of such Fund. Additionally, Nasdaq may have a conflict of interest with respect to the First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund and the First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund because shares of such Funds are listed on Nasdaq and Nasdaq, Inc. is also each such Fund’s Index Provider. The Exchanges will remove the shares of a Fund from listing and trading upon termination of such Fund.

As in the case of other stocks traded on the Exchanges, brokers’ commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

The Funds reserve the right to adjust the price levels of shares in the future to help maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of each Fund.

Investment Objective and Policies

The Prospectus describes the investment objective and certain policies of the Funds. The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objective and policies of the Funds.

Each Fund is subject to the following fundamental policies, which may not be changed without approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of a Fund:

(1)

A Fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

(2)

A Fund may not borrow money, except that a Fund may (i) borrow money from banks for temporary or emergency purposes (but not for leverage or the purchase of investments) and (ii) engage in other transactions permissible under the 1940 Act that may involve a borrowing (such as obtaining short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, engaging in delayed-delivery transactions, or purchasing certain futures, forward contracts and options), provided that the combination of (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33⅓% of the value of a Fund's total assets (including the amount borrowed), less a Fund's liabilities (other than borrowings).

(3)

A Fund will not underwrite the securities of other issuers except to the extent a Fund may be considered an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

(4)

A Fund will not purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prohibit a Fund from purchasing or selling securities or other instruments backed by real estate or of issuers engaged in real estate activities).

(5)

A Fund may not make loans to other persons, except through (i) the purchase of debt securities permissible under a Fund's investment policies, (ii) repurchase agreements, or (iii) the lending of portfolio securities, provided that no such loan of portfolio securities may be made by a Fund if, as a result, the aggregate of such loans would exceed 33⅓% of the value of a Fund's total assets.

(6)

A Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent a Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts, forward contracts or other derivative instruments, or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).

(7)

A Fund may not invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry or group of industries, except to the extent that the Fund’s Index is based on concentrations in an industry or a group of industries. This restriction does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

(8)

The First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Natural Gas ETF, First Trust Water ETF, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund, First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund and First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund are subject to the following fundamental policy: each such Fund, may not, as to 75% of its total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (except securities of other investment companies or securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof) if, as a result, (i) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer; or (ii) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

For purposes of applying restriction (1) above, under the 1940 Act as currently in effect, the Funds are not permitted to issue senior securities, except that a Fund may borrow from any bank if, immediately after such borrowing and at all times thereafter, the value of such Fund’s total assets is at least 300% of the principal amount of all of a Fund's borrowings (i.e., the principal amount of the borrowings may not exceed 33⅓% of a Fund's total assets). In the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300% the applicable Fund shall, within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays), reduce the amount of its borrowings to an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowings shall be at least 300%.

Fund will reduce the amount of borrowings within three days thereafter to the extent necessary to comply with the limitations (not including Sundays and holidays).

The fundamental investment limitations set forth above limit the Funds' ability to engage in certain investment practices and purchase securities or other instruments to the extent permitted by, or consistent with, applicable law. As such, these limitations will change as the statute, rules, regulations or orders (or, if applicable, interpretations) change, and no shareholder vote will be required or sought.

The foregoing fundamental policies of each Fund may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the respective Fund. The 1940 Act defines a majority vote as the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the voting securities represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding securities are represented; or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities. With respect to the submission of a change in an investment policy to the holders of outstanding voting securities of a Fund, such matter shall be deemed to have been effectively acted upon with respect to a Fund if a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund vote for the approval of such matter, notwithstanding that such matter has not been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any other series of the Trust affected by such matter.

In addition to the foregoing fundamental policies, the Funds are also subject to strategies and policies discussed herein which, unless otherwise noted, are non-fundamental restrictions and policies and may be changed by the Board of Trustees.

Investment Strategies

The following information supplements the discussion of the Funds' investment objectives, policies and strategies that appear in the Prospectus.

Under normal circumstances, each Fund will invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise the index it seeks to track (each, an "Index" and collectively, the "Indices"). Each Fund’s investment objective (with the exception of the First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF and First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund) may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. With respect to each of the First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF and First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund, the investment objective is a fundamental policy that may be changed only with shareholder approval.

The table below sets forth each Fund's Index. ICE Data Indices, LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund. International Securities Exchange, LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Chindia ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF and First Trust Water ETF. IPOX Schuster LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF. Morningstar, Inc. serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund and First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. and American Bankers Association serve as the index providers for the index tracked by the First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. and Clean Edge, Inc. serve as the index providers for the index tracked by the First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund. S&P Dow Jones Indices, LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund and First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund. Value Line Publishing, LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by the First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund. ICE Data Indices, LLC, International Securities Exchange, LLC, IPOX Schuster LLC, Morningstar, Inc., Nasdaq, Inc., American Bankers Association, Clean Edge, Inc., S&P Dow Jones Indices, LLC and Value Line Publishing, LLC may individually be referred to throughout this prospectus as an "Index Provider" and collectively as the "Index Providers."

Fund	Index
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	The Capital Strength IndexSM (1)
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM

Fund	Index
First Trust Chindia ETF	ISE ChIndiaTM Index
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	ISE-Revere Natural GasTM Index
First Trust Water ETF	ISE Clean Edge Water Index (2)
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	Morningstar® Dividend Leaders IndexSM
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	NASDAQ 100 Technology Sector IndexSM
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy IndexSM
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	S&P United States REIT Index
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	IPOX®-100 U.S. Index
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	Value Line® Dividend Index

(1)

On June 4, 2013, the Fund’s Index changed from the Credit Suisse U.S. Value Index, Powered by HOLTTM to The Capital Strength IndexSM.

(2)

Prior to June 19, 2017, the First Trust Water ETF’s Index was the ISE WaterTM Index.

Types of Investments

Depositary Receipts. A Fund’s investments may include securities of foreign issuers in the form of sponsored or unsponsored American depositary receipts (“ADRs”), American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) (collectively “Depositary Receipts”). ADRs and ADSs are Depositary Receipts normally issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. GDRs and EDRs are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they also may be issued by U.S. banks or trust companies, and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or a U.S. corporation. Generally, Depositary Receipts in registered form are designed for use in the U.S. securities market. Depositary Receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside the United States. Depositary Receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. Ownership of unsponsored Depositary Receipts may not entitle the Fund to financial or other reports from the issuer of the underlying security, to which it would be entitled as the owner of sponsored Depositary Receipts.

Equities. Equity securities represent an ownership position in a company. The prices of equity securities fluctuate based on, among other things, events specific to their issuers and market, economic, and other conditions. Equity securities may include common and preferred stocks. Common stocks include the common stock of any class or series of a domestic or foreign corporation or any similar equity interest, such as a trust or partnership interest. These investments may or may not pay dividends and may or may not carry voting rights. Common stock occupies the most junior position in a company’s capital structure.

Fixed Income Investments and Cash Equivalents. Normally, the Funds invest substantially all of their assets to meet their investment objectives; however, for temporary or defensive purposes, the Funds may invest in high quality money market instruments, fixed income instruments and cash equivalents on an ongoing basis in order to provide income, liquidity and preserve capital.

Fixed income investments and cash equivalents held by each Fund may include, without limitation, the types of investments set forth below.

(1)

Administration, the Federal Housing Administration, the Maritime Administration, the Small Business Administration and The Tennessee Valley Authority. An instrumentality of the U.S. government is a government agency organized under federal charter with government supervision. Instrumentalities issuing or guaranteeing securities include, among others, the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Land Banks, the Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”). In the case of those U.S. government securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the security for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event that the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities; consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.

(2)

A Fund may invest in certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return and are normally negotiable. If such certificates of deposit are non-negotiable, they will be considered illiquid securities and be subject to a Fund's 15% restriction on investments in illiquid securities. Pursuant to the certificate of deposit, the issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. Under current FDIC regulations, the maximum insurance payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $250,000; therefore, certificates of deposit purchased by a Fund may not be fully insured. A Fund may only invest in certificates of deposit issued by U.S. banks with at least $1 billion in assets.

(3)

A Fund may invest in bankers’ acceptances, which are short-term credit instruments used to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of interest for a specific maturity.

(4)

A Fund may invest in repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities with counterparties that are deemed by the Advisor to present acceptable credit risks. In such an action, at the time a Fund purchases the security, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver the security to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the security at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for a Fund during its holding period since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for a Fund to invest temporarily available cash. A Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances in which a Fund may invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to a Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the affected Fund is entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, however, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, a Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The portfolio managers monitor the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement. The portfolio managers do so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to a Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of a Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.

(5)

A Fund may invest in bank time deposits, which are monies kept on deposit with banks or savings and loan associations for a stated period of time at a fixed rate of interest. There may be penalties for the early withdrawal of such time deposits, in which case the yields of these investments will be reduced.

(6)

impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. A Fund may invest in commercial paper rated at the day of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or “A-1+” or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc., or, if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by First Trust.

(7)

A Fund may invest in shares of money market funds, as consistent with its investment objectives and policies. Shares of money market funds are subject to management fees and other expenses of those funds. Therefore, investments in money market funds will cause the Fund to bear proportionately the costs incurred by the money market funds’ operations. At the same time, a Fund will continue to pay its own management fees and expenses with respect to all of its assets, including any portion invested in the shares of other investment companies. It is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in money market funds.

Illiquid Securities. The Funds may invest in illiquid securities (i.e., any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment). For purposes of this restriction, illiquid securities may include, but are not limited to, certain restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws), securities that may only be resold pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, among others. However, a Fund will not acquire illiquid securities if, as a result, such securities would comprise more than 15% of the value of a Fund’s net assets. The Advisor, subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees, has the ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal securities laws, which securities are liquid or illiquid for purposes of this 15% limitation under a Fund’s liquidity risk management program, adopted pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act.

Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the 1933 Act. Where registration is required, a Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time a Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, a Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Illiquid securities will be priced at fair value as determined in good faith under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. If, through the appreciation of illiquid securities or the depreciation of liquid securities, a Fund should be in a position where more than 15% of the value of its net assets are invested in illiquid securities, including restricted securities which are not readily marketable, the Advisor will report such occurrence to the Board of Trustees and take such steps as are deemed advisable to protect liquidity in accordance with a Fund’s liquidity risk management program.

Real Estate Investment Trusts. The Funds may invest in shares of beneficial interest of real estate investment trusts ("REITs"). REITs are typically publicly traded corporations or trusts that invest in residential or commercial real estate. REITs generally can be divided into the following three types: (i) equity REITs which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains or real estate appreciation; (ii) mortgage REITs which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgage loans and derive their income primarily from interest payments; and (iii) hybrid REITs which combine the characteristics of equity REITs and mortgage REITs.

Portfolio Turnover

The Funds buy and sell portfolio securities in the normal course of their investment activities. The proportion of a Fund's investment portfolio that is bought and sold during a year is known as a Fund's portfolio turnover rate. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% would occur, for example, if all of the portfolio securities (other than short-term securities) were replaced once during the fiscal year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in the payment by a Fund of increased brokerage costs, expenses and taxes. The portfolio turnover rates for the specified periods are set forth in the table below. Significant variations in portfolio turnover from year-to-year are generally the result of fluctuations in the size of a Fund or changes to a Fund's portfolio holdings.

Portfolio Turnover Rate
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	133%	125%
First Trust Chindia ETF	46%	26%

Portfolio Turnover Rate
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	39%	28%
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	95%	64%
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	63%	39%
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	14%	15%
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	43%	26%
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	28%	29%
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	35%	31%
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	31%	23%
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	103%	61%
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	26%	31%
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	6%	10%
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	75%	81%
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	86%	53%
First Trust Water ETF	15%	12%

Lending of Portfolio Securities

In order to generate additional income, as a non-principal investment strategy, First Trust is authorized to select certain First Trust Funds, including the Funds, with notice to the Board of Trustees, to lend portfolio securities representing up to 33⅓% of the value of their total assets to broker-dealers, banks or other institutional borrowers of securities. As with other extensions of credit, there may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, such First Trust Funds will only enter into loan arrangements with broker-dealers, banks or other institutions which First Trust has determined are creditworthy under guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees. The First Trust Funds will pay a portion of the income earned on the lending transaction to the placing broker and may pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with these loans. First Trust may select any First Trust Fund to participate in the securities lending program, at its discretion with notice to the Board of Trustees.

In these loan arrangements, the First Trust Funds will receive collateral in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade debt obligations in an amount at least equal to the value of the borrowed securities, marked to market daily. This collateral must be valued daily by First Trust or the applicable First Trust Fund’s lending agent and, if the market value of the loaned securities increases, the borrower must furnish additional collateral to the lending First Trust Fund. During the time portfolio securities are on loan, the borrower pays the lending First Trust Fund any dividends or interest paid on the securities. Loans are subject to termination at any time by the lending First Trust Fund or the borrower. While a First Trust Fund does not have the right to vote securities on loan, it would terminate the loan and regain the right to vote if that were considered important with respect to the investment. When a First Trust Fund lends portfolio securities to a borrower, payments in lieu of dividends made by the borrower to the First Trust Fund will not constitute “qualified dividends” taxable at the same rate as long-term capital gains, even if the actual dividends would have constituted qualified dividends had the First Trust Fund held the securities. Please see "Securities Lending Risk" below for a description of the risks associated with securities lending activities.

The following tables describe the securities lending activities of each Fund that engaged in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020:

FIRST TRUST DOW JONES INTERNET INDEX FUND
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 39,869
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	3,706
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	2,821
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	0
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	6,527
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 33,342
FIRST TRUST DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEX FUND
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 258,416
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	24,982
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	3,972
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	4,361
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	33,315
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 225,101
FIRST TRUST CHINDIA ETF
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 108,007
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	9,873
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	7,280
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	1,310
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	18,463
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 89,544

FIRST TRUST NATURAL GAS ETF
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 258,259
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	23,381
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	10,101
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	14,015
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	47,497
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 210,762
FIRST TRUST WATER ETF
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 41,512
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	2,244
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	643
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	1,862
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	4,749
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 36,763
FIRST TRUST NASDAQ-100 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEX FUND
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 21,897
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	1,034
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	2,036
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	9,529
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	12,599
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 9,298

FIRST TRUST NASDAQ-100 EX-TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEX FUND
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 4,194
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	195
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	464
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	1,778
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	2,437
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 1,757
FIRST TRUST NASDAQ-100-TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEX FUND
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 5,876
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	541
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	468
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	0
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	1,009
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 4,867
FIRST TRUST NASDAQ® ABA COMMUNITY BANK INDEX FUND
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 2,662
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	250
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	151
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	9
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	410
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 2,252

FIRST TRUST NASDAQ® CLEAN EDGE® GREEN ENERGY INDEX FUND
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 1,763,048
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	173,117
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	28,303
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	9,111
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	210,531
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 1,552,517
FIRST TRUST NYSE ARCA BIOTECHNOLOGY INDEX FUND
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 52,875
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	4,476
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	8,110
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	0
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	12,586
Net income from securities lending activities	$ 40,289
FIRST TRUST US EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES ETF
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 891,686
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	86,698
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	27,445
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	25,915
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	140,058
Net income from securities lending activities	$751,628

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. and The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (together, the “Securities Lending Agents”) serve as securities lending agents for the Funds. The services provided by the Securities Lending Agents include: the coordination and selection of securities to be loaned to approved borrowers; negotiating the terms of the loan; monitoring the value of securities loaned and corresponding collateral, marking to market daily; coordinating the investment of cash collateral in the Funds’ approved cash collateral reinvestment vehicle; monitoring dividends relating to loaned securities; and transferring, recalling and arranging the return of loaned securities to the Funds upon termination of the loan.

Sublicense Agreements

The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, relies on a product license agreement (each, a “Product License Agreement”) by and between each Index Provider and First Trust and a related sublicense agreement (the “Sublicense Agreement”) with First

Trust that grants the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, a non-exclusive and non-transferable sublicense to use certain intellectual property of such Index Provider in connection with the issuance, distribution, marketing and/or promotion of each Fund. Pursuant to each Sublicense Agreement, each Fund has agreed to be bound by certain provisions of each Product License Agreement. Pursuant to each Product License Agreement, First Trust will pay each Index Provider an annual license fee. Under the Sublicense Agreements, each Fund will reimburse First Trust for its costs associated with the Product License Agreement. The First Trust Capital Strength ETF will not be obligated to reimburse First Trust in an annual amount of more than 0.10% of the assets of the Fund.

Investment Risks

The following risk disclosure supplements the discussion of the Funds' investment risks that appears in the Prospectus.

Overview

An investment in a Fund should be made with an understanding of the risks that an investment in a Fund's shares entails, including the risk that the financial condition of the issuers of the securities held by a Fund or the general condition of the securities market may worsen and the value of the securities and therefore the value of a Fund may decline. A Fund may not be an appropriate investment for those who are unable or unwilling to assume the risks involved generally with such an investment. The past market and earnings performance of any of the securities included in a Fund is not predictive of their future performance.

Common Stock Risk

Common stocks are especially susceptible to general market movements and to volatile increases and decreases of value as market confidence in and perceptions of the issuers change. These perceptions are based on unpredictable factors including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or regional political, economic or banking crises. First Trust cannot predict the direction or scope of any of these factors. Shareholders of common stocks have rights to receive payments from the issuers of those common stocks that are generally subordinate to those of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks of, such issuers.

Shareholders of common stocks of the type held by the Funds have a right to receive dividends only when and if, and in the amounts, declared by the issuer’s board of directors and have a right to participate in amounts available for distribution by the issuer only after all other claims on the issuer have been paid or otherwise been settled. Common stocks do not represent an obligation of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer any assurance of income or provide the same degree of protection of capital as do debt securities. The issuance of additional debt securities or preferred stock will create prior claims for payment of principal, interest and dividends which could adversely affect the ability and inclination of the issuer to declare or pay dividends on its common stock or the rights of holders of common stock with respect to assets of the issuer upon liquidation or bankruptcy. The value of common stocks is subject to market fluctuations for as long as the common stocks remain outstanding, and thus the value of the equity securities in the Funds will fluctuate over the life of the Funds and may be more or less than the price at which they were purchased by the Funds. The equity securities held in the Funds may appreciate or depreciate in value (or pay dividends) depending on the full range of economic and market influences affecting these securities, including the impact of a Fund’s purchase and sale of the equity securities and other factors.

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of the entity, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Cumulative preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends and any cumulative preferred stock dividend omitted is added to future dividends payable to the holders of cumulative preferred stock. Preferred stockholders are also generally entitled to rights on liquidation which are senior to those of common stockholders.

Depositary Receipts Risk

the Dutch shares of the company. GDRs are receipts issued throughout the world that evidence a similar arrangement. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may trade in foreign currencies that differ from the currency the underlying security for each ADR, EDR or GDR principally trades in. Global shares are the actual (ordinary) shares of a non-U.S. company which trade both in the home market and the United States. Generally, ADRs and New York shares, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. EDRs, in registered form, are used to access European markets. GDRs, in registered form, are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. Global shares are represented by the same share certificate in the United States and the home market, and separate registrars in the United States and the home country are maintained. In most cases, purchases occurring on a U.S. exchange would be reflected on the U.S. registrar. Global shares may also be eligible to list on exchanges in addition to the United States and the home country. The Funds may hold unsponsored Depositary Receipts. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States; therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts.

Dividends Risk

Shareholders of common stocks have rights to receive payments from the issuers of those common stocks that are generally subordinate to those of creditors of, or holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks of, such issuers. Shareholders of common stocks of the type held by the Funds have a right to receive dividends only when and if, and in the amounts, declared by the issuer’s board of directors and have a right to participate in amounts available for distribution by the issuer only after all other claims on the issuer have been paid or have otherwise been settled. Common stocks do not represent an obligation of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer any assurance of income or provide the same degree of protection of capital as do debt securities. The issuance of additional debt securities or preferred stock will create prior claims for payment of principal, interest and dividends which could adversely affect the ability and inclination of the issuer to declare or pay dividends on its common stock or the rights of holders of common stock with respect to assets of the issuer upon liquidation or bankruptcy. Cumulative preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends, and any cumulative preferred stock dividend omitted is added to future dividends payable to the holders of cumulative preferred stock. Preferred stockholders are also generally entitled to rights on liquidation that are senior to those of common stockholders.

Liquidity Risk

Whether or not the equity securities held by the Funds are listed on a securities exchange, the principal trading market for certain of the equity securities in the Funds may be in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. As a result, the existence of a liquid trading market for such equity securities may depend on whether dealers will make a market in the equity securities. There can be no assurance that a market will be made for any of such equity securities, that any market for the equity securities will be maintained or that there will be sufficient liquidity of such equity securities in any markets made. The price at which the equity securities are held by the Funds will be adversely affected if trading markets for such equity securities are limited or absent.

Listing Standards Risk

Each Fund is required to comply with listing requirements adopted by the Exchange. Non-compliance with such requirements may result in a Fund's shares being delisted by the Exchange. Any resulting liquidation of a Fund could cause a Fund to incur elevated transaction costs and could result in negative tax consequences for its shareholders.

Market Risk

Market risk is the risk that a particular security, or shares of a Fund in general, may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of a Fund could decline in value or underperform other investments due to short-term market movements or any longer periods during more prolonged market downturns. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant negative impact on a Fund and its investments. Such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Such events could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of a Fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of a Fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, a Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value.

as well as the economies of individual countries or regions, the financial performance of individual companies, sectors and industries, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which a Fund invests and negatively impact a Fund’s investment return. For example, an outbreak of a respiratory disease designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. The impact of this COVID-19 pandemic may be short term or may last for an extended period of time, and in either case could result in a substantial economic downturn or recession.

In addition, the operations of a Fund, the Advisor and a Fund’s other service providers may be significantly impacted, or even temporarily or permanently halted, as a result of government quarantine measures, voluntary and precautionary restrictions on travel or meetings and other factors related to a public health emergency, including its potential adverse impact on the health of any such entity’s personnel.

Non-U.S. Securities Risk

An investment in non-U.S. securities involves risks in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic investments, including currency risk. The value of a non-U.S. security in U.S. dollars tends to decrease when the value of the U.S. dollar rises against the non-U.S. currency in which the security is denominated and tends to increase when the value of the U.S. dollar falls against such currency. Non-U.S. securities are affected by the fact that in many countries there is less publicly available information about issuers than is available in the reports and ratings published about companies in the United States and companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. Other risks inherent in non U.S. investments may include expropriation; confiscatory taxation; withholding taxes on dividends and interest; less extensive regulation of non-U.S. brokers, securities markets and issuers; diplomatic developments; and political or social instability. Non-U.S. economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in various respects, and many non-U.S. securities are less liquid and their prices tend to be more volatile than comparable U.S. securities. From time to time, non-U.S. securities may be difficult to liquidate rapidly without adverse price effects.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies Risk

A Fund may invest in companies that are considered to be “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”), which are generally certain non-U.S. corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income. Therefore, the Funds could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is distributed to its shareholders in a timely manner. A Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes.

Real Estate Investment Trust Risk

REITs are financial vehicles that pool investors’ capital to purchase or finance real estate. REITs may concentrate their investments in specific geographic areas or in specific property types, e.g., hotels, shopping malls, residential complexes and office buildings. The market value of REIT shares and the ability of the REITs to distribute income may be adversely affected by several factors, including rising interest rates; changes in the national, state and local economic climate and real estate conditions; perceptions of prospective tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the properties; the ability of the owners to provide adequate management, maintenance and insurance; the cost of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act; increased competition from new properties; the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws; changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses; adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies; adverse changes in zoning laws; and other factors beyond the control of the issuers of the REITs. In addition, distributions received by a Fund from REITs may consist of dividends, capital gains and/or return of capital. Many of these distributions however will not generally qualify for favorable treatment as qualified dividend income.

Securities Lending Risk

Trust Fund engaged in securities lending transactions may suffer a loss and there may be a delay in recovering the lent securities. Any delay in the return of securities on loan may restrict the ability of a Fund to meet delivery or payment obligations. Collateral risk is the risk that the collateral received may be realized at a value lower than the value of the securities lent, whether due to inaccurate pricing of the collateral, adverse market movements in the value of the collateral, intra-day increases in the value of the securities lent, a deterioration in the credit rating of the collateral issuer, or the illiquidity of the market in which the collateral is traded. Securities lending also entails operational risks, such as settlement failures or delays in the settlement of instructions. Such failures or delays may restrict the ability of a Fund to meet delivery or payment obligations. Lastly, securities lending activities may result in adverse tax consequences for a Fund and its shareholders. For instance, substitute payments for dividends received by a Fund for securities loaned out by the Fund will not be considered qualified dividend income. A Fund could lose money if its short-term investment of the collateral declines in value over the period of the loan.

Small and Mid Capitalization Companies Risk

Certain of the equity securities in certain Funds may be small and/or mid capitalization company stocks. While historically such company stocks have outperformed the stocks of large companies, the former have customarily involved more investment risk as well. Small and mid capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may lack management depth or experience; and may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than large companies. Some of these companies may distribute, sell or produce products which have recently been brought to market and may be dependent on key personnel.

The prices of small and mid capitalization company securities are often more volatile than prices associated with large company issues, and can display abrupt or erratic movements at times, due to limited trading volumes and less publicly available information. Also, because small and mid capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding and these shares trade less frequently than large companies, it may be more difficult for a Fund which contains these equity securities to buy and sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. The securities of small and mid capitalization companies are often traded OTC and may not be traded in the volumes typical of a national securities exchange.

Management of the Funds

Trustees and Officers

The general supervision of the duties performed for the Funds under the investment management agreement is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. There are five Trustees of the Trust, one of whom is an “interested person” (as the term is defined in the 1940 Act) and four of whom are Trustees who are not officers or employees of First Trust or any of its affiliates (“Independent Trustees”). The Trustees set broad policies for the Funds, choose the Trust’s officers and hire the Trust’s investment advisor. The officers of the Trust manage its day-to-day operations and are responsible to the Board of Trustees. The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and a statement of their present positions and principal occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each Trustee oversees and the other directorships they have held during the past five years, if applicable. Each Trustee has been elected for an indefinite term. The officers of the Trust serve indefinite terms. Each Trustee, except for James A. Bowen, is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) (“Interested Trustee”) of the Trust due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of First Trust, investment advisor to the Funds. The following table identifies the Trustees and Officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons below is c/o First Trust Advisors L.P., 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187.

Name and Year of Birth	Position and Offices with Trust	Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed	Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years	Number of Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee	Other Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past 5 Years
TRUSTEE WHO IS AN INTERESTED PERSON OF THE TRUST
James A. Bowen (1) 1955	Chairman of the Board and Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Chief Executive Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chairman of the Board of Directors, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)	203 Portfolios	None

Name and Year of Birth	Position and Offices with Trust	Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed	Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years	Number of Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee	Other Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past 5 Years
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Richard E. Erickson 1951	Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Physician; Officer, Wheaton Orthopedics; Limited Partner, Gundersen Real Estate Limited Partnership (June 1992 to December 2016)	203 Portfolios	None
Thomas R. Kadlec 1957	Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	President, ADM Investor Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant)	203 Portfolios	Director of ADM Investor Services, Inc., ADM Investor Services International, Futures Industry Association, and National Futures Association
Robert F. Keith 1956	Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial and Management Consulting)	203 Portfolios	Director of Trust Company of Illinois
Niel B. Nielson 1954	Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Senior Advisor (August 2018 to present), Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (January 2015 to August 2018), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services)	203 Portfolios	None

Name and Year of Birth	Position and Offices with Trust	Term of Office and Length of Service	Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years
OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
James M. Dykas 1966	President and Chief Executive Officer	•Indefinite term •Since January 2016	Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to present), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to present), BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)
W. Scott Jardine 1960	Secretary and Chief Legal Officer	•Indefinite term •Since inception	General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Secretary and General Counsel, BondWave LLC; and Secretary, Stonebridge Advisors LLC
Daniel J. Lindquist 1970	Vice President	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Kristi A. Maher 1966	Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary	•Indefinite term •Chief Compliance Officer since January 2011, Assistant Secretary since inception	Deputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Donald P. Swade 1972	Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer	•Indefinite term •Since January 2016	Senior Vice President (July 2016 to Present), Vice President (April 2012 to July 2016), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Roger F. Testin 1966	Vice President	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Stan Ueland 1970	Vice President	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.

(1)

Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of First Trust, investment advisor of the Funds.

Unitary Board Leadership Structure

Income and Growth Fund, First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund, First Trust/Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund, First Trust Mortgage Income Fund, First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund, First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund, First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund, First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund, First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund, First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund, First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energy Fund, First Trust Senior Floating Rate 2022 Target Term Fund and First Trust High Yield Opportunities 2027 Term Fund, closed-end funds advised by First Trust; and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund and First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund II, exchange-traded funds with 179 portfolios advised by First Trust (each a “First Trust Fund” and collectively, the “First Trust Fund Complex”). None of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, nor any of their immediate family members, has ever been a director, officer or employee of, or consultant to, First Trust, First Trust Portfolios L.P. or their affiliates.

The management of the Funds, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Funds under the investment management agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and the Advisor, is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees set broad policies for the Funds, choose the Trust’s officers and hire the Funds' investment advisor and other service providers. The officers of the Trust manage the day-to-day operations and are responsible to the Board. The Board is composed of four Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee. The Interested Trustee, James A. Bowen, serves as the Chairman of the Board for each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex.

The same five persons serve as Trustees on the Board and on the Boards of all other First Trust Funds. The unitary board structure was adopted for the First Trust Funds because of the efficiencies it achieves with respect to the governance and oversight of the First Trust Funds. Each First Trust Fund is subject to the rules and regulations of the 1940 Act (and other applicable securities laws), which means that many of the First Trust Funds face similar issues with respect to certain of their fundamental activities, including risk management, portfolio liquidity, portfolio valuation and financial reporting. Because of the similar and often overlapping issues facing the First Trust Funds, including among the First Trust exchange-traded funds, the Board of the First Trust Funds believes that maintaining a unitary board structure promotes efficiency and consistency in the governance and oversight of all First Trust Funds and reduces the costs, administrative burdens and possible conflicts that may result from having multiple boards. In adopting a unitary board structure, the Trustees seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board the overall composition of which will, as a body, possess the appropriate skills, diversity, independence and experience to oversee the Funds' business.

Annually, the Board reviews its governance structure and the committee structures, their performance and functions, and it reviews any processes that would enhance Board governance over the Funds' business. The Board has determined that its leadership structure, including the unitary board and committee structure, is appropriate based on the characteristics of the funds it serves and the characteristics of the First Trust Fund Complex as a whole.

In order to streamline communication between the Advisor and the Independent Trustees and create certain efficiencies, the Board has a Lead Independent Trustee who is responsible for: (i) coordinating activities of the Independent Trustees; (ii) working with the Advisor, Fund counsel and the independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees to determine the agenda for Board meetings; (iii) serving as the principal contact for and facilitating communication between the Independent Trustees and the Funds' service providers, particularly the Advisor; and (iv) any other duties that the Independent Trustees may delegate to the Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee is selected by the Independent Trustees and serves a three-year term or until his or her successor is selected.

The Board has established five standing committees (as described below) and has delegated certain of its responsibilities to those committees. The Board and its committees meet frequently throughout the year to oversee the Funds' activities, review contractual arrangements with and performance of service providers, oversee compliance with regulatory requirements and review Fund performance. The Independent Trustees are represented by independent legal counsel at all Board and committee meetings (other than meetings of the Executive Committee and Dividend Committee). Generally, the Board acts by majority vote of all the Trustees, including a majority vote of the Independent Trustees if required by applicable law.

The four Committee Chairmen and the Lead Independent Trustee rotate every three years in serving as Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Valuation Committee or the Dividend Committee, or as Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee and immediately preceding Lead Independent Trustee also serve on the Executive Committee with the Interested Trustee.

The five standing committees of the First Trust Fund Complex are: the Executive Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Valuation Committee, the Audit Committee and the Dividend Committee. The Executive Committee, which meets between Board meetings, is authorized to exercise all powers of and to act in the place of the Board of Trustees to the extent permitted by the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By Laws. Mr. Nielson, Mr. Bowen and Dr. Erickson are members of the Executive Committee. During the last fiscal year, the Executive Committee held three meetings.

The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for appointing and nominating non-interested persons to the Board of Trustees. Messrs. Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson are members of the Nominating and Governance Committee. If there is no vacancy on the Board of Trustees, the Board will not actively seek recommendations from other parties, including shareholders. The Board of Trustees adopted a mandatory retirement age of 75 for Trustees, beyond which age Trustees are ineligible to serve. The Committee will not consider new trustee candidates who are 72 years of age or older or will turn 72 years old during the initial term. When a vacancy on the Board of Trustees occurs or is anticipated to occur and nominations are sought to fill such vacancy, the Nominating and Governance Committee may seek nominations from those sources it deems appropriate in its discretion, including shareholders of the applicable Funds. To submit a recommendation for nomination as a candidate for a position on the Board of Trustees, shareholders of the applicable Funds should mail such recommendation to W. Scott Jardine, Secretary, at the Trust’s address, 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Such recommendation shall include the following information: (i) evidence of Fund ownership of the person or entity recommending the candidate (if a Fund shareholder); (ii) a full description of the proposed candidate’s background, including education, experience, current employment and date of birth; (iii) names and addresses of at least three professional references for the candidate; (iv) information as to whether the candidate is an “interested person” in relation to the Funds, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, and such other information that may be considered to impair the candidate’s independence; and (v) any other information that may be helpful to the Committee in evaluating the candidate. If a recommendation is received with satisfactorily completed information regarding a candidate during a time when a vacancy exists on the Board or during such other time as the Nominating and Governance Committee is accepting recommendations, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and to counsel to the Independent Trustees. During the last fiscal year, the Nominating and Governance Committee held six meetings.

The Valuation Committee is responsible for the oversight of the valuation procedures of the Funds (the "Valuation Procedures"), for determining the fair value of the Funds' securities or other assets under certain circumstances as described in the Valuation Procedures and for evaluating the performance of any pricing service for the Funds. Messrs. Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson are members of the Valuation Committee. During the last fiscal year, the Valuation Committee held four meetings.

The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing each Fund’s accounting and financial reporting process, the system of internal controls and audit process and for evaluating and appointing independent auditors (subject also to Board approval). Messrs. Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson serve on the Audit Committee. During the last fiscal year, the Audit Committee held eight meetings.

The Dividend Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in, or assuming the authority and power of the Board with respect to, the declaration and setting of each Fund's dividends. Messrs. Erickson and Nielson serve on the Dividend Committee. During the last fiscal year, the Dividend Committee did not meet.

Executive Officers

The executive officers of the Trust hold the same positions with each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex (representing 203 portfolios) as they hold with the Trust, except Mr. Ueland who is an executive officer of only the ETFs advised by First Trust and Mr. Testin who is an executive officer of only the ETFs and open-end funds advised by First Trust.

Risk Oversight

As part of the general oversight of the Funds, the Board is involved in the risk oversight of the Funds. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address each Fund’s risks. Oversight of investment and compliance risk is performed primarily at the Board level in conjunction with the Advisor’s investment oversight group and the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”). Oversight of other risks also occurs at the committee level. The Advisor’s investment oversight group reports to the Board at quarterly meetings regarding, among other things, Fund performance and the various drivers of such performance. The Board reviews reports on the Funds' and the service providers’ compliance policies and procedures at each quarterly Board meeting and receives an annual report from the CCO regarding the operations of the Funds' and the service providers’ compliance programs. In addition, the Independent Trustees meet privately each quarter with the CCO.

The Audit Committee reviews with the Advisor each Fund’s major financial risk exposures and the steps the Advisor has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including each Fund’s risk assessment and risk management policies and guidelines. The Audit Committee also, as appropriate, reviews in a general manner the processes other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Nominating and Governance Committee monitors all matters related to the corporate governance of the Trust. The Valuation Committee monitors valuation risk and compliance with the Funds' Valuation Procedures and oversees the pricing services and actions by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities.

Not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified nor can controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. It may not be practical or cost effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the Funds or the Advisor or other service providers. For instance, as the use of Internet technology has become more prevalent, the Funds and their service providers have become more susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security (generally, intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Fund or a service provider to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity). There can be no guarantee that any risk management systems established by the Funds, their service providers, or issuers of the securities in which the Funds invest to reduce cyber security risks will succeed, and the Funds cannot control such systems put in place by service providers, issuers or other third parties whose operations may affect the Funds and/or their shareholders. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment related risks) to achieve a Fund's goals. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, a Fund's ability to manage risk is subject to substantial limitations.

Board Diversification and Trustee Qualifications

As described above, the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board oversees matters related to the selection and nomination of Trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee seeks to establish an effective Board with an appropriate range of skills and diversity, including, as appropriate, differences in background, professional experience, education, vocation, and other individual characteristics and traits in the aggregate. Each Trustee must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability and, if qualifying as an Independent Trustee, independence from the Advisor, underwriters or other service providers, including any affiliates of these entities.

Listed below for each current Trustee are the experiences, qualifications and attributes that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this SAI, that each current Trustee should serve as a Trustee in light of the Trust’s business and structure.

Richard E. Erickson, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon. He also has been President of Wheaton Orthopedics, a co-owner and director of a fitness center and a limited partner of two real estate companies. Dr. Erickson has served as a Trustee of each First Trust Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999. Dr. Erickson has also served as the Lead Independent Trustee (2008–2009 and 2017–2019) and on the Executive Committee (2008–2009 and 2017–present), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2003–2007 and 2014–2016), Chairman of the Audit Committee (2012–2013) and Chairman of the Valuation Committee (June 2006–2007 and 2010–2011) of the First Trust Funds. He currently serves as Chairman of the Valuation Committee (since January 1, 2020) of the First Trust Funds.

Thomas R. Kadlec is President of ADM Investor Services Inc. (“ADMIS”), a futures commission merchant and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Archer Daniels Midland Company (“ADM”). Mr. Kadlec has been employed by ADMIS and its affiliates since 1990 in various accounting, financial, operations and risk management capacities. Mr. Kadlec serves on the boards of several international affiliates of ADMIS and served as a member of ADM’s Integrated Risk Committee from 2008–2018, which was tasked with the duty of implementing and communicating enterprise-wide risk management. In 2014, Mr. Kadlec was elected to the board of the Futures Industry Association. In 2017, Mr. Kadlec was elected to the board of the National Futures Association. Mr. Kadlec has served as a Trustee of each First Trust Fund since its inception. Mr. Kadlec also served on the Executive Committee from the organization of the first First Trust closed-end fund in 2003 through 2005 (and 2014–2019) until he was elected as the first Lead Independent Trustee in December 2005, serving as such through 2007 (and 2014–2016). He also served as Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2008–2009 and 2017–2019), Chairman of the Audit Committee (2010–2011) and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2012–2013). He currently serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee (since January 1, 2020) of the First Trust Funds.

Management Services. Mr. Keith is a certified public accountant and also has held the positions of Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of ServiceMaster, at which time he oversaw the financial aspects of ServiceMaster’s expansion of its Management Services division into Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Mr. Keith has served as a Trustee of the First Trust Funds since June 2006. Mr. Keith has also served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee (2008–2009 and 2017–2019), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2010–2011) and Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2014–2016) of the First Trust Funds. He served as Lead Independent Trustee and on the Executive Committee (2012–2016) and currently serves as Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (since January 1, 2020) of the First Trust Funds.

Niel B. Nielson, Ph.D., has been the Senior Advisor of Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation, a global provider of educational products and services since August 2018. Prior thereto, Mr. Nielson served as the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation for three years. Mr. Nielson formerly served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dew Learning LLC from June 2012 through September 2014. Mr. Nielson formerly served as President of Covenant College (2002–2012), and as a partner and trader (of options and futures contracts for hedging options) for Ritchie Capital Markets Group (1996–1997), where he held an administrative management position at this proprietary derivatives trading company. He also held prior positions in new business development for ServiceMaster Management Services Company and in personnel and human resources for NationsBank of North Carolina, N.A. and Chicago Research and Trading Group, Ltd. (“CRT”). His international experience includes serving as a director of CRT Europe, Inc. for two years, directing out of London all aspects of business conducted by the U.K. and European subsidiary of CRT. Prior to that, Mr. Nielson was a trader and manager at CRT in Chicago. Mr. Nielson has served as a Trustee of each First Trust Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999. Mr. Nielson has also served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee (2003–2006 and 2014–2016), Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2007–2008), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2008–2009 and 2017–2019) and Lead Independent Trustee and a member of the Executive Committee (2010–2011). He currently serves as Lead Independent Trustee and on the Executive Committee (since January 1, 2020) and as Chairman of the Dividend Committee (since October 19, 2020) of the First Trust Funds.

James A. Bowen is Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P. Mr. Bowen is involved in the day-to-day management of the First Trust Funds and serves on the Executive Committee. He has over 35 years of experience in the investment company business in sales, sales management and executive management. Mr. Bowen has served as a Trustee of each First Trust Fund since its inception and of the First Trust Funds since 1999.

Effective January 1, 2020, the fixed annual retainer paid to the Independent Trustees is $255,000 per year and an annual per fund fee of $2,500 for each closed-end fund and actively managed fund, $750 for each defined outcome fund and $250 for each index fund. The fixed annual retainer is allocated equally among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex rather than being allocated pro rata based on each fund’s net assets. Additionally, the Lead Independent Trustee is paid $30,000 annually, the Chairman of the Audit Committee or Valuation Committee are each paid $20,000 annually and the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee is paid $10,000 annually to serve in such capacities with compensation allocated pro rata among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on its net assets.

The following table sets forth the total compensation (including reimbursement for travel and out-of-pocket expenses) paid by the Funds and the First Trust Fund Complex to each of the Independent Trustees for the fiscal year and the calendar year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. The Trust has no retirement or pension plans. The officers and Trustee who are “interested persons” as designated above serve without any compensation from the Trust. The Trust has no employees. Its officers are compensated by First Trust.

Name of Trustee	Total Compensation from the Funds (1)	Total Compensation from the First Trust Fund Complex (2)
Richard E. Erickson	$ 35,304	$ 472,625
Thomas R. Kadlec	$ 35,304	$ 472,625
Robert F. Keith	$ 31,830	$ 462,625
Niel B. Nielson	$ 38,779	$482,625

(1)

The compensation paid by the Funds to the Independent Trustees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for services to the Funds.

(2)

The total compensation paid to the Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 2020 for services to the 194 portfolios existing in 2020, which consisted of 8 open-end mutual funds, 16 closed-end funds and 170 exchange-traded funds.

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in the Funds as of December 31, 2020:

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Funds

	Interested Trustee	Independent Trustees
Fund	James A. Bowen	Richard E. Erickson	Thomas R. Kadlec	Robert F. Keith	Niel B. Nielson
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	N/A	$50,001–$100,000	N/A	N/A	$10,001–$50,000
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	Over $100,000	N/A	N/A	$10,001-$50,000	N/A
First Trust Chindia ETF	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,001–$50,000	$10,001–$50,000
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	N/A	$10,001–$50,000	N/A	$10,001-$50,000	$10,001–$50,000
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund	N/A	N/A	$10,001–$50,000	N/A	N/A
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	$50,001-$100,000	N/A	N/A	$50,001-$100,000	$10,001–$50,000
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	Over $100,000	$50,001-$100,000	Over $100,000	N/A	$10,001–$50,000
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in the First Trust Fund Complex	Over $100,000	Over $100,000	Over $100,000	Over $100,000	Over $100,000

As of December 31, 2020, the Independent Trustees of the Trust and their immediate family members did not own beneficially or of record any class of securities of an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Funds or any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Funds.

As of December 31, 2020, the officers and Trustees, in the aggregate, owned less than 1% of the shares of each Fund.

The table set forth in Exhibit A shows the percentage ownership of each shareholder or “group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)) who, based on the securities position listing reports as of March 31, 2021, owned of record, or is known by the Trust to have owned of record or beneficially, 5% or more of the shares of a Fund (the “Principal Holders”). A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. A party that controls a Fund may be able to significantly influence the outcome of any item presented to shareholders for approval. The Funds do not have any knowledge of who the ultimate beneficiaries are of the shares.

Investment Advisor. First Trust, 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, is the investment advisor to the Funds. First Trust is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. Grace Partners of DuPage L.P. is a limited partnership with one general partner, The Charger Corporation, and a number of limited partners. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, the Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust discharges its responsibilities to the Funds subject to the policies of the Board of Trustees.

First Trust provides investment tools and portfolios for advisors and investors. First Trust is committed to theoretically sound portfolio construction and empirically verifiable investment management approaches. Its asset management philosophy and investment discipline are deeply rooted in the application of intuitive factor analysis and model implementation to enhance investment decisions.

First Trust acts as investment advisor for and manages the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Funds. First Trust also administers the Trust’s business affairs, provides office facilities and equipment and certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services, and permits any of its officers or employees to serve without compensation as Trustees or officers of the Trust if elected to such positions.

Pursuant to an investment management agreement between First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of the Funds (the "Investment Management Agreement"), First Trust manages each Fund’s assets. First Trust is paid an annual management fee based upon each Fund’s average daily net assets at the rate set forth in the table below. Additionally, First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, have entered into an Expense Reimbursement, Fee Waiver and Recovery Agreement (“Recovery Agreement”) pursuant to which First Trust has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of each such Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed the amounts set forth in the table below as a percentage of such Fund’s average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Caps”) at least through April 30, 2022 (the "Expense Cap Termination Date"). Each Fund is responsible for all of its expenses, including management fees, costs of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses related to the execution of portfolio transactions, paying for its sublicensing fees related to the Fund’s Index, any distribution fees or expenses, and extraordinary expenses. The Recovery Agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of a Fund, at any time and by First Trust only after May 1, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice. Expenses borne and fees waived by First Trust are subject to reimbursement by a Fund up to three years from the date the fee or expense was incurred by such Fund, but no reimbursement payment will be made by a Fund at any time if it would result in such Fund’s expenses exceeding (i) the applicable Expense Cap in place for the most recent fiscal year for which such Expense Cap was in place, (ii) the applicable Expense Cap in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the current Expense Cap.

Fund	Annual Management Fee	Annual Expense Cap
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	0.50% of average daily net assets	0.65% of average daily net assets
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	0.50% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust Chindia ETF	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust Water ETF	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	0.30% of average daily net assets	0.45% of average daily net assets
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	0.30% of average daily net assets	0.50% of average daily net assets
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	0.40% of average daily net assets	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	0.50% of average daily net assets	0.70% of average daily net assets

The following table sets forth the management fees (net of fee waivers and expense reimbursements, where applicable) paid by each Fund to First Trust and the fees waived and expenses reimbursed, by First Trust for the specified periods.

	Amount of Management Fees (Net of Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursements by First Trust)			Amount of Fees Waived and Expenses Reimbursed By First Trust
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,			Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019	2018	2020	2019	2018
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	$ 25,305,564	$ 12,257,839	$ 4,943,539	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
First Trust Chindia ETF	$ 618,512	$ 458,352	$ 1,392,775	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	$ 36,565,617	$ 33,111,621	$ 31,572,428	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	$ 434,918	$ 583,019	$ 455,027	$ 127,387	$ 149,166	$ 162,786
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	$ 4,043,052	$ 4,741,297	$ 4,258,245	$ 162,827	$ 178,254	$ 256,355
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	$ 291,507	$ 721,595	$ 1,388,067	$ 31,508	$ 0	$ 0
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	$ 1,932,242	$ 396,148	$ 327,529	$ 766	$ 33,796	$ 43,615
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	$ 3,562,907	$ 2,876,108	$ 2,180,073	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	$ 422,598	$ 334,262	$ 339,351	$ 24,666	$ 34,524	$ 35,900
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	$ 11,005,664	$ 9,757,654	$ 9,748,449	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	$ 266,862	$ 303,730	$ 538,581	$ 59,597	$ 41,266	$ 39,782
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	$ 7,696,122	$ 9,991,752	$ 7,821,079	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	$ 275,121	$ 450,168	$ 316,973	$ 24,447	$ 22,365	$ 25,848
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	$ 5,637,673	$ 4,713,266	$ 4,422,222	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	$ 45,646,229	$ 32,843,372	$ 20,450,678	$ 0	$ 683,425	$ 768,292
First Trust Water ETF	$ 2,146,733	$ 1,592,212	$ 1,273,325	$ 0	$ 0	$0

Under the Investment Management Agreement, First Trust shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the purchase, sale or retention of any security, whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon the investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or corporation, if such recommendation shall have been selected with due care and in good faith, except loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of First Trust in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties. The Investment Management Agreement terminates automatically upon assignment and is terminable at any time without penalty as to a Fund by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities on 60 days’ written notice to First Trust, or by First Trust on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund.

Investment Committee. The Investment Committee of First Trust (the “Investment Committee”) is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds. There are currently seven members of the Investment Committee, as follows:

Name	Position with First Trust	Length of Service with First Trust	Principal Occupation During Past Five Years
Daniel J. Lindquist	Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director	Since 2004	Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Jon C. Erickson	Senior Vice President	Since 1994	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
David G. McGarel	Chief Operating Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director	Since 1997	Chief Operating Officer (2016 to present), Chief Investment Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Roger F. Testin	Senior Vice President	Since 2001	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Stan Ueland	Senior Vice President	Since 2005	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Chris A. Peterson	Senior Vice President	Since 2000	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Erik Russo	Vice President	Since 2010	Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P.

Daniel J. Lindquist: Mr. Lindquist is Chairman of the Investment Committee and presides over Investment Committee meetings. Mr. Lindquist is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Funds' investment strategies.

Jon C. Erickson: As the head of First Trust’s Equity Research Group, Mr. Erickson is responsible for determining the securities to be purchased and sold by funds that do not utilize quantitative investment strategies.

David G. McGarel: As First Trust's Chief Investment Officer, Mr. McGarel consults with the Investment Committee on market conditions and First Trust's general investment philosophy. As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. McGarel is responsible for First Trust and FTP operations, including information systems, trust administration and First Trust administration.

Roger F. Testin: As head of First Trust’s Portfolio Management Group, Mr. Testin is responsible for executing the instructions of the Strategy Research Group and Equity Research Group.

Stan Ueland: Mr. Ueland is a Senior Vice President and is responsible for executing the investment strategies of the Funds.

Chris A. Peterson: Mr. Peterson is a Senior Vice President and head of the strategy research group at First Trust. Mr. Peterson is responsible for developing and implementing quantitative equity investment strategies.

Erik Russo: Mr. Russo is a Vice President of First Trust. He is responsible for implementing the investment strategies of each portfolio of exchange-traded funds advised by First Trust in his role as a Portfolio Manager.

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities of the Funds beneficially owned by the members of the Investment Committee as of December 31, 2020:

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Funds

	Investment Committee
Fund	Dan Lindquist	Jon C. Erickson	David G. McGarel	Roger F. Testin	Stan Ueland	Chris A. Peterson	Erik D. Russo
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	$1- $10,000	$10,001- $50,000	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	N/A
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	N/A	N/A	$50,000- $100,000	$10,001- $50,000	$50,001- $100,000	N/A	N/A
First Trust Water ETF	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	N/A
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

	Investment Committee
Fund	Dan Lindquist	Jon C. Erickson	David G. McGarel	Roger F. Testin	Stan Ueland	Chris A. Peterson	Erik D. Russo
First Trust NASDAQ-100- Technology Sector Index Fund	N/A	N/A	$50,000- $100,000	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	$1- $10,000	N/A	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	N/A
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	$50,000- $100,000	N/A	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	$10,001- $50,000
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	$1- 10,000	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	Over $100,000	$10,001- $50,000	$1- 10,000	N/A	N/A
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	Over $100,000	$10,001- $50,000	$10,001- $50,000	N/A	N/A

Compensation. The compensation structure for each member of the Investment Committee is based upon a fixed salary as well as a discretionary bonus determined by the management of First Trust. Salaries are determined by management and are based upon an individual’s position and overall value to the firm. Bonuses are also determined by management and are based upon an individual’s overall contribution to the success of the firm and the profitability of the firm. Salaries and bonuses for members of the Investment Committee are not based upon criteria such as performance of the Funds or the value of assets included in the Funds’ portfolios. In addition, Mr. Erickson, Mr. Lindquist, Mr. McGarel, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Ueland also have an indirect ownership stake in the firm and will therefore receive their allocable share of ownership-related distributions.

Accounts Managed by Investment Committee

The Investment Committee manages the investment vehicles (other than the Funds) with the number of accounts and assets, as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, set forth in the table below:

Investment Committee Member	Registered Investment Companies Number of Accounts ($ Assets)	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Number of Accounts ($ Assets)	Other Accounts Number of Accounts ($ Assets)
Dan Lindquist	97 ($33,025,722,159)	41 ($1,361,670,267)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
David McGarel	97 ($33,025,722,159)	41 ($1,361,670,267)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
Jon Erickson	96 ($33,025,722,159)	41 ($1,361,670,267)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
Roger Testin	96 ($33,025,722,159)	41 ($1,361,670,267)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
Stan Ueland	88 ($31,919,764,021)	32 ($1,226,720,281	N/A
Chris Peterson	97 ($33,025,722,159)	37 ($1,273,575,332)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
Erik Russo	88 ($31,919,764,021)	32 ($1,226,720,281)	N/A

Conflicts. None of the accounts managed by the Investment Committee pay an advisory fee that is based upon the performance of the account. In addition, First Trust believes that there are no material conflicts of interest that may arise in connection with the Investment Committee's management of the Funds' investments and the investments of the other accounts managed by the Investment Committee. However, because the investment strategy of the Funds and the investment strategies of many of the other accounts managed by the Investment Committee are based on fairly mechanical investment processes, the Investment Committee may recommend that certain clients sell and other clients buy a given security at the same time. In addition, because the investment strategies of the Funds and other accounts managed by the Investment Committee generally result in the clients investing in readily available securities, First Trust believes that there should not be material conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Funds and other accounts managed by the Investment Committee.

Brokerage Allocations

First Trust is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds and for the placement of the Funds' securities business, the negotiation of the commissions to be paid on brokered transactions, the prices for principal trades in securities, and the allocation of portfolio brokerage and principal business. It is the policy of First Trust to seek the best execution at the best security price available with respect to each transaction, and with respect to brokered transactions in light of the overall quality of brokerage and research services provided to First Trust and its clients. The best price to a Fund means the best net price without regard to the mix between purchase or sale price and commission, if any. Purchases may be made from underwriters, dealers and, on occasion, the issuers. Commissions will be paid on a Fund's futures and options transactions, if any. The purchase price of portfolio securities purchased from an underwriter or dealer may include underwriting commissions and dealer spreads. The Funds may pay markups on principal transactions. In selecting broker-dealers and in negotiating commissions, First Trust considers, among other things, the firm’s reliability, the quality of its execution services on a continuing basis and its financial condition. Fund portfolio transactions may be effected with broker-dealers who have assisted investors in the purchase of shares.

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits an investment advisor, under certain circumstances, to cause an account to pay a broker or dealer who supplies brokerage and research services a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction. Brokerage and research services include (a) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (b) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts; and (c) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement and custody). Such brokerage and research services are often referred to as “soft dollars.” First Trust has advised the Board of Trustees that it does not currently intend to use soft dollars.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in selecting brokers, First Trust may in the future consider investment and market information and other research, such as economic, securities and performance measurement research, provided by such brokers, and the quality and reliability of brokerage services, including execution capability, performance and financial responsibility. Accordingly, the commissions charged by any such broker may be greater than the amount another firm might charge if First Trust determines in good faith that the amount of such commissions is reasonable in relation to the value of the research information and brokerage services provided by such broker to First Trust or the Trust. In addition, First Trust must determine that the research information received in this manner provides the Funds with benefits by supplementing the research otherwise available to the Funds. The Investment Management Agreement provides that such higher commissions will not be paid by the Funds unless First Trust determines in good faith that the amount is reasonable in relation to the services provided. The investment advisory fees paid by the Funds to First Trust under the Investment Management Agreement would not be reduced as a result of receipt by First Trust of research services.

First Trust places portfolio transactions for other advisory accounts advised by it, and research services furnished by firms through which the Funds effect their securities transactions may be used by First Trust in servicing all of its accounts; not all of such services may be used by First Trust in connection with the Funds. First Trust believes it is not possible to measure separately the benefits from research services to each of the accounts (including the Funds) advised by it. Because the volume and nature of the trading activities of the accounts are not uniform, the amount of commissions in excess of those charged by another broker paid by each account for brokerage and research services will vary. However, First Trust believes such costs to the Funds will not be disproportionate to the benefits received by the Funds on a continuing basis. First Trust seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by the Funds and another advisory account. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or the amount of securities available to the Funds. In making such allocations between the Funds and other advisory accounts, the main factors considered

by First Trust are the respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holding of the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment and the size of investment commitments generally held.

Brokerage Commissions

The following table sets forth the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by each Fund for the specified periods. Significant variations in the amount a Fund paid in brokerage commissions from year-to-year are generally the result of fluctuations in the size of a Fund or changes to a Fund's portfolio holdings.

Aggregate Amount of Brokerage Commissions
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019	2018
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	$ 1,201,909	$ 642,415	$ 236,860
First Trust Chindia ETF	$ 73,119	$ 36,178	$ 71,903
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	$ 1,533,969	$ 1,293,599	$ 901,966
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	$ 190,445	$ 148,918	$ 105,420
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	$ 530,034	$ 264,072	$ 261,866
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	$ 10,519	$ 17,522	$ 30,329
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	$ 114,414	$ 22,391	$ 24,245
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	$ 67,391	$ 56,550	$ 50,094
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	$ 11,655	$ 8,180	$ 8,813
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	$ 161,036	$ 117,430	$ 167,074
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	$ 246,300	$ 167,190	$ 86,385
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	$ 155,154	$ 390,569	$ 245,028
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	$ 3,418	$ 6,641	$ 7,467
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	$ 491,108	$ 441,619	$ 287,072
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	$ 2,532,701	$ 1,070,347	$ 803,958
First Trust Water ETF	$ 61,344	$ 29,829	$29,657

During the last fiscal year, First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC was 0.54%, 0.54% and 0.54%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust Natural Gas ETF held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was 0.20% and 0.20%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund held securities of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Citigroup Global Markets Inc. was 3.93% of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was 2.92% and 2.98%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust Water ETF held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was 1.14% and 1.16%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust Chindia ETF held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was 2.11% and 2.15%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was 2.05% and 2.09%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was 0.11% and 0.11%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was 2.56% and 2.61%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC was 0.03% and 0.03%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

Administrator, Fund Accounting Agent, Custodian, Transfer Agent, Distributor,
Index Providers and Exchanges

Administrator and Fund Accounting Agent. The Funds have appointed The Bank of New York Mellon ("BNYM"), located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286, to serve as the Funds’ administrator and provide the Funds with accounting services pursuant to a fund administration and accounting agreement (the “Administration and Accounting Agreement”). Under the Administration and Accounting Agreement, BNYM is obligated, on a continuous basis, to provide such administrative services as the Board reasonably deems necessary for the proper administration of the Trust and the Funds. BNYM generally will assist in many aspects of the Trust’s and the Funds’ operations, including accounting, bookkeeping and record keeping services (including, without limitation, the maintenance of such books and records as are required under the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, except as maintained by other service providers), assist in preparing reports to shareholders or investors, prepare and file tax returns, supply financial information and supporting data for reports to and filings with the SEC and various state Blue Sky authorities and supply supporting documentation for meetings of the Board.

The following table sets forth the amounts paid by each Fund to BNYM under the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement.

Fund Administration and Accounting
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019	2018
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	$ 1,825,266	$ 1,062,048	$ 486,853
First Trust Chindia ETF	$ 79,104	$ 59,039	$ 175,985
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	$ 2,783,173	$ 2,588,893	$ 2,502,288
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	$ 60,529	$ 77,163	$ 68,201

Fund Administration and Accounting
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019	2018
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	$ 662,259	$ 757,479	$ 703,443
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	$ 43,051	$ 93,200	$ 176,410
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	$ 236,340	$ 55,248	$ 48,003
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	$ 445,404	$ 360,987	$ 273,988
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	$ 57,247	$ 47,457	$ 48,281
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	$ 1,169,359	$ 1,072,381	$ 1,071,797
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	$ 42,301	$ 44,583	$ 73,691
First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund	$ 870,960	$ 1,078,841	$ 875,000
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	$ 52,097	$ 80,989	$ 59,235
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	$ 665,612	$ 572,867	$ 543,747
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund	$ 2,781,187	$ 2,232,955	$ 1,625,331
First Trust Water ETF	$ 269,705	$ 200,482	$ 160,619

Custodian. The Trust has appointed BNYM to serve as the Funds' custodian pursuant to a custody agreement (the “Custody Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Custody Agreement, BNYM is generally responsible for the safekeeping of the Funds' assets and performing various other administrative duties set forth in the agreement.

Transfer Agent. The Trust has appointed BNYM to serve as the Funds' transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent pursuant to a transfer agency and service agreement (the “Transfer Agency Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNYM is responsible for performing and facilitating the purchases and redemptions of Creation Unit Aggregations, as well as performing other customary services of a transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

As set forth in the Administration and Accounting Agreement, Custody Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless BNYM from certain costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims which are sustained or incurred or which may be asserted against BNYM, provided that such costs, expenses, damages, liabilities and claims did not result from BNYM’s own negligence or willful misconduct.

As compensation for the services provided by BNYM under the Administration and Accounting Agreement, Custody Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has agreed to pay to BNYM such compensation as may be specifically agreed upon from time to time and reimburse BNYM for out-of-pocket expenses which are a normal incident of the services provided under the agreements. Pursuant to the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund does not directly pay BNYM for these services, as First Trust has assumed responsibility for the payment of these expenses out of the unitary management fee it receives from the Fund.

Distributor. First Trust Portfolios L.P., an affiliate of First Trust, is the distributor (“FTP” or the “Distributor”) and principal underwriter of the shares of the Funds. Its principal address is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. The Distributor has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes Fund shares. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Funds through the Distributor only in Creation Unit Aggregations, as described in the Prospectus under the heading "Other Information - Continuous Offering."

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, there were no underwriting commissions with respect to the sale of Fund shares and FTP did not receive compensation on redemptions for the Funds for those periods.

12b-1 Plan. The Trust has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Plan”) pursuant to which the Funds may reimburse the Distributor up to a maximum annual rate of 0.25% of their average daily net assets.

expenditures were made. With the exception of the Distributor and its affiliates, no “interested person” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) and no Trustee of the Trust has a direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any related agreement.

No fee is currently paid by a Fund under the Plan and, pursuant to a contractual agreement, the Funds will not pay 12b-1 fees any time before April 30, 2022.

Aggregations. Fund shares in less than Creation Unit Aggregations are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will deliver the Prospectus and, upon request, this SAI to persons purchasing Creation Unit Aggregations and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

The Distribution Agreement provides that it may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days’ written notice by the Trust to the Distributor (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The Distributor has entered into agreements with securities dealers ("Soliciting Dealers") who will solicit purchases of Creation Unit Aggregations of Fund shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Participating Parties (as defined in "Procedures for Creation of Creation Unit Aggregations" below) and DTC Participants (as defined in "DTC Acts as Securities Depository for Fund Shares" below.)

Index Providers. The Indices are compiled by the Index Providers. First Trust does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Indices or any data included therein, and First Trust shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein. First Trust makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Funds, owners of the shares of the Funds or any other person or entity from the use of the Indices or any data included therein. First Trust makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Indices or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall First Trust have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect or consequential damages (including lost profits) arising out of matters relating to the use of the Indices, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

First Trust Capital Strength ETF

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. or its affiliates (Nasdaq, Inc. with its affiliates are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Fund. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of The Capital Strength IndexSM to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to First Trust with respect to the Fund is in the licensing of The Capital Strength IndexSM, and certain trade names of the Corporations and the use of The Capital Strength IndexSM, which is determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq, Inc. without regard to First Trust or the Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating The Capital Strength IndexSM. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of Fund Shares to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which Fund Shares are to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund

The “Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM” and “Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM” are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), and have been licensed for use by First Trust. Dow Jones®, Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM and Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM are trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). The foregoing marks have been licensed to SPDJI and have been sublicensed for use for certain purposes by First Trust on behalf of the Funds. The First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund and First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones or their respective affiliates. SPDJI, Dow Jones and their respective affiliates make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund and First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund and First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund particularly. The only relationship of SPDJI, Dow Jones or any of their respective affiliates to the Licensee with respect to the Indexes is the licensing of certain trademarks, trade names and service marks and of the Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM and Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM which are determined, composed and calculated by SPDJI without regard to First Trust, First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund. SPDJI and Dow Jones have no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM and Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM. SPDJI, Dow Jones and their respective affiliates are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund are to be converted into cash. SPDJI, Dow Jones and their respective affiliates have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund or First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund. There is no assurance that investment products based on the Dow Jones Internet Composite IndexSM and the Dow Jones Select MicroCap IndexSM will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. SPDJI is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by SPDJI to buy, sell or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.

SPDJI, DOW JONES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE DOW JONES INTERNET COMPOSITE INDEXSM AND DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND SPDJI, DOW JONES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. SPDJI, DOW JONES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OF THE FIRST TRUST DOW JONES INTERNET INDEX FUND OR FIRST TRUST DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEX FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DOW JONES INTERNET COMPOSITE INDEXSM AND DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. SPDJI, DOW JONES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE DOW JONES INTERNET COMPOSITE INDEXSM AND DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL SPDJI, DOW JONES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN SPDJI AND FIRST TRUST, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF SPDJI.

First Trust Chindia ETF
First Trust Natural Gas ETF
First Trust Water ETF

The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Index Provider. The Index Provider makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of trading in the Funds. The Index Provider’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of the Index Provider and of the Indexes which are determined, composed and calculated by the Index Provider without regard to First Trust or the Funds. The Index Provider has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Funds into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Indexes. The Index Provider is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Funds to be listed or in the determination

or calculation of the equation by which the Funds are to be converted into cash. The Index Provider has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.

THE INDEX PROVIDER DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND THE INDEX PROVIDER SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. THE INDEX PROVIDER MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OF THE FUNDS, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE INDEX PROVIDER MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO INDEXES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE INDEX PROVIDER HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES, OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE INDEX PROVIDER AND FIRST TRUST.

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Morningstar Inc. Morningstar makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund in particular or the ability of the Morningstar® Dividend Leaders IndexSM to track general stock market performance. Morningstar’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of: (i) certain service marks and service names of Morningstar; and (ii) the Morningstar® Dividend Leaders IndexSM which is determined, composed and calculated by Morningstar without regard to First Trust or the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund. Morningstar has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Morningstar® Dividend Leaders IndexSM. Morningstar is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund or the timing of the issuance or sale of the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund is converted into cash. Morningstar has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund.

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund

The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. or its affiliates (Nasdaq, Inc. with its affiliates are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Funds. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM, NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM or NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to First Trust with respect to the Fund is in the licensing of the NASDAQ®, NASDAQ-100®, NASDAQ-100 Index®, NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM, NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM or NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM trademarks, and certain trade names of the Corporations and the use of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted IndexSM, NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM or NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM which is determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq, Inc. without regard to First Trust or the Funds. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Funds

into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the NASDAQ 100 Equal Weighted IndexSM, NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector IndexSM or NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector IndexSM. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of Fund shares to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which Fund shares are to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NASDAQ-100 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEXSM, THE NASDAQ-100 EX-TECH SECTOR INDEXSM AND THE NASDAQ100 TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE PRODUCT(S) OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ-100 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEXSM, THE NASDAQ-100 EX-TECH SECTOR INDEXSM AND THE NASDAQ-100 TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ-100 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEXSM, THE NASDAQ-100 EX-TECH SECTOR INDEXSM AND THE NASDAQ 100 TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc., American Bankers Association (“ABA”) or their affiliates (Nasdaq, Inc. and ABA, collectively with their affiliates, are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Fund. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of the NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to First Trust Advisors L.P. (“Licensee”) is in the licensing of the Nasdaq, Inc., American Bankers Association, ABA, and NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM trademarks, and certain trade names and service marks of the Corporations and the use of the NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM which is determined and composed by the Corporations without regard to Licensee or the Fund. The Corporations have no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NASDAQ OMX® ABA COMMUNITY BANK INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST OR THE FUND, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ OMX® ABA COMMUNITY BANK INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ OMX® ABA COMMUNITY BANK INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

All price history data for the NASDAQ OMX® ABA Community Bank IndexSM prior to its dissemination date, June 8, 2009, is indicative and Nasdaq, Inc. makes no guarantee of the accuracy of back-tested data.

First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc., Clean Edge® or their affiliates (Nasdaq, Inc. and Clean Edge®, collectively with their affiliates, are referred to herein as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Fund. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express or implied to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of the NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy IndexSM to track general stock market or sector performance. The Corporations’ relationship to First Trust, with respect to the Fund, consists of: (i) the licensing of certain indexes, trade names, trademarks, and service marks and

other proprietary data; (ii) the listing and trading of certain exchange-traded funds; and (iii) the calculating of intra-day portfolio values for the Fund's shares. The Corporations neither recommend nor endorse any investment in the Index or the Fund based thereon. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund. Neither the Index nor the Fund should be construed as investment advice by the Corporations.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE NASDAQ® CLEAN EDGE® GREEN ENERGY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ® CLEAN EDGE® GREEN ENERGY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ® CLEAN EDGE® GREEN ENERGY INDEXSM OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Nasdaq, Inc. and Clean Edge® are not affiliates, but jointly own the Index and have cross-licensed to one another the rights in their respective marks in connection with the Index.

First Trust NYSE® Arca® Biotechnology Index Fund

Source ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE Data”) is used with permission. “NYSE®” and “NYSE® Arca®” are service/trade marks of ICE Data or its affiliates and have been licensed, along with the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index (“ICE Data Index”), for use by First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”) in connection with the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (the “Product”). Neither First Trust, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund (the “Trust”) nor the Product, as applicable, is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by ICE Data, its affiliates or its Third Party Suppliers (“ICE Data and its Suppliers”). ICE Data and its Suppliers make no representations or warranties regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally, in the Product particularly, the Trust or the ability of the Index to track general stock market performance. ICE Data’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names and the Index or components thereof. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by ICE Data without regard to First Trust or the Product or its holders. ICE Data has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the holders of the Product into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the ICE Data Index. ICE Data is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of the Product to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Product is to be priced, sold, purchased, or redeemed. Except for certain custom index calculation services, all information provided by ICE Data is general in nature and not tailored to the needs of First Trust or any other person, entity or group of persons. ICE Data has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the Product. ICE Data is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by ICE Data to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.

ICE DATA AND ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESS AND/OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, INCLUDING THE INDICES, THE INDEX DATA AND ANY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN, RELATED TO, OR DERIVED THEREFROM (“INDEX DATA”). ICE DATA AND ITS SUPPLIERS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INDICES AND THE INDEX DATA, WHICH ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS AND YOUR USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund

GENERALLY OR IN THE FUND PARTICULARLY OR THE ABILITY OF THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX TO TRACK GENERAL STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE. SPDJI’S ONLY RELATIONSHIP TO FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. (“FTA”) IS THE LICENSING OF CERTAIN TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES AND OF THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX WHICH IS DETERMINED, COMPOSED AND CALCULATED BY SPDJI WITHOUT REGARD TO FTA OR THE FUND. SPDJI HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF FTA OR THE OWNERS OF THE FUND INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING, COMPOSING OR CALCULATING THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX. SPDJI IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND AMOUNT OF THE FUND OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE OR SALE OF THE FUND OR IN THE DETERMINATION OR CALCULATION OF THE EQUATION BY WHICH THE FUND SHARES ARE TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. SPDJI HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING, OR TRADING OF THE FUND. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT INVESTMENT PRODUCTS BASED ON THE S&P UNITED STATES REIT INDEX WILL ACCURATELY TRACK INDEX PERFORMANCE OR PROVIDE POSITIVE INVESTMENT RETURNS. S&P DOW JONES INDICES LLC IS NOT AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR. INCLUSION OF A SECURITY WITHIN AN INDEX IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION BY SPDJI TO BUY, SELL, OR HOLD SUCH SECURITY, NOR IS IT CONSIDERED TO BE INVESTMENT ADVICE.

First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by IPOX®. IPOX® 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. IPOX®’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of IPOX® and of the U.S. IPOX®100 Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by IPOX® without regard to First Trust or the Fund.

IPOX® IS A REGISTERED INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK OF IPOX®SCHUSTER LLC AND IPOX®SCHUSTER, IPOX® 100 AND IPOX® 30 ARE TRADEMARKS OF IPOX® SCHUSTER LLC (www.ipox.com) AND HAVE BEEN LICENSED FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES FROM IPOX® SCHUSTER LLC TO FIRST TRUST PURSUANT TO THE PRODUCT LICENSE AGREEMENT.

A patent with respect to the IPOX® index methodology has been issued (U.S. Pat. No. 7,698,197). IPOX® is a registered international trademark of IPOX® Schuster LLC (www.ipox.com).

First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund

VALUE LINE PUBLISHING LLC’S (“VLP”) ONLY RELATIONSHIP TO FIRST TRUST IS VLP’S LICENSING TO FIRST TRUST OF CERTAIN VLP TRADEMARKS AND TRADE NAMES AND THE VALUE LINE® EQUITY ALLOCATION INDEX, THE VALUE LINE® DIVIDEND INDEX AND VALUE LINE® 100 INDEX (THE “INDEXES”), WHICH ARE COMPOSED BY VLP WITHOUT REGARD TO FIRST TRUST, THE FIRST TRUST VALUE LINE® DIVIDEND INDEX FUND (THE “PRODUCT”) OR ANY INVESTOR. VLP HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF FIRST TRUST OR ANY INVESTOR IN THE PRODUCTS INTO CONSIDERATION IN COMPOSING THE INDEXES. THE PRODUCTS RESULTS MAY DIFFER FROM THE HYPOTHETICAL OR PUBLISHED RESULTS OF THE INDEXES. VLP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW FIRST TRUST MAKES USE OF INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY VLP. VLP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR AND HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICES AND COMPOSITION OF THE PRODUCTS OR THE TIMING OF THE ISSUANCE FOR SALE OF THE PRODUCT OR IN THE CALCULATION OF THE EQUATIONS BY WHICH THE PRODUCT IS TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH. VLP MAKES NO WARRANTY CONCERNING THE INDEXES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY PERSON’S INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARISING FROM USAGE OF TRADE, COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, AND VLP MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE POTENTIAL PROFITS OR ANY OTHER

BENEFITS THAT MAY BE ACHIEVED BY USING THE INDEX OR ANY INFORMATION OR MATERIALS GENERATED THEREFROM. VLP DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE INDEX WILL MEET ANY REQUIREMENTS OR BE ACCURATE OR ERROR-FREE. VLP ALSO DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANY USES, INFORMATION, DATA OR OTHER RESULTS GENERATED FROM THE INDEX OR PRODUCT. VLP HAS NO OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY (I) IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MARKETING OR TRADING OF THE PRODUCT; OR (II) FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, COST OR EXPENSE SUFFERED OR INCURRED BY ANY INVESTOR OR OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PRODUCT, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL VLP BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR OTHER CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE INDEXES OR THE PRODUCT.

VALUE LINE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF VALUE LINE, INC. THAT IS LICENSED TO FIRST TRUST. THE PRODUCT IS NOT SPONSORED, RECOMMENDED, SOLD OR PROMOTED BY VALUE LINE PUBLISHING LLC, VALUE LINE, INC., OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES. FIRST TRUST IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY VALUE LINE COMPANY.

VALUE LINE HAS NOT PASSED ON THE LEGALITY OR SUITABILITY OF, OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF DESCRIPTIONS AND DISCLOSURES RELATING TO THE PRODUCT.

The Index Providers are not affiliated with the Funds or First Trust. Each Fund is entitled to use the applicable Index pursuant to a sublicensing arrangement with First Trust, which in turn has a Product License Agreement with each Index Provider.

With respect to the First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund, ICE Data Indices, LLC, an affiliate of NYSE Arca, serves as the calculation agent for this Fund. As the calculation agent, ICE Data Indices, LLC will be responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations of the Index, including calculating the value of the Index every 15 seconds, widely disseminating each such Index value every 15 seconds through ICE Data Indices, LLC’s data publication network and tracking corporate actions resulting in adjustments to the Index.

For the First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund and the First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund, First Trust has entered into an agreement with Nasdaq, Inc. pursuant to which Nasdaq, Inc. or its designee will serve as the calculation agent for the applicable Indices. As the calculation agent, Nasdaq, Inc. or its designee will be responsible for calculating and disseminating the intra-day portfolio values for such Funds’ shares.

Exchanges. Besides serving as the index calculation agent for certain of the Funds as described above, another relationship that NYSE Arca has with First Trust or the Distributor in connection with the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Chindia ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF, First Trust Water ETF, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund, First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF and the First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund (collectively, the “NYSE Arca Listed Funds”) is that NYSE Arca lists the shares of the NYSE Arca Listed Funds pursuant to its Listing Agreement with the Trust. NYSE Arca is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of pricing or the timing of the issuance or sale of the shares of the NYSE Arca Listed Funds or in the determination or calculation of the net asset value of such Funds. NYSE Arca has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the NYSE Arca Listed Funds. In addition, ICE Data Indices, LLC, is the Index Provider for the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund.

Nasdaq, Inc. serves as the Index Provider and the index calculation agent for the Indices related to the First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund and the First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund (together, the “Nasdaq Listed Funds”). The only other relationship that Nasdaq, Inc. has with First Trust or the Distributor in connection with the Nasdaq Listed Funds is that Nasdaq, Inc. lists the shares of the Nasdaq Listed Funds pursuant to its Listing Agreement with the Trust. Nasdaq, Inc. is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of pricing or the timing of the issuance or sale of the shares of the Nasdaq Listed Funds or in the determination or calculation of the net asset value of such Funds. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Nasdaq Listed Funds.

Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries

First Trust or its affiliates may from time to time make payments, out of their own resources, to certain financial intermediaries that sell shares of First Trust mutual funds and ETFs ("First Trust Funds") to promote the sales and retention of Fund shares by those firms and their customers. The amounts of these payments vary by intermediary. The level of payments

that First Trust is willing to provide to a particular intermediary may be affected by, among other factors, (i) the firm’s total assets or Fund shares held in and recent net investments into First Trust Funds, (ii) the value of the assets invested in the First Trust Funds by the intermediary’s customers, (iii) redemption rates, (iv) its ability to attract and retain assets, (v) the intermediary’s reputation in the industry, (vi) the level and/or type of marketing assistance and educational activities provided by the intermediary, (vii) the firm’s level of participation in First Trust Funds’ sales and marketing programs, (viii) the firm’s compensation program for its registered representatives who sell Fund shares and provide services to Fund shareholders, and (ix) the asset class of the First Trust Funds for which these payments are provided. Such payments are generally asset-based but also may include the payment of a lump sum.

First Trust may also make payments to certain intermediaries for certain administrative services and shareholder processing services, including record keeping and sub-accounting of shareholder accounts pursuant to a sub-transfer agency, omnibus account service or sub-accounting agreement. All fees payable by First Trust under this category of services may be charged back to a Fund, subject to approval by the Board.

First Trust and/or its affiliates may make payments, out of its own assets, to those firms as compensation and/or reimbursement for marketing support and/or program servicing to selected intermediaries that are registered as holders or dealers of record for accounts invested in one or more of the First Trust Funds or that make First Trust Fund shares available through certain selected Fund no-transaction fee institutional platforms and fee-based wrap programs at certain financial intermediaries. Program servicing payments typically apply to employee benefit plans, such as retirement plans, or fee-based advisory programs but may apply to retail sales and assets in certain situations. The payments are based on such factors as the type and nature of services or support furnished by the intermediary and are generally asset-based. Services for which an intermediary receives marketing support payments may include, but are not limited to, business planning assistance, advertising, educating the intermediary’s personnel about First Trust Funds in connection with shareholder financial planning needs, placement on the intermediary’s preferred or recommended fund list, and access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. In addition, intermediaries may be compensated for enabling representatives of First Trust and/or its affiliates to participate in and/or present at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other employees, client and investor events and other events sponsored by the intermediary. Services for which an intermediary receives program servicing payments typically include, but are not limited to, record keeping, reporting or transaction processing and shareholder communications and other account administration services, but may also include services rendered in connection with Fund/investment selection and monitoring, employee enrollment and education, plan balance rollover or separation, or other similar services. An intermediary may perform program services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform program services. These payments, if any, are in addition to the service fee and any applicable omnibus sub-accounting fees paid to these firms with respect to these services by the First Trust Funds out of Fund assets.

From time to time, First Trust and/or its affiliates, at its expense, may provide other compensation to intermediaries that sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the First Trust Funds, which may be in addition to marketing support and program servicing payments described above. For example, First Trust and/or its affiliates may: (i) compensate intermediaries for National Securities Clearing Corporation networking system services (e.g., shareholder communication, account statements, trade confirmations and tax reporting) on an asset-based or per-account basis; (ii) compensate intermediaries for providing Fund shareholder trading information; (iii) make one-time or periodic payments to reimburse selected intermediaries for items such as ticket charges (i.e., fees that an intermediary charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares) or exchange order, operational charges (e.g., fees that an intermediary charges for establishing a Fund on its trading system), and literature printing and/or distribution costs; (iv) at the direction of a retirement plan’s sponsor, reimburse or pay direct expenses of an employee benefit plan that would otherwise be payable by the plan; and (v) provide payments to broker-dealers to help defray their technology or infrastructure costs.

When not provided for in a marketing support or program servicing agreement, First Trust and/or its affiliates may also pay intermediaries for enabling First Trust and/or its affiliates to participate in and/or present at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other intermediary employees, client and investor events and other intermediary-sponsored events, and for travel expenses, including lodging incurred by registered representatives and other employees in connection with prospecting, asset retention and due diligence trips. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event. First Trust and/or its affiliates make payments for such events as it deems appropriate, subject to its internal guidelines and applicable law.

invitations to these meetings are not conditioned on selling a specific number of shares, those who have shown an interest in First Trust Funds are more likely to be considered. To the extent permitted by their firm’s policies and procedures, all or a portion of registered representatives’ expenses in attending these meetings may be covered by First Trust and/or its affiliates.

The amounts of payments referenced above made by First Trust and/or its affiliates could be significant and may create an incentive for an intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the First Trust Funds to its customers. The intermediary may elevate the prominence or profile of the First Trust Funds within the intermediary’s organization by, for example, placing the First Trust Funds on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or granting First Trust and/or its affiliates preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the First Trust Funds in various ways within the intermediary’s organization. These payments are made pursuant to negotiated agreements with intermediaries. The payments do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a share or the amount a Fund will receive as proceeds from such sales. Furthermore, many of these payments are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the fee table section of a Fund's Prospectus because they are not paid by a Fund. The types of payments described herein are not mutually exclusive, and a single intermediary may receive some or all types of payments as described.

Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by state laws or any self-regulatory agency, such as FINRA. Investors can ask their intermediaries for information about any payments they receive from First Trust and/or its affiliates and the services it provides for those payments. Investors may wish to take intermediary payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to Fund shares.

Additional Information

Book Entry Only System. The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.

DTC Acts as Securities Depository for Fund Shares. Shares of the Funds are represented by securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.

DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE and FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (the “Indirect Participants”).

Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase and sale of shares.

Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to a letter agreement between DTC and the Trust, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the shares of the Funds held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participants a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Fund distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, as the registered holder of all Fund shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall immediately credit DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares of the Funds as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed

by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

DTC may decide to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost.

Policy Regarding Investment in Other Investment Companies. The Fundswill not rely on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act to invest in other investment companies.

INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (“EEA”) ONLY

The following disclosures are included in this SAI solely for the purposes of compliance with the applicable EEA law and regulation resulting from, of and as a consequence of, the Funds’ registration or notification under the EU Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers (Directive (2011/61/EU)) (the “AIFM Directive”) national private placement regimes in certain European Union (“EU”) and EEA jurisdictions. The following disclosures are not intended for, and should not be relied on by, any investor other than an investor in the relevant EU and/or EEA jurisdictions because the rules, regulations and requirements applicable to the Funds in those jurisdictions as a result of their registration or notification differ from the rules, regulations and requirements applicable to the Funds under the Investment Company Act.

European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation

First Trust Water ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF and First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green
Energy Index Fund

While First Trust Advisors L.P. (the “Advisor”) is not itself generally subject to Regulation 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial sector (“SFDR”), by virtue of the Funds’ registration or notification under the AIFMD national private placement regimes in certain EU and EEA jurisdictions, some limited disclosures under the SFDR must be made in respect of the Funds and the following section is intended to satisfy certain of such requirements. The SFDR requires the Advisor to determine, on a product-by-product basis, whether “sustainability risks” are relevant to the Advisor’s in-scope financial products, including the Funds.

For the purposes of SFDR, “sustainability risk” means an environmental, social or governance (“ESG”) event or condition that, if it occurs, could cause an actual or a potential material negative impact on the value of an investment.

Solely for the purposes of SFDR, the Advisor has determined that sustainability risks are not relevant to the Funds on the basis that in light of the investment strategy of the Funds, and in particular the index tracking strategy employed by the Advisor on behalf of each of the Funds, the Advisor considers that environmental, social or governance events or conditions are unlikely to cause a material negative effect on the returns of the Funds, as such terms are interpreted and applied under SFDR.

Consequently, the Advisor does not integrate sustainability risks into its investment decision making for the Funds and the Advisor has not assessed the likely impacts of sustainability risks on the returns of the Funds, as such terms are interpreted and applied under SFDR.

The Advisor will keep its assessment that sustainability risks are not relevant to the Funds under regular review.

SFDR requires the Advisor to disclose whether, and if so how, it considers the principal adverse impacts (“PAIs”) of its investment decisions on sustainability factors, in accordance with a specific regime outlined in SFDR, in relation to the Funds. The Advisor does not consider the principal adverse impacts of its investment decisions on sustainability factors (either generally or in relation to the Funds).

The Advisor firmly believes that its primary duty is to aid its clients in achieving their investment objectives and protecting their economic interests. To that end, it is the policy of the Advisor to make investment decisions based on a variety of factors and risk assessments. In its discretion as an investment advisor, the Advisor will determine whether ESG factors are appropriate

considerations for a particular investment strategy. ESG factors will not be determinative, nor will the Advisor exclude securities based on ESG considerations alone, unless a strategy specifically states otherwise. Like other risks, ESG issues and sustainability risk could impact the long-term value of an investment. These factors may be part of the overall set of considerations that are necessary to act with diligence in making informed investment decisions. The Advisor will therefore, where appropriate, consider the impact of ESG factors and data along with other issuer, industry, and market factors as part of its investment process, always with a view to its duty to its clients.

In addition, the Advisor considers that its primary investment strategies and client relationships do not support adoption of the PAI regime within SFDR.

For passively managed index replicating investment funds, changes to the investment portfolios are driven by changes to the relevant index in accordance with its published methodology rather than by an active selection of stocks by the Advisor. Accordingly, the Advisor does not exercise discretion to actively select or deselect investments in these circumstances. There will be integration of ESG factors into the Advisor’s investment process for passively managed funds only in circumstances where the fund replicates an index that takes ESG characteristics into account. In those circumstances, the evaluation of an index’s methodology will take place during the product development process and any subsequent changes in methodology will be considered by the Advisor’s investment committee. During the product development process, the Advisor may take into account the rewards of, benefits of, and potential investor demand for tracking an index that promotes ESG characteristics.

All Other Funds

While First Trust Advisors L.P. (the “Advisor”) is not itself generally subject to Regulation 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial sector (“SFDR”), by virtue of the Funds’ registration or notification under the AIFM Directive national private placement regimes in certain EU and EEA jurisdictions, some limited disclosures under the SFDR must be made in respect of the Funds and the following section is intended to satisfy certain of such requirements. The SFDR requires the Advisor to determine, on a product-by-product basis, whether “sustainability risks” are relevant to the Advisor’s in-scope financial products, including the Funds.

Solely for the purposes of SFDR, the Advisor has determined that sustainability risks are not relevant to the Fund(s) on the basis that the Fund invests principally in investments or asset classes which, in the opinion of the Advisor, are not ordinarily subject to sustainability risk as a material negative impact on the value of those investments, as such terms are interpreted and applied under SFDR.

The Advisor will keep its assessment that sustainability risks are not relevant to the Funds under regular review.

In addition, the Advisor considers that its primary investment strategies and client relationships do not support adoption of the PAI regime within SFDR.

Information for Investors in the EEA Regarding Offering of the Funds

In relation to each Member State of the EEA which has implemented the AIFM Directive, the Prospectus, and any summary Prospectus or SAI relating to the Funds, may only be distributed and shares may only be offered or placed in a Member State to the extent that: (1) the Funds are permitted to be marketed to professional investors in the relevant member state in accordance with the AIFM Directive (as implemented into the local law/regulations of the relevant Member State); or otherwise (2) the Prospectus and SAI may be lawfully distributed and the shares may lawfully be offered or placed in that Member State (including at the initiative of the investor).

In relation to each Member State of the EEA which, at the date of this SAI, has not implemented the AIFM Directive, the Prospectus and this SAI may only be distributed and shares may only be offered or placed to the extent that the Prospectus

and this SAI may be lawfully distributed and the shares may lawfully be offered or placed in that Member State (including at the initiative of the investor).

In addition, the following restrictions apply to the distribution of the Prospectus and SAI in the following Member States:

Information for Investors in the United Kingdom

Subject always to the foregoing notice in respect of the EEA, this SAI is being issued in the United Kingdom by First Trust Global Portfolios Limited (which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA” )) only to and/or is directed only at persons who are professional clients or eligible counterparties for the purposes of the FCA’s Conduct of Business Sourcebook. The opportunity to invest in the Funds is only available to such persons in the United Kingdom, and the Prospectus and SAI must not be relied on or acted upon by any other persons in the United Kingdom.

Information for Investors in Ireland

The distribution of this Prospectus and SAI in Ireland and the offering or purchase of shares is restricted to the individual to whom it is addressed. Accordingly, it may not be reproduced in whole or in part, nor may its contents be distributed in writing or orally to any third party and it may be read solely by the person to whom it is addressed and his/her professional advisers. Shares in the Funds will not be offered or sold by any person:

(a)

otherwise than in conformity with the provisions of the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007 and the European Union (Alternative Investment Fund Managers) Regulations 2013, each as amended; or

(b)

in any way which would require the publication of a prospectus under the Companies Act 2014 or any regulations made thereunder; or

(c)

in Ireland except in all circumstances that will result in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in Ireland.

AIFM Directive Disclosures

Background. The AIFM Directive is an EU directive which regulates the management and marketing of funds within the EEA. The AIFM Directive distinguishes between EU and non-EU funds and EU and non-EU fund managers and different obligations apply under the AIFM Directive depending on where the fund is based and where the manager is based. Certain disclosure, transparency and reporting obligations are imposed on non-EU fund managers wishing to market funds to investors in the EEA. There are additional requirements imposed on EU fund managers, which do not currently apply to First Trust.

To the extent not already disclosed to you prior to your investment in the Funds, the purpose of this section of this SAI is to satisfy the disclosures which are required to be provided to you under the AIFM Directive.

Overview of the Funds and the Service Providers. The Funds are non-EU AIFs (“AIF” means an alternative investment fund for the purposes of the AIFM Directive).

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”) is the AIFM of the Funds (“AIFM” means an alternative investment fund manager for the purposes of the AIFM Directive). First Trust is a non-EU AIFM.

The Trust has entered into agreements with various service providers including First Trust (as the Investment Advisor), the Custodian, Distributor, Transfer Agent, Administrator, index providers and the exchange where each Fund is listed in respect of the Funds. Further details regarding the duties and roles of such service providers can be found in the Prospectus and this SAI for the Funds.

In addition to the parties listed above, the Trust has appointed (i) Chapman and Cutler LLP as its legal counsel which advises it on US legal matters; (ii) Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Funds’ auditors who undertake to audit the Funds’ financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) (United States); and (iii) CT Corporation System as the Funds’ registered agent.

First Trust is not required to ensure that the Funds appoint, and the Funds have not appointed, a depositary for purposes of the AIFM Directive (a depositary in the context of the AIFM Directive, has a specific role and function. The appointment of such depositary is not required for non-EU AIFs with non-EU AIFMs). As such investors in the Funds have no rights as against any person in respect of the duties or liabilities of a depositary under the AIFM Directive.

Investors’ Contractual Rights. In respect of each of the service providers to the Funds, investors who purchase shares in the Funds in the secondary market have no direct rights of action against the service providers, as a matter of contract law or under the establishment documents of the Trust. The proper plaintiff in an action in respect of which a wrongdoing is alleged to have been committed against the Funds or the Trust by a service provider is, prima facie, the Trust itself. An investor may bring a derivative or similar action or proceeding (“Derivative Action”) against the Trust or a Fund to recover a judgment in its favor in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration. Accordingly, investors would have no direct contractual right against the relevant service provider for breach of the agreement governing its appointment by the Trust. The foregoing disclosure is without prejudice to such other rights of action (for example, under the securities laws, tort law or in respect of breach of fiduciary duty) which might in certain situations be separately available to investors.

Investment in the Funds. Investors will buy shares in the Funds in secondary market transactions through brokers and will not subscribe for shares from the Trust directly. As such, there is no direct contractual relationship between the Funds and the investor in connection with the purchase or sale of shares. While the Funds are established under Massachusetts law and Massachusetts law does facilitate the enforcement of judgments obtained in foreign jurisdictions, investors who buy shares on the secondary market will have no direct contractual right of action against the Funds. Investors should refer to “How to Buy and Sell Shares” in the main body of the Prospectus for more detail. The foregoing disclosure is without prejudice to such other rights of action (for example, under the securities laws, tort law or in respect of breach of fiduciary duty) which might in certain situations be separately available to investors.

Redemption from the Funds. Non-US investors will sell shares in secondary market transactions through brokers and will not redeem shares from the Funds directly. Shares can be sold throughout the trading day like other publically traded shares. Investors should refer to “How to Buy and Sell Shares” in the main body of the Prospectus for more detail.

Liquidity Risk Management. Investors should note that while First Trust is not required to implement liquidity management arrangements in accordance with the AIFM Directive in respect of the Funds, the Funds are subject to the liquidity limitations established by the SEC. The Trustees have delegated to First Trust the day-to-day determination of illiquidity of equity and fixed income securities as described under “Illiquid Securities” in this SAI.

Treatment of Investors. The Trust and the AIFM do not offer any investors preferential treatment or the right to obtain preferential treatment. Whilst the Trust does not take specific steps to ensure the fair treatment of investors, under the 1940 Act the Trustees are required to monitor how a Fund operates and oversee matters where the interests of the Fund and its shareholders may differ from those of its investment adviser.

First Trust is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC, and is subject to regulation and oversight designed to protect shareholders. Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, First Trust is a fiduciary to its clients, including the Funds, and is therefore required to act in the best interests of clients and to place the interests of clients before its own.

Information Regarding the use of Leverage and Collateral. The AIFM Directive requires disclosure of certain information relating to leverage, collateral and asset re-use arrangements. The Funds may obtain leverage through the use of derivatives and other non-fully funded investments such as reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitment agreements if, and to the extent that, such transactions are (i) disclosed in the Funds’ Prospectus and SAI and (ii) deemed appropriate investments by First Trust. These leveraged trading practices generally have not been prohibited by the SEC, though the SEC has published guidance on the manner in which the Funds may cover their leveraged trading practices to limit leverage and avoid the need to address the leverage concerns in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, which severely restricts how the Funds may use leverage. All arrangements entered into by First Trust on behalf of the Funds which result in leverage follow the parameter of the guidance published by the SEC.

As a non-EU AIFM, First Trust is not obliged to set a maximum permitted level of leverage which it may employ in its management of the Funds. The total amount of leverage employed by the Funds is provided at www.ftglobalportfolios.com.

Investors should refer to the “Investment Objectives and Policies” and “Investment Strategies” section of this SAI for more details on the use and risk of leverage by the Funds.

Shareholder Voting Rights. The Declaration requires a shareholder vote only on those matters where the 1940 Act requires a vote of shareholders and otherwise permits the Trustees to take actions without seeking the consent of shareholders. The Funds’ fundamental policies, as described in the “Investment Objectives and Policies” section of this SAI, may not be changed without approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act)

of a Fund. The 1940 Act defines a majority vote as the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the voting securities represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding securities are represented; or (ii)more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities.

Net Asset Value. The latest NAV of the Funds, and the latest NAV per share of each class of share of the Funds, is available online at: www.ftglobalportfolios.com and online stock quote services. Generally investors will buy and sell shares of the Funds in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares of the Funds will therefore be available at the relevant market price rather than NAV.

The historical performance of the Funds since inception is available online at: www.ftglobalportfolios.com.

Accounts. Under the AIFM Directive, First Trust is required to make available the annual report of the Funds that it markets in the EEA. This must be prepared by no later than 6 months following the end of the financial year and contain certain specific content requirements set out in the AIFM Directive. Once the annual report has been produced, it will be made available to investors in the manner as set out in the Prospectus.

Professional Liability Requirements/Delegation by the AIFM/Valuation. As a non-EU AIFM, First Trust is not subject to certain EU requirements relating to (i) the cover of professional liability risk by holding either additional of its own funds or appropriate professional liability insurance; (ii) permitted delegation and the management and disclosure of conflicts of interest relating to any such delegation; and (iii) valuation as set out in Article 19 of the AIFM Directive. As such, no disclosures for the purposes of the AIFM Directive have been made. Notwithstanding this, First Trust and the Funds continue to comply with their requirements under US law.

Periodic Disclosure Obligations. The following information will be disclosed to Fund shareholders on a periodic basis by way of a posting being made on www.ftglobalportfolios.com:

•

the percentage of the Funds’ assets, if any, that are subject to special arrangements arising from their illiquid nature (including, but not limited to, deferrals of redemptions and suspensions);

•

the current risk profile of each Fund and the risk management systems employed by the AIFM to manage those risks; and

•

the total amount of leverage employed by each Fund, if any.

Whenever any new arrangements for managing the liquidity of the Funds are introduced including, but not limited to, any material changes to the liquidity management systems and procedures employed by First Trust, a disclosure to this effect will be uploaded on the Funds’ website. The Funds will ensure that a notice is uploaded on an expedited basis whenever deferrals or other similar special arrangements are activated or where redemptions of shares are suspended.

A notice will be posted without undue delay whenever there is a change to a maximum level of leverage which may be employed on behalf of a Fund; and any changes are made to the right of re-use of collateral or any changes to any guarantee granted under any leveraging arrangement.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

The Trust has adopted a proxy voting policy that seeks to ensure that proxies for securities held by the Funds are voted consistently with the best interests of the Funds.

The Board has delegated to First Trust the proxy voting responsibilities for the Funds and has directed First Trust to vote proxies consistent with the Funds' best interests. First Trust has engaged the services of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) to make recommendations to First Trust on the voting of proxies relating to securities held by the Funds. If First Trust manages the assets of a company or its pension plan and any of First Trust’s clients hold any securities of that company, First Trust will generally vote proxies relating to such company’s securities in accordance with the ISS recommendations to avoid any conflict of interest.

First Trust has adopted the ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines. While these guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive, they do provide guidance on First Trust’s general voting policies. First Trust’s use of the ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines is not intended to constrain First Trust’s consideration of any proxy proposal, and there may be times when First Trust deviates from the ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines. First Trust retains final authority and fiduciary responsibility for proxy voting. The ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines are attached hereto as Exhibit B.

Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies (if any) relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available upon request and without charge on the Funds' website at www.ftportfolios.com, by calling (800) 621-1675 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Portfolio Schedule. Each Fund files portfolio holdings information for each month in a fiscal quarter within 60 days after the end of the relevant fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. Portfolio holdings information for the third month of each fiscal quarter will be publicly available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Each Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year is included in the semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders, respectively, and is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR. A semi-annual or annual report for each Fund will become available to investors within 60 days after the period to which it relates. Each Fund’s Forms N-PORT and Forms N-CSR are available on the SEC’s website listed above.

Policy Regarding Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings. The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings. The Board of Trustees must approve all material amendments to this policy. Each Fund’s portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services, including publicly accessible Internet websites. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities to deliver in exchange for Fund shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated each day the NYSE is open for trading via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). Pursuant to Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act, information regarding each Fund’s current portfolio holdings will be available on a daily basis at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx. The Trust, First Trust, FTP and BNYM will not disseminate non-public information concerning the Trust.

Codes of Ethics. In order to mitigate the possibility that the Funds will be adversely affected by personal trading, the Trust, First Trust and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These Codes of Ethics contain policies restricting securities trading in personal accounts of the officers, Trustees and others who normally come into possession of information on portfolio transactions. Personnel subject to the Codes of Ethics may invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds; however, the Codes of Ethics require that each transaction in such securities be reviewed by the CCO or his or her designee. These Codes of Ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.

Creation and Redemption of Creation Units

General. ETFs, such as the Fund, generally issue and redeem their shares in primary market transactions through a creation and redemption mechanism and do not sell or redeem individual shares. Instead, financial entities known as “Authorized Participants” have contractual arrangements with an ETF or one of the ETF’s service providers to purchase and redeem ETF shares directly with the ETF in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” Prior to the start of trading on every business day, an ETF publishes through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) the “basket” of securities, cash or other assets that it will accept in exchange for a Creation Unit of the ETF’s shares. An Authorized Participant that wishes to effectuate a creation of an ETF’s shares deposits with the ETF the “basket” of securities, cash or other assets identified by the ETF that day, and then receives the Creation Unit of the ETF’s shares in return for those assets. After purchasing a Creation Unit, the Authorized Participant may continue to hold the ETF’s shares or sell them in the secondary market. The redemption process is the reverse of the purchase process: the authorized participant redeems a Creation Unit of ETF shares for a basket of securities, cash or other assets. The combination of the creation and redemption process with secondary market trading in ETF shares and underlying securities provides arbitrage opportunities that are designed to help keep the market price of ETF shares at or close to the NAV per share of the ETF.

Authorized Participants. An “Authorized Participant” is a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC that has a written agreement with the Fund or one of its service providers that allows the Authorized Participant to place orders for the purchase or redemption of Creation Units (a “Participant Agreement”). Orders to purchase Creation Units must be delivered through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement and must comply with the applicable provisions of such Participant Agreement. Investors wishing to purchase or sell shares generally do so on an exchange. Institutional investors other than Authorized Participants are responsible for making arrangements for a redemption request to be made through an Authorized Participant.

Christmas Day. The Business Day on which an order to purchase or redeem Creation Units is received in proper form is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.”

Basket Composition. Rule 6c-11(c)(3) under of the 1940 Act requires an ETF relying on the exemptions offered by Rule 6c-11 to adopt and implement written policies and procedures governing the construction of baskets and the process that the ETF will use for the acceptance of baskets. In general, in connection with the construction and acceptance of baskets, the Advisor may consider various factors, including, but not limited to: (1) whether the securities, assets and other positions comprising a basket are consistent with the ETF’s investment objective(s), policies and disclosure; (2) whether the securities, assets and other positions can legally and readily be acquired, transferred and held by the ETF and/or Authorized Participant(s), as applicable; (3) whether to utilize cash, either in lieu of securities or other instruments or as a cash balancing amount; and (4) in the case of an ETF that tracks an index, whether the securities, assets and other positions aid index tracking.

The Fund may utilize a pro rata basket or a custom basket in reliance on Rule 6c-11. A “pro rata basket” is a basket that is a pro rata representation of the ETF’s portfolio holdings, except for minor deviations when it is not operationally feasible to include a particular instrument within the basket, except to the extent that the Fund utilized different baskets in transactions on the same Business Day.

Rule 6c-11 defines “custom baskets” to include two categories of baskets. First, a basket containing a non-representative selection of the ETF’s portfolio holdings would constitute a custom basket. These types of custom baskets include, but are not limited to, baskets that do not reflect: (i) a pro rata representation of the Fund’s portfolio holdings; (ii) a representative sampling of an ETF’s portfolio holdings; or (iii) changes due to a rebalancing or reconstitution of an ETF’s securities market index, if applicable. Second, if different baskets are used in transactions on the same Business Day, each basket after the initial basket would constitute a custom basket. For example, if an ETF exchanges a basket with either the same or another Authorized Participant that reflects a representative sampling that differs from the initial basket, that basket (and any such subsequent baskets) would be a custom basket. Similarly, if an ETF substitutes cash in lieu of a portion of basket assets for a single Authorized Participant, that basket would be a custom basket. The Advisor’s Rule 6c-11 Committee defines any deviation from a pro rata basket to be a “custom basket.” Rebalancing and reconstitution baskets do not constitute custom baskets. All cash baskets that are the initial basket on a Business Day also do not constitute custom baskets.

Under a variety of circumstances, an ETF and its shareholders may benefit from the flexibility afforded by custom baskets. In general terms, the use of custom baskets may reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve trading. Because utilizing custom baskets provides a way for an ETF to add, remove and re-weight portfolio securities without transacting in the market, it may help the ETF to avoid transaction costs and adverse tax consequences. Rule 6c-11 provides an ETF with flexibility to use “custom baskets” if the ETF has adopted written policies and procedures that: (1) set forth detailed parameters for the construction and acceptance of custom baskets that are in the best interests of the ETF and its shareholders, including the process for any revisions to, or deviations from, those parameters; and (2) specify the titles or roles of employees of the ETF’s investment advisor who are required to review each custom basket for compliance with those parameters.

The use of baskets that do not correspond pro rata to an ETF’s portfolio holdings has historically created concern that an Authorized Participant could take advantage of its relationship with an ETF and pressure the ETF to construct a basket that favors an Authorized Participant to the detriment of the ETF’s shareholders. For example, because ETFs rely on Authorized Participants to maintain the secondary market by promoting an effective arbitrage mechanism, an Authorized Participant holding less liquid or less desirable securities potentially could pressure an ETF into accepting those securities in its basket in exchange for liquid ETF shares (i.e., dumping). An Authorized Participant also could pressure the ETF into including in its basket certain desirable securities in exchange for ETF shares tendered for redemption (i.e., cherry-picking). In either case, the ETF’s other investors would be disadvantaged and would be left holding shares of an ETF with a less liquid or less desirable portfolio of securities. The Advisor has adopted policies and procedures designed to mitigate these concerns but there is ultimately no guarantee that such policies and procedures will be effective.

Basket Dissemination. Basket files are published for consumption through the NSCC, a subsidiary of Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, and can be utilized for pricing, creations, redemptions, rebalancing and custom scenarios. In most instances, pro rata baskets are calculated and supplied by the ETF’s custodial bank based on ETF holdings, whereas non-pro rata, custom and forward-looking pro rata baskets are calculated by the Fund’s investment advisor and disseminated by the ETF’s custodial bank through the NSCC process.

Agreement no later than the closing time of the regular trading session of the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business (the “Closing Time”) in order for the purchase or redemption of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of shares of the Fund as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. However, at its discretion, the Fund may require an Authorized Participant to submit orders to purchase or redeem Creation Units be placed earlier in the day (such as instances where an applicable market for a security comprising a creation or redemption basket closes earlier than usual).

Delivery of Redemption Proceeds. Deliveries of securities to Authorized Participants in connection with redemption orders are generally expected to be made within two Business Days. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds for the Fund may take longer than two Business Days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act generally prohibits a registered open-end management investment company from postponing the date of satisfaction of redemption requests for more than seven days after the tender of a security for redemption. This prohibition can cause operational difficulties for ETFs that hold foreign investments and exchange in-kind baskets for Creation Units. For example, local market delivery cycles for transferring foreign investments to redeeming investors, together with local market holiday schedules, can sometimes require a delivery process in excess of seven days. However, Rule 6c-11 grants relief from Section 22(e) to permit an ETF to delay satisfaction of a redemption request for more than seven days if a local market holiday, or series of consecutive holidays, or the extended delivery cycles for transferring foreign investments to redeeming Authorized Participants, or the combination thereof prevents timely delivery of the foreign investment included in the ETF’s basket. Under this exemption, an ETF must deliver foreign investments as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 days after the tender to the ETF. The exemption therefore will permit a delay only to the extent that additional time for settlement is actually required, when a local market holiday, or series of consecutive holidays, or the extended delivery cycles for transferring foreign investments to redeeming authorized participants prevents timely delivery of the foreign investment included in the ETF’s basket. If a foreign investment settles in less than 15 days, Rule 6c-11 requires an ETF to deliver it pursuant to the standard settlement time of the local market where the investment trades. Rule 6c-11 defines “foreign investment” as any security, asset or other position of the ETF issued by a foreign issuer (as defined by Rule 3b-4 under the 1934 Act), and that is traded on a trading market outside of the United States. This definition is not limited to “foreign securities,” but also includes other investments that may not be considered securities. Although these other investments may not be securities, they may present the same challenges for timely settlement as foreign securities if they are transferred in kind.

Creation Transaction Fees. The Fund imposes fees in connection with the purchase of Creation Units. These fees may vary based upon various facts-based circumstances, including, but not limited to, the composition of the securities included in the Creation Unit or the countries in which the transactions are settled. The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per share of the Fund times the number of shares in a Creation Unit, plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to the securities comprising the creation basket.

Redemption Transaction Fees. The Fund also imposes fees in connection with the redemption of Creation Units. These fees may vary based upon various facts-based circumstances, including, but not limited to, the composition of the securities included in the Creation Unit or the countries in which the transactions are settled. The price received for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per share of the Fund times the number of shares in a Creation Unit, minus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to the securities comprising the redemption basket. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary in addition to an Authorized Participant to effect a redemption of a Creation Unit may also be assessed an amount to cover the cost of such services. The redemption fee charged by the Fund will comply with Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act which limits redemption fees to no more than 2% of the value of the shares redeemed.

or (vii) there exist circumstances outside the control of the Fund that make it impossible to process purchases of Creation Units for all practical purposes. Examples of such circumstances include: acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Fund, First Trust, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the transfer agent, the custodian, any sub-custodian or any other participant in the purchase process; and similar extraordinary events. The Fund reserves the absolute right to reject a creation order transmitted to it. The Transfer Agent shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such prospective creator of the rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, the Fund, the Transfer Agent, the custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of baskets, nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

Suspension of Redemptions. An ETF may suspend the redemption of Creation Units only in accordance with Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Section 22(e) stipulates that no registered investment company shall suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the date of payment or satisfaction upon redemption of any redeemable security in accordance with its terms for more than seven days after the tender of such security to the company or its agent designated for that purpose for redemption, except (1) for any period (A) during which the NYSE is closed other than customary week-end and holiday closings or (B) during which trading on the NYSE is restricted; (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which (A) disposal by the investment company of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or (B) it is not reasonably practicable for such company fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or (3) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of security holders of the investment company.

Exceptions to Use of Creation Units. Under Rule 6c-11 of the 1940 Act, ETFs are permitted to sell or redeem individual shares on the day of consummation of a reorganization, merger, conversion, or liquidation. In these limited circumstances, an ETF may need to issue or redeem individual shares and may need to transact without utilizing Authorized Participants.

Federal Tax Matters

This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning shares of a Fund. This section is current as of the date of the SAI. Tax laws and interpretations change frequently, and these summaries do not describe all of the tax consequences to all taxpayers. For example, these summaries generally do not describe your situation if you are a corporation, a non-U.S. person, a broker-dealer or other investor with special circumstances. In addition, this section does not describe your state, local or foreign tax consequences.

This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Funds. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. In addition, our counsel was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to, the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be deposited in the Funds. The following disclosure may not be sufficient for prospective investors to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law.

As with any investment, prospective investors should seek advice based on their individual circumstances from their own tax advisor.

Each Fund intends to qualify annually and to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, a Fund must, among other things, (i) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in certain publicly traded partnerships; (ii) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the market value of a Fund's assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer generally limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of a Fund's total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, or two or more issuers which a Fund controls which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more of certain publicly traded partnerships; and (iii) distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income

each taxable year. There are certain exceptions for failure to qualify if the failure is for reasonable cause or is de minimis, and certain corrective action is taken and certain tax payments are made by the Fund.

As a regulated investment company, a Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. Each Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain. If a Fund retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will generally be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. In addition, amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax unless, generally, the Fund distributes during each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) at least 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of the calendar year, and (3) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years. In order to prevent application of the excise tax, each Fund intends to make its distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement. A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the current calendar year if it is declared by a Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.

Subject to certain reasonable cause and de minimis exceptions, if a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company or fails to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement in any taxable year, the Fund would be taxed as an ordinary corporation on its taxable income (even if such income were distributed to its shareholders) and all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income.

Distributions

Dividends paid out of a Fund's investment company taxable income are generally taxable to a shareholder as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. However, certain ordinary income distributions received from a Fund may be taxed at capital gains tax rates. In particular, ordinary income dividends received by an individual shareholder from a regulated investment company such as each of the Funds are generally taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain, provided that certain holding period requirements are satisfied and provided the dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received by a Fund itself. A Fund will provide notice to its shareholders of the amount of any distributions that may be taken into account as a dividend which is eligible for the capital gains tax rates. A Fund cannot make any guarantees as to the amount of any distribution which will be regarded as a qualifying dividend. Some portion of the ordinary income distributions that are attributable to dividends received by a Fund from shares in certain real estate investment trusts may be designated by the Fund as eligible for a deduction for qualified business income, provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied.

Income from a Fund may also be subject to a 3.8% “Medicare tax.” This tax generally applies to net investment income if the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts, which are $250,000 in the case of married couples filing joint returns and $200,000 in the case of single individuals.

A corporation that owns shares generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to many dividends received from a Fund because the dividends received deduction is generally not available for distributions from regulated investment companies. However, certain ordinary income dividends on shares that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Funds from certain domestic corporations may be reported by the Funds as being eligible for the dividends received deduction.

Distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, properly reported as capital gain dividends are taxable to a shareholder as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholder has held Fund shares.An election may be available to you to defer recognition of the gain attributable to a capital gain dividend if you make certain qualifying investments within a limited time. You should talk to your tax advisor about the availability of this deferral election and its requirements. Shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional shares, rather than cash, generally will have a tax basis in each such share equal to the value of a share of the Fund on the reinvestment date. A distribution of an amount in excess of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated by a shareholder as a return of capital which is applied against and reduces the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares. To the extent that the

amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the shares.

Shareholders will be notified annually as to the U.S. federal income tax status of distributions and shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional shares will receive a report as to the value of those shares.

Sale or Exchange of Fund Shares

Upon the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund, which a shareholder holds as a capital asset, such a shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss which will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for the shares. Generally, a shareholder’s gain or loss will be a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. An election may be available to you to defer recognition of capital gain if you make certain qualifying investments within a limited time. You should talk to your tax advisor about the availability of this deferral election and its requirements.

Any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent that shares disposed of are replaced (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after disposition of shares or to the extent that the shareholder, during such period, acquires or enters into an option or contract to acquire, substantially identical stock or securities. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of Fund shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of long-term capital gain received by the shareholder with respect to such shares.

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

If a shareholder exchanges securities for Creation Units, the shareholder will generally recognize a gain or a loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time and the shareholder’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the Cash Component paid. If a shareholder exchanges Creation Units for securities, then the shareholder will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the shareholder’s basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities received and the Cash Redemption Amount. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units or Creation Units for securities cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

Nature of Fund Investments

Certain of the Funds' investment practices are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions; (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gain into higher taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income; (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited); (iv) cause a Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash; (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur; and (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions.

Futures Contracts and Options

The Funds' transactions in futures contracts and options will be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by a Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital, or short-term or long-term), may accelerate recognition of income to a Fund and may defer Fund losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (i) will require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out); and (ii) may cause a Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement for qualifying to be taxed as a regulated investment company and the distribution requirements for avoiding excise taxes.

Investments in Certain Foreign Corporations

income, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. A Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. A Fund may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, a Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, a Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax (described above). Dividends paid by PFICs are not treated as qualified dividend income.

Backup Withholding

A Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax from all taxable distributions and sale proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or fail to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that they are subject to backup withholding. Corporate shareholders and certain other shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. This withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.

Non-U.S. Shareholders

U.S. taxation of a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign trust or estate, a foreign corporation or foreign partnership (“non-U.S. shareholder”) depends on whether the income of a Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the shareholder.

In addition to the rules described in this section concerning the potential imposition of withholding on distributions to non-U.S. persons, distributions to non-U.S. persons that are “financial institutions” may be subject to a withholding tax of 30% unless an agreement is in place between the financial institution and the U.S. Treasury to collect and disclose information about accounts, equity investments or debt interests in the financial institution held by one or more U.S. persons or the institution is resident in a jurisdiction that has entered into such an agreement with the U.S. Treasury. For these purposes, a “financial institution” means any entity that (i) accepts deposits in the ordinary course of a banking or similar business; (ii) holds financial assets for the account of others as a substantial portion of its business; or (iii) is engaged (or holds itself out as being engaged) primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, partnership interests, commodities or any interest (including a futures contract or option) in such securities, partnership interests or commodities. This withholding tax is also currently scheduled to apply to the gross proceeds from the disposition of securities that produce U.S. source interest or dividends. However, proposed regulations may eliminate the requirement to withhold on payments of gross proceeds from dispositions.

Distributions to non-financial non-U.S. entities (other than publicly traded foreign entities, entities owned by residents of U.S. possessions, foreign governments, international organizations or foreign central banks) will also be subject to a withholding tax of 30% if the entity does not certify that the entity does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provide the name, address and TIN of each substantial U.S. owner. This withholding tax is also currently scheduled to apply to the gross proceeds from the disposition of securities that produce U.S. source interest or dividends. However, proposed regulations may eliminate the requirement to withhold on payments of gross proceeds from dispositions.

Income Not Effectively Connected. If the income from a Fund is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the non-U.S. shareholder, distributions of investment company taxable income will generally be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate), which tax is generally withheld from such distributions.

Distributions of capital gain dividends and any amounts retained by a Fund which are properly reported by the Fund as undistributed capital gains will not be subject to U.S. tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) unless the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual and is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements. However, this 30% tax on capital gains of nonresident alien individuals who are physically present in the United States for more than the 182 day period only applies in exceptional cases because any individual present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year is generally treated as a resident for U.S. income tax purposes; in that case, he or she would be subject to U.S. income tax on his or her worldwide income at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, rather than the 30% U.S. tax. In the case of a non-U.S. shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, a Fund may be required to withhold U.S. income tax from distributions of net capital gain unless the non-U.S. shareholder certifies his or her non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption. If a non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual, any gain such shareholder realizes upon the sale or exchange of such shareholder’s shares of a Fund in the

United States will ordinarily be exempt from U.S. tax unless the gain is U.S. source income and such shareholder is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements.

Distributions from a Fund that are properly reported by the Fund as an interest-related dividend attributable to certain interest income received by the Fund or as a short-term capital gain dividend attributable to certain net short-term capital gain income received by a Fund may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes when received by certain non-U.S. shareholders, provided that each Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met.

In addition, capital gain distributions attributable to gains from U.S. real property interests (including certain U.S. real property holding corporations) will generally be subject to United States withholding tax and will give rise to an obligation on the part of the non-U.S. shareholder to file a United States tax return.

Income Effectively Connected. If the income from a Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a non-U.S. shareholder, then distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by the Fund which are properly reported by the Fund as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be subject to U.S. income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents and domestic corporations. Non-U.S. corporate shareholders may also be subject to the branch profits tax imposed by the Code. The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may differ from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund.

Capital Loss Carry-forward

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, net capital losses of a Fund incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. To the extent that these loss carry-forwards are used to offset future capital gains, it is probable that the capital gains so offset will not be distributed to Fund shareholders. The Funds intend to utilize provisions of the federal income tax laws, which allow the Funds to carry a realized capital loss forward indefinitely following the year of the loss and offset such loss against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2020, the Funds had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes as shown in the table below. The Funds are subject to certain limitations, under U.S. tax rules, on the use of capital loss carry-forwards and net unrealized built-in losses. These limitations generally apply when there has been a 50% change in ownership.

Fund	Total Non-Expiring Capital Loss Available
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	$ 266,180,343
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund	420,915,508
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund	46,311,470
First Trust Chindia ETF	72,479,739
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	517,519,964
First Trust Water ETF	12,648,688
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund	362,640,978
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund	39,986,550
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund	14,045,683
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund	87,680,923
First Trust NASDAQ® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	13,213,868
First Trust NASDAQ® Clean Edge® Green Energy Index Fund	13,904,213
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund	248,674,487
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	2,120,541
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	266,483,167
First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund*	699,218,855

$11,006,415 of First Trust Value Line® Dividend Index Fund's non-expiring net capital losses is subject to loss limitation resulting from reorganization activity. This limitation generally reduces the utilization of these losses to a maximum of $364,521 per year.

Other Taxation

Fund shareholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes on their Fund distributions. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Funds.

Determination of Net Asset Value

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Net Asset Value.”

The per share net asset value of a Fund is determined by dividing the total value of the securities and other assets, less liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding. Under normal circumstances, daily calculation of the net asset value will utilize the last closing sale price of each security held by a Fund at the close of the market on which such security is principally listed. In determining net asset value, portfolio securities for a Fund for which accurate market quotations are readily available will be valued by the Fund accounting agent as follows:

(1)

Common stocks, real estate investment trusts and other equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange other than The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) will be valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded, or the official closing price for Nasdaq and AIM securities. Portfolio securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as applicable, on the Business Day as of which such value is being determined at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities.

(2)

Shares of open-end funds are valued at fair value which is based on NAV per share.

(3)

Securities traded in the OTC market are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.

(4)

Exchange-traded options and futures contracts are valued at the closing price in the market where such contracts are principally traded. If no closing price is available, they will be fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price. OTC options and futures contracts are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.

(5)

Forward foreign currency contracts are fair valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the 30-, 60-, 90- and 180-day forward rates provided by an independent pricing service or by certain independent dealers in such contracts.

In addition, the following types of securities will be fair valued by the Fund accounting agent as follows:

(1)

Fixed-income securities, convertible securities, interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, total return swaps, currency swaps, currency-linked notes, credit-linked notes and other similar instruments will be fair valued using a pricing service.

(2)

Fixed-income and other debt securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less when purchased are fair valued at cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts (amortized cost), provided the Advisor’s Pricing Committee has determined that the use of amortized cost is an appropriate reflection of fair value given market and issuer specific conditions existing at the time of the determination. Factors that may be considered in determining the appropriateness of the use of amortized cost include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i)

the credit conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto;

(ii)

the liquidity conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto;

(iii)

the interest rate conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto (such as significant changes in interest rates);

(iv)

issuer-specific conditions (such as significant credit deterioration); and

(v)

any other market-based data the Advisor’s Pricing Committee considers relevant. In this regard, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee may use last-obtained market-based data to assist it when valuing portfolio securities using amortized cost.

(3)

Repurchase agreements will be valued as follows. Overnight repurchase agreements will be fair valued at cost when it represents the best estimate of fair value. Term repurchase agreements (i.e., those whose maturity exceeds seven days) will be fair valued by the Advisor's Pricing Committee at the average of the bid quotations obtained daily from at least two recognized dealers.

If the Advisor’s Pricing Committee has reason to question the accuracy or reliability of a price supplied or the use of the amortized cost methodology, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee shall determine if “it needs to fair value” such portfolio security pursuant to established valuation procedures. From time to time, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee will request that the Fund accounting agent submit price challenges to a pricing service, usually in response to any updated broker prices received.

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Board of Trustees or its delegate, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, at fair value. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities that may not be publicly sold without registration under the 1933 Act) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market or fair value price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of Fund net asset value (as may be the case in foreign markets on which the security is primarily traded) or is likely to make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the pricing service, does not reflect the security’s fair value. Fair value prices represent any prices not considered market value prices and are either obtained from a pricing service or are determined by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee. Market value prices represent last sale or official closing prices from a national or foreign exchange (i.e., a regulated market) and are primarily obtained from pricing services. If no market price or official close price is available from either a pricing service or no quotations are available from one or more brokers or if the Advisor’s Pricing Committee has reason to question the reliability or accuracy of a price supplied or the use of amortized cost, the value of any portfolio security held by a Fund for which reliable market prices/quotations are not readily available will be determined by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee in a manner that most appropriately reflects fair market value of the security on the valuation date, based on a consideration of all available information. When fair value prices are used, generally they will differ from market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable exchange.

Because foreign markets may be open on different days than the days during which a shareholder may buy or sell shares of a Fund, the value of a Fund's investments may change on the days when shareholders are not able to buy or sell shares of the Fund. For foreign securities, if an extraordinary market event occurs between the time the last “current” market quotation is available for a security in a Fund’s portfolio and the time the Fund’s net asset value is determined and calls into doubt whether that earlier market quotation represents fair value at the time the Fund’s net asset value is determined, the Fund accounting agent will immediately notify the Advisor’s Pricing Committee and the Advisor’s Pricing Committee shall determine the fair valuation. For foreign securities, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee may seek to determine the “fair value” of such securities by retaining a pricing service to determine the value of the securities.

Foreign securities, currencies and other assets denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar as provided by a pricing service. All assets denominated in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the time of valuation.

Dividends and Distributions

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”

General Policies. Dividends from net investment income of the Funds, if any, are declared and paid quarterly. Distributions of net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Trust may make distributions on a more frequent basis. The Trust reserves the right to declare special distributions if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the status of each Fund as a regulated investment company or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.

Dividends and other distributions of Fund shares are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to Beneficial Owners of such shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners then of record with proceeds received from the Funds.

Dividend Reinvestment Service. No reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. Broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by Beneficial Owners of the Funds for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Beneficial Owners should contact their brokers in order to determine the availability and costs of the service and the details of participation therein. Brokers may require Beneficial Owners to adhere to specific procedures and timetables. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares of each Fund purchased in the secondary market.

Miscellaneous Information

Counsel. Chapman and Cutler LLP, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, is counsel to the Trust.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Deloitte & Touche LLP, 111 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm. The firm audits each Fund's financial statements and performs other related audit services.

Financial Statements

The audited financial statements and notes thereto for the Funds, contained in the Annual Reports to Shareholders dated December 31, 2020, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information and have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, whose report also appears in the Annual Reports and is also incorporated by reference herein. No other parts of the Annual Reports are incorporated by reference herein. The Annual Reports are available without charge by calling (800) 621-1675 or by visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Exhibit A—Principal Holders Table

NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER	% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OWNED
FIRST TRUST CAPITAL STRENGTH ETF
LPL Financial LLC	12.14%
National Financial Services LLC	11.81%
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	10.66%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	8.95%
Pershing LLC	8.70%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	7.12%
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	5.58%
Edward Jones	5.49%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	5.24%
FIRST TRUST DOW JONES INTERNET INDEX FUND
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	23.65%
National Financial Services LLC	9.73%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	7.79%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	7.12%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	6.44%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	6.06%
Pershing LLC	5.22%
FIRST TRUST DOW JONES SELECT MICROCAP INDEX FUND
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	20.83%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	13.15%
National Financial Services LLC	9.05%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	8.19%
LPL Financial LLC	6.85%
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated	6.49%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	5.78%
FIRST TRUST CHINDIA ETF
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co./ETF	19.75%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	9.72%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	9.33%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	8.40%
National Financial Services LLC	5.79%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	5.44%
FIRST TRUST NATURAL GAS ETF
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	13.45%
National Financial Services LLC	12.36%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	9.46%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	8.69%
UBS Financial Services Inc.	6.78%
Citibank, N.A.	5.83%
Pershing LLC	5.25%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	5.14%

A-1

NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER	% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OWNED
FIRST TRUST WATER ETF
National Financial Services LLC	13.02%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	12.01%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	7.65%
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	6.92%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	6.77%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	6.53%
UBS Financial Services Inc.	5.65%
FIRST TRUST MORNINGSTAR DIVIDEND LEADERS INDEX FUND
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	13.74%
National Financial Services LLC	10.46%
Pershing LLC	7.95%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	7.75%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	7.39%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	6.74%
LPL Financial LLC	6.45%
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	6.42%
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	5.91%
FIRST TRUST NASDAQ-100 EQUAL WEIGHTED INDEX FUND
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	14.63%
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	12.24%
National Financial Services LLC	11.48%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	10.34%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	9.01%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	6.76%
LPL Financial LLC	6.63%
UBS Financial Services Inc.	6.47%
Pershing LLC	5.19%
FIRST TRUST NASDAQ-100 EX-TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEX FUND
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	17.27%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	13.59%
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	12.26%
National Financial Services LLC	9.09%
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	7.78%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	7.71%
RBC Capital Markets, LLC	6.29%
FIRST TRUST NASDAQ-100-TECHNOLOGY SECTOR INDEX FUND
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co./ETF	16.07%
National Financial Services LLC	11.99%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	9.22%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	8.28%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	7.48%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	7.48%
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	5.89%

A-2

NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER	% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OWNED
FIRST TRUST NASDAQ® ABA COMMUNITY BANK INDEX FUND
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	20.20%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	13.59%
National Financial Services LLC	9.49%
UBS Financial Services Inc.	7.49%
LPL Financial LLC	6.68%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	6.51%
Pershing LLC	6.28%
FIRST TRUST NASDAQ® CLEAN EDGE® GREEN ENERGY INDEX FUND
National Financial Services LLC	14.81%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	9.38%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	6.88%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	6.12%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	5.80%
Pershing LLC	5.58%
LPL Financial LLC	5.18%
FIRST TRUST NYSE ARCA BIOTECHNOLOGY INDEX FUND
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	12.29%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	9.73%
National Financial Services LLC	9.71%
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	7.15%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	6.79%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	6.71%
Pershing LLC	6.47%
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	6.30%
UBS Financial Services Inc.	5.50%
FIRST TRUST S&P REIT INDEX FUND
National Financial Services LLC	19.61%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	12.79%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	9.43%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	8.90%
Pershing LLC	7.78%
RBC Capital Markets, LLC	6.72%
LPL Financial LLC	5.95%
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	5.70%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	5.18%
FIRST TRUST US EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES ETF
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	16.09%
National Financial Services LLC	10.84%
LPL Financial LLC	9.59%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	9.20%
Pershing LLC	8.26%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	7.30%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	6.45%
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	5.98%

A-3

NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER	% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OWNED
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	5.79%
FIRST TRUST VALUE LINE® DIVIDEND INDEX FUND
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	15.27%
National Financial Services LLC	10.59%
LPL Financial LLC	9.82%
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&S TS SUB	7.73%
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	7.64%
Pershing LLC	7.26%
American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.	7.15%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	6.26%
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC	5.84%

American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.: 901 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55474

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co./ETF: 525 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.: 2423 East Lincoln Drive, Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Citibank, N.A.: 3801 Citibank Center, B/3Rd Floor/Zone 12, Tampa, Florida 33610

Edward Jones: 201 Progress Parkway, Maryland Heights, Missouri 63043-3042

LPL Financial LLC: 1055 LPL Way, Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated/8862 MLPF&TS SUB: 4804 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC: 1300 Thames Street 6th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21231

National Financial Services LLC: 499 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310

Pershing LLC: One Pershing Plaza, Jersey City, New Jersey 07399

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.: 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716

RBC Capital Markets, LLC: 60 South 6th Street P-09, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated: 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 19th Floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.: 200 South 108th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68154

UBS Financial Services Inc.: 1000 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken, New Jersey 07086

Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC: 2801 Market Street H0006-09B, St. Louis, Missouri 63103

A-4

Exhibit B—Proxy Voting Guidelines

UNITED STATES

Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

Benchmark Policy Recommendations

Effective for Meetings on or after February 1, 2021
Published November 19, 2020

ISSGOVERNANCE.COM

B-1

U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

The policies contained herein are a sampling only of selected key ISS U.S. proxy voting guidelines,
and are not intended to be exhaustive. The complete guidelines can be found at:
https://www.issgovernance.com/policy-gateway/voting-policies/

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote for director nominees, except under the following circumstances (with new nominees1 considered on case-by-case basis):

Independence

Vote against2 or withhold from non-independent directors (Executive Directors and Non-Independent Non-Executive Directors per ISS’ Classification of Directors) when:

➤

Independent directors comprise 50 percent or less of the board;

➤

The non-independent director serves on the audit, compensation, or nominating committee;

➤

The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee; or

➤

The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee.

Composition

Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings: Generally vote against or withhold from directors (except nominees who served only part of the fiscal year3) who attend less than 75 percent of the aggregate of their board and committee meetings for the period for which they served, unless an acceptable reason for absences is disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. Acceptable reasons for director absences are generally limited to the following:

➤

Medical issues/illness;

➤

Family emergencies; and

➤

Missing only one meeting (when the total of all meetings is three or fewer).

In cases of chronic poor attendance without reasonable justification, in addition to voting against the director(s) with poor attendance, generally vote against or withhold from appropriate members of the nominating/governance committees or the full board.

If the proxy disclosure is unclear and insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate of his/her board and committee meetings during his/her period of service, vote against or withhold from the director(s) in question.

A "new nominee" is a director who is being presented for election by shareholders for the first time. Recommendations on new nominees who have served for less than one year are made on a case-by-case basis depending on the timing of their appointment and the problematic governance issue in question.

In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

Nominees who served for only part of the fiscal year are generally exempted from the attendance policy.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

Overboarded Directors: Generally vote against or withhold from individual directors who:

➤

Sit on more than five public company boards; or

➤

Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards4.

Gender Diversity: For companies in the Russell 3000 or S&P 1500 indices, generally vote against or withhold from the chair of the nominating committee (or other directors on a case-by-case basis) at companies where there are no women on the company's board. An exception will be made if there was a woman on the board at the preceding annual meeting and the board makes a firm commitment to return to a gender-diverse status within a year.

Racial and/or Ethnic Diversity: For companies in the Russell 3000 or S&P 1500 indices, highlight boards with no apparent racial and/or ethnic diversity5.

For companies in the Russell 3000 or S&P 1500 indices, effective for meetings on or after Feb. 1, 2022, generally vote against or withhold from the chair of the nominating committee (or other directors on a case-by-case basis) where the board has no apparent racially or ethnically diverse members. An exception will be made if there was racial and/or ethnic diversity on the board at the preceding annual meeting and the board makes a firm commitment to appoint at least one racial and/or ethnic diverse member within a year.

Responsiveness

Vote case-by-case on individual directors, committee members, or the entire board of directors as appropriate if:

➤

The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received the support of a majority of the shares cast in the previous year or failed to act on a management proposal seeking to ratify an existing charter/bylaw provision that received opposition of a majority of the shares cast in the previous year. Factors that will be considered are:

➤

Disclosed outreach efforts by the board to shareholders in the wake of the vote;

➤

Rationale provided in the proxy statement for the level of implementation;

➤

The subject matter of the proposal;

➤

The level of support for and opposition to the resolution in past meetings;

➤

Actions taken by the board in response to the majority vote and its engagement with shareholders;

➤

The continuation of the underlying issue as a voting item on the ballot (as either shareholder or management proposals); and

➤

Other factors as appropriate.

➤

The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of shares are tendered;

➤

At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

Vote case-by-case on Compensation Committee members (or, in exceptional cases, the full board) and the Say on Pay proposal if:

➤

The company’s previous say-on-pay received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast. Factors that will be considered are:

➤

The company's response, including:

➤

Disclosure of engagement efforts with major institutional investors, including the frequency and timing of engagements and the company participants (including whether independent directors participated);

Although all of a CEO’s subsidiary boards with publicly-traded common stock will be counted as separate boards, ISS will not recommend a withhold vote for the CEO of a parent company board or any of the controlled (>50 percent ownership) subsidiaries of that parent but may do so at subsidiaries that are less than 50 percent controlled and boards outside the parent/subsidiary relationships.

Aggregate diversity statistics provided by the board will only be considered if specific to racial and/or ethnic diversity.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

Disclosure of the specific concerns voiced by dissenting shareholders that led to the say-on-pay opposition;

➤

Disclosure of specific and meaningful actions taken to address shareholders' concerns;

➤

Other recent compensation actions taken by the company;

➤

Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated;

➤

The company's ownership structure; and

➤

Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness.

➤

The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the plurality of votes cast.

Accountability

Problematic Takeover Defenses/Governance Structure

Poison Pills: Vote against or withhold from all nominees (except new nominees1, who should be considered case-by-case) if:

➤

The company has a poison pill that was not approved by shareholders6. However, vote case-by-case on nominees if the board adopts an initial pill with a term of one year or less, depending on the disclosed rationale for the adoption, and other factors as relevant (such as a commitment to put any renewal to a shareholder vote).

➤

The board makes a material adverse modification to an existing pill, including, but not limited to, extension, renewal, or lowering the trigger, without shareholder approval; or

➤

The pill, whether short-term7 or long-term, has a deadhand or slowhand feature.

Classified Board Structure: The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election. All appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable.

Removal of Shareholder Discretion on Classified Boards: The company has opted into, or failed to opt out of, state laws requiring a classified board structure.

Director Performance Evaluation: The board lacks mechanisms to promote accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one-, three-, and five-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s operational metrics and other factors as warranted. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:

➤

A classified board structure;

➤

A supermajority vote requirement;

➤

Either a plurality vote standard in uncontested director elections, or a majority vote standard in contested elections;

➤

The inability of shareholders to call special meetings;

➤

The inability of shareholders to act by written consent;

➤

A multi-class capital structure; and/or

➤

A non-shareholder-approved poison pill.

Unilateral Bylaw/Charter Amendments and Problematic Capital Structures: Generally vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board (except new nominees1, who should be considered

Public shareholders only, approval prior to a company’s becoming public is insufficient.

If the short-term pill with a deadhand or slowhand feature is enacted but expires before the next shareholder vote, ISS will generally still recommend withhold/against nominees at the next shareholder meeting following its adoption.

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ISSGOVERNANCE.COM

U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

case-by-case) if the board amends the company's bylaws or charter without shareholder approval in a manner that materially diminishes shareholders' rights or that could adversely impact shareholders, considering the following factors:

➤

The board's rationale for adopting the bylaw/charter amendment without shareholder ratification;

➤

Disclosure by the company of any significant engagement with shareholders regarding the amendment;

➤

The level of impairment of shareholders' rights caused by the board's unilateral amendment to the bylaws/charter;

➤

The board's track record with regard to unilateral board action on bylaw/charter amendments or other entrenchment provisions;

➤

The company's ownership structure;

➤

The company's existing governance provisions;

➤

The timing of the board's amendment to the bylaws/charter in connection with a significant business development; and

➤

Other factors, as deemed appropriate, that may be relevant to determine the impact of the amendment on shareholders.

Unless the adverse amendment is reversed or submitted to a binding shareholder vote, in subsequent years vote case-by-case on director nominees. Generally, vote against (except new nominees1, who should be considered case-by-case) if the directors:

➤

Classified the board;

➤

Adopted supermajority vote requirements to amend the bylaws or charter; or

➤

Eliminated shareholders' ability to amend bylaws.

Problematic Capital Structure – Newly Public Companies: For newly public companies8, generally vote against or withhold from the entire board (except new nominees1, who should be considered case-by-case) if, prior to or in connection with the company's public offering, the company or its board implemented a multi-class capital structure in which the classes have unequal voting rights without subjecting the multi-class capital structure to a reasonable time-based sunset. In assessing the reasonableness of a time-based sunset provision, consideration will be given to the company’s lifespan, its post-IPO ownership structure and the board’s disclosed rationale for the sunset period selected. No sunset period of more than seven years from the date of the IPO will be considered to be reasonable.

Continue to vote against or withhold from incumbent directors in subsequent years, unless the problematic capital structure is reversed or removed.

Problematic Governance Structure – Newly Public Companies: For newly public companies8, generally vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board (except new nominees1, who should be considered case-by-case) if, prior to or in connection with the company's public offering, the company or its board adopted the following bylaw or charter provisions that are considered to be materially adverse to shareholder rights:

➤

Supermajority vote requirements to amend the bylaws or charter;

➤

A classified board structure; or

➤

Other egregious provisions.

A reasonable sunset provision will be considered a mitigating factor.

Unless the adverse provision is reversed or removed, vote case-by-case on director nominees in subsequent years.

Management Proposals to Ratify Existing Charter or Bylaw Provisions: Vote against/withhold from individual directors, members of the governance committee, or the full board, where boards ask shareholders to ratify existing charter or bylaw provisions considering the following factors:

➤

The presence of a shareholder proposal addressing the same issue on the same ballot;

➤

The board's rationale for seeking ratification;

➤

Disclosure of actions to be taken by the board should the ratification proposal fail;

Newly-public companies generally include companies that emerge from bankruptcy, spin-offs, direct listings, and those who complete a traditional initial public offering.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

Disclosure of shareholder engagement regarding the board’s ratification request;

➤

The level of impairment to shareholders' rights caused by the existing provision;

➤

The history of management and shareholder proposals on the provision at the company’s past meetings;

➤

Whether the current provision was adopted in response to the shareholder proposal;

➤

The company's ownership structure; and

➤

Previous use of ratification proposals to exclude shareholder proposals.

Restrictions on Shareholders’ Rights

Restricting Binding Shareholder Proposals: Generally, vote against or withhold from the members of the governance committee if:

➤

The company’s governing documents impose undue restrictions on shareholders’ ability to amend the bylaws. Such restrictions include but are not limited to: outright prohibition on the submission of binding shareholder proposals or share ownership requirements, subject matter restrictions, or time holding requirements in excess of SEC Rule 14a-8. Vote against or withhold on an ongoing basis.

Submission of management proposals to approve or ratify requirements in excess of SEC Rule 14a-8 for the submission of binding bylaw amendments will generally be viewed as an insufficient restoration of shareholders' rights. Generally continue to vote against or withhold on an ongoing basis until shareholders are provided with an unfettered ability to amend the bylaws or a proposal providing for such unfettered right is submitted for shareholder approval.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally vote against or withhold from the members of the Audit Committee if:

➤

The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive;

➤

The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or

➤

There is persuasive evidence that the Audit Committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote case-by-case on members of the Audit Committee and potentially the full board if:

➤

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence, and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether withhold/against votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

In the absence of an Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Say on Pay) ballot item or in egregious situations, vote against or withhold from the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

➤

There is an unmitigated misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

➤

The company maintains significant problematic pay practices; or

➤

The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Generally, vote against or withhold from the Compensation Committee chair, other committee members, or potentially the full board if:

➤

The company fails to include a Say on Pay ballot item when required under SEC provisions, or under the company’s declared frequency of say on pay; or

➤

The company fails to include a Frequency of Say on Pay ballot item when required under SEC provisions.

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Generally vote against members of the board committee responsible for approving/setting non-employee director compensation if there is a pattern (i.e. two or more years) of awarding excessive non-employee director compensation without disclosing a compelling rationale or other mitigating factors.

Problematic Pledging of Company Stock:

Vote against the members of the committee that oversees risks related to pledging, or the full board, where a significant level of pledged company stock by executives or directors raises concerns. The following factors will be considered:

➤

The presence of an anti-pledging policy, disclosed in the proxy statement, that prohibits future pledging activity;

➤

The magnitude of aggregate pledged shares in terms of total common shares outstanding, market value, and trading volume;

➤

Disclosure of progress or lack thereof in reducing the magnitude of aggregate pledged shares over time;

➤

Disclosure in the proxy statement that shares subject to stock ownership and holding requirements do not include pledged company stock; and

➤

Any other relevant factors.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

➤

Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight9, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

➤

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

➤

Egregious actions related to a director’s service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

Voting on Director Nominees in Contested Elections

Vote-No Campaigns

➤

General Recommendation: In cases where companies are targeted in connection with public “vote-no” campaigns, evaluate director nominees under the existing governance policies for voting on director nominees in uncontested elections. Take into consideration the arguments submitted by shareholders and other publicly available information.

Proxy Contests/Proxy Access

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

➤

Long-term financial performance of the company relative to its industry;

➤

Management’s track record;

➤

Background to the contested election;

➤

Nominee qualifications and any compensatory arrangements;

Examples of failure of risk oversight include but are not limited to: bribery; large or serial fines or sanctions from regulatory bodies; demonstrably poor risk oversight of environmental and social issues, including climate change; significant adverse legal judgments or settlement; or hedging of company stock.

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➤

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of the critique against management;

➤

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates); and

➤

Stock ownership positions.

In the case of candidates nominated pursuant to proxy access, vote case-by-case considering any applicable factors listed above or additional factors which may be relevant, including those that are specific to the company, to the nominee(s) and/or to the nature of the election (such as whether there are more candidates than board seats).

Other Board-Related Proposals

Board Refreshment

Board refreshment is best implemented through an ongoing program of individual director evaluations, conducted annually, to ensure the evolving needs of the board are met and to bring in fresh perspectives, skills, and diversity as needed.

Term/Tenure Limits

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on management proposals regarding director term/tenure limits, considering:

➤

The rationale provided for adoption of the term/tenure limit;

➤

The robustness of the company’s board evaluation process;

➤

Whether the limit is of sufficient length to allow for a broad range of director tenures;

➤

Whether the limit would disadvantage independent directors compared to non-independent directors; and

➤

Whether the board will impose the limit evenly, and not have the ability to waive it in a discriminatory manner.

Vote case-by-case on shareholder proposals asking for the company to adopt director term/tenure limits, considering:

➤

The scope of the shareholder proposal; and

➤

Evidence of problematic issues at the company combined with, or exacerbated by, a lack of board refreshment.

Age Limits

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote against management and shareholder proposals to limit the tenure of independent directors through mandatory retirement ages. Vote for proposals to remove mandatory age limits.

Independent Board Chair

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote for shareholder proposals requiring that the board chair position be filled by an independent director, taking into consideration the following:

➤

The scope and rationale of the proposal;

➤

The company's current board leadership structure;

➤

The company's governance structure and practices;

➤

Company performance; and

➤

Any other relevant factors that may be applicable.

The following factors will increase the likelihood of a “for” recommendation:

➤

A majority non-independent board and/or the presence of non-independent directors on key board committees;

➤

A weak or poorly-defined lead independent director role that fails to serve as an appropriate counterbalance to a combined CEO/chair role;

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The presence of an executive or non-independent chair in addition to the CEO, a recent recombination of the role of CEO and chair, and/or departure from a structure with an independent chair;

➤

Evidence that the board has failed to oversee and address material risks facing the company;

➤

A material governance failure, particularly if the board has failed to adequately respond to shareholder concerns or if the board has materially diminished shareholder rights; or

➤

Evidence that the board has failed to intervene when management’s interests are contrary to shareholders' interests.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses

Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals/Nominations

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on advance notice proposals, giving support to those proposals which allow shareholders to submit proposals/nominations as close to the meeting date as reasonably possible and within the broadest window possible, recognizing the need to allow sufficient notice for company, regulatory, and shareholder review.

To be reasonable, the company’s deadline for shareholder notice of a proposal/nominations must be no earlier than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the previous year’s meeting and have a submittal window of no shorter than 30 days from the beginning of the notice period (also known as a 90-120 day window). The submittal window is the period under which shareholders must file their proposals/nominations prior to the deadline.

In general, support additional efforts by companies to ensure full disclosure in regard to a proponent’s economic and voting position in the company so long as the informational requirements are reasonable and aimed at providing shareholders with the necessary information to review such proposals.

Shareholder Litigation Rights

Federal Forum Selection Provisions

Federal forum selection provisions require that U.S. federal courts be the sole forum for shareholders to litigate claims arising under federal securities law.

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote for federal forum selection provisions in the charter or bylaws that specify "the district courts of the United States" as the exclusive forum for federal securities law matters, in the absence of serious concerns about corporate governance or board responsiveness to shareholders.

Vote against provisions that restrict the forum to a particular federal district court; unilateral adoption (without a shareholder vote) of such a provision will generally be considered a one-time failure under the Unilateral Bylaw/Charter Amendments policy.

Exclusive Forum Provisions for State Law Matters

Exclusive forum provisions in the charter or bylaws restrict shareholders’ ability to bring derivative lawsuits against the company, for claims arising out of state corporate law, to the courts of a particular state (generally the state of incorporation).

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote for charter or bylaw provisions that specify courts located within the state of Delaware as the exclusive forum for corporate law matters for Delaware corporations, in the absence of serious concerns about corporate governance or board responsiveness to shareholders.

For states other than Delaware, vote case-by-case on exclusive forum provisions, taking into consideration:

➤

The company's stated rationale for adopting such a provision;

➤

Disclosure of past harm from duplicative shareholder lawsuits in more than one forum;

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➤

The breadth of application of the charter or bylaw provision, including the types of lawsuits to which it would apply and the definition of key terms; and

➤

Governance features such as shareholders' ability to repeal the provision at a later date (including the vote standard applied when shareholders attempt to amend the charter or bylaws) and their ability to hold directors accountable through annual director elections and a majority vote standard in uncontested elections.

Generally vote against provisions that specify a state other than the state of incorporation as the exclusive forum for corporate law matters, or that specify a particular local court within the state; unilateral adoption of such a provision will generally be considered a one-time failure under the Unilateral Bylaw/Charter Amendments policy.

Fee shifting

Fee-shifting provisions in the charter or bylaws require that a shareholder who sues a company unsuccessfully pay all litigation expenses of the defendant corporation and its directors and officers.

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote against provisions that mandate fee-shifting whenever plaintiffs are not completely successful on the merits (i.e., including cases where the plaintiffs are partially successful).

Unilateral adoption of a fee-shifting provision will generally be considered an ongoing failure under the Unilateral Bylaw/Charter Amendments policy.

➤

Virtual Shareholder Meetings

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote for management proposals allowing for the convening of shareholder meetings by electronic means, so long as they do not preclude in-person meetings. Companies are encouraged to disclose the circumstances under which virtual-only 10 meetings would be held, and to allow for comparable rights and opportunities for shareholders to participate electronically as they would have during an in-person meeting.

Vote case-by-case on shareholder proposals concerning virtual-only meetings, considering:

➤

Scope and rationale of the proposal; and

➤

Concerns identified with the company’s prior meeting practices.

Capital/Restructuring

Common Stock Authorization

➤

General Recommendation: Vote for proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote against proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote against proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote case-by-case on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

➤

Past Board Performance:

➤

The company's use of authorized shares during the last three years

“Virtual-only shareholder meeting” refers to a meeting of shareholders that is held exclusively using technology without a corresponding in-person meeting.

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➤

The Current Request:

➤

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

➤

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and

➤

The dilutive impact of the request as determined relative to an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company's need for shares and total shareholder returns.

ISS will apply the relevant allowable increase below to requests to increase common stock that are for general corporate purposes (or to the general corporate purposes portion of a request that also includes a specific need):

Most companies: 100 percent of existing authorized shares.

Companies with less than 50 percent of existing authorized shares either outstanding or reserved for issuance: 50 percent of existing authorized shares.

Companies with one- and three-year total shareholder returns (TSRs) in the bottom 10 percent of the U.S. market as of the end of the calendar quarter that is closest to their most recent fiscal year end: 50 percent of existing authorized shares.

Companies at which both conditions (B and C) above are both present: 25 percent of existing authorized shares.

If there is an acquisition, private placement, or similar transaction on the ballot (not including equity incentive plans) that ISS is recommending FOR, the allowable increase will be the greater of (i) twice the amount needed to support the transactions on the ballot, and (ii) the allowable increase as calculated above.

Mergers and Acquisitions

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

➤

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

➤

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

➤

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

➤

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm's-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation "wins" can also signify the deal makers' competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

➤

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the "ISS Transaction Summary" section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

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Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

Compensation

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

➤

Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;

➤

Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;

➤

Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);

➤

Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;

➤

Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors is reasonable and does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation—Management Proposals (Say-on-Pay)

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on ballot items related to executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation.

Vote against Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay or “SOP”) if:

➤

There is an unmitigated misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

➤

The company maintains significant problematic pay practices;

➤

The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Vote against or withhold from the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

➤

There is no SOP on the ballot, and an against vote on an SOP would otherwise be warranted due to pay-for-performance misalignment, problematic pay practices, or the lack of adequate responsiveness on compensation issues raised previously, or a combination thereof;

➤

The board fails to respond adequately to a previous SOP proposal that received less than 70 percent support of votes cast;

➤

The company has recently practiced or approved problematic pay practices, such as option repricing or option backdating; or

➤

The situation is egregious.

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Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay-for-Performance Evaluation

ISS annually conducts a pay-for-performance analysis to identify strong or satisfactory alignment between pay and performance over a sustained period. With respect to companies in the S&P1500, Russell 3000, or Russell 3000E Indices11, this analysis considers the following:

Peer Group12 Alignment:

➤

The degree of alignment between the company's annualized TSR rank and the CEO's annualized total pay rank within a peer group, each measured over a three-year period.

➤

The rankings of CEO total pay and company financial performance within a peer group, each measured over a three-year period.

➤

The multiple of the CEO's total pay relative to the peer group median in the most recent fiscal year.

Absolute Alignment13– the absolute alignment between the trend in CEO pay and company TSR over the prior five fiscal years – i.e., the difference between the trend in annual pay changes and the trend in annualized TSR during the period.

If the above analysis demonstrates significant unsatisfactory long-term pay-for-performance alignment or, in the case of companies outside the Russell indices, a misalignment between pay and performance is otherwise suggested, our analysis may include any of the following qualitative factors, as relevant to an evaluation of how various pay elements may work to encourage or to undermine long-term value creation and alignment with shareholder interests:

➤

The ratio of performance- to time-based incentive awards;

➤

The overall ratio of performance-based compensation to fixed or discretionary pay;

➤

The rigor of performance goals;

➤

The complexity and risks around pay program design;

➤

The transparency and clarity of disclosure;

➤

The company's peer group benchmarking practices;

➤

Financial/operational results, both absolute and relative to peers;

➤

Special circumstances related to, for example, a new CEO in the prior FY or anomalous equity grant practices (e.g., bi-annual awards);

➤

Realizable pay14 compared to grant pay; and

➤

Any other factors deemed relevant.

Problematic Pay Practices

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

➤

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

➤

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking or present a windfall risk; and

➤

Pay decisions that circumvent pay-for-performance, such as options backdating or waiving performance requirements.

The Russell 3000E Index includes approximately 4,000 of the largest U.S. equity securities.

The revised peer group is generally comprised of 14-24 companies that are selected using market cap, revenue (or assets for certain financial firms), GICS industry group, and company's selected peers' GICS industry group, with size constraints, via a process designed to select peers that are comparable to the subject company in terms of revenue/assets and industry, and also within a market-cap bucket that is reflective of the company's. For Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels companies, market cap is the only size determinant.

Only Russell 3000 Index companies are subject to the Absolute Alignment analysis.

ISS research reports include realizable pay for S&P1500 companies.

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Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated case-by-case considering the context of a company's overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS' U.S. Compensation Policies FAQdocument for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

➤

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

➤

Extraordinary perquisites or tax gross-ups;

➤

New or materially amended agreements that provide for:

➤

Excessive termination or CIC severance payments (generally exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus);

➤

CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties ("single" or "modified single" triggers) or in connection with a problematic Good Reason definition;

➤

CIC excise tax gross-up entitlements (including "modified" gross-ups);

➤

Multi-year guaranteed awards that are not at risk due to rigorous performance conditions;

➤

Liberal CIC definition combined with any single-trigger CIC benefits;

➤

Insufficient executive compensation disclosure by externally-managed issuers (EMIs) such that a reasonable assessment of pay programs and practices applicable to the EMI's executives is not possible;

➤

Any other provision or practice deemed to be egregious and present a significant risk to investors.

Options Backdating

The following factors should be examined case-by-case to allow for distinctions to be made between “sloppy” plan administration versus deliberate action or fraud:

➤

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

➤

Duration of options backdating;

➤

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

➤

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

➤

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

Compensation Committee Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors case-by-case when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay on the board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues:

➤

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

➤

Failure to adequately respond to the company's previous say-on-pay proposal that received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account:

➤

Disclosure of the specific concerns voiced by dissenting shareholders that led to the say-on-pay opposition;

➤

Disclosure of specific and meaningful actions taken to address shareholders’ concerns;

➤

Other recent compensation actions taken by the company;

➤

Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated;

➤

The company's ownership structure; and

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Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Please refer to ISS' U.S. Equity Compensation Plans FAQ document for additional details on the Equity Plan Scorecard policy.

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on certain equity-based compensation plans15 depending on a combination of certain plan features and equity grant practices, where positive factors may counterbalance negative factors, and vice versa, as evaluated using an "Equity Plan Scorecard" (EPSC) approach with three pillars:

➤

Plan Cost: The total estimated cost of the company’s equity plans relative to industry/market cap peers, measured by the company's estimated Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) in relation to peers and considering both:

➤

SVT based on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants, plus outstanding unvested/unexercised grants; and

➤

SVT based only on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants.

➤

Plan Features:

➤

Quality of disclosure around vesting upon a change in control (CIC);

➤

Discretionary vesting authority;

➤

Liberal share recycling on various award types;

➤

Lack of minimum vesting period for grants made under the plan;

➤

Dividends payable prior to award vesting.

➤

Grant Practices:

➤

The company’s three-year burn rate relative to its industry/market cap peers;

➤

Vesting requirements in CEO's recent equity grants (3-year look-back);

➤

The estimated duration of the plan (based on the sum of shares remaining available and the new shares requested, divided by the average annual shares granted in the prior three years);

➤

The proportion of the CEO's most recent equity grants/awards subject to performance conditions;

➤

Whether the company maintains a sufficient claw-back policy;

➤

Whether the company maintains sufficient post-exercise/vesting share-holding requirements.

Generally vote against the plan proposal if the combination of above factors indicates that the plan is not, overall, in shareholders' interests, or if any of the following egregious factors ("overriding factors") apply:

➤

Awards may vest in connection with a liberal change-of-control definition;

➤

The plan would permit repricing or cash buyout of underwater options without shareholder approval (either by expressly permitting it—for NYSE and Nasdaq listed companies—or by not prohibiting it when the company has a history of repricing—for non-listed companies);

➤

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices or a significant pay-for-performance disconnect under certain circumstances;

➤

The plan is excessively dilutive to shareholders' holdings;

➤

The plan contains an evergreen (automatic share replenishment) feature; or

➤

Any other plan features are determined to have a significant negative impact on shareholder interests.

Proposals evaluated under the EPSC policy generally include those to approve or amend (1) stock option plans for employees and/or employees and directors, (2) restricted stock plans for employees and/or employees and directors, and (3) omnibus stock incentive plans for employees and/or employees and directors; amended plans will be further evaluated case-by-case.

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SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Global Approach

Issues covered under the policy include a wide range of topics, including consumer and product safety, environment and energy, labor standards and human rights, workplace and board diversity, and corporate political issues. While a variety of factors goes into each analysis, the overall principle guiding all vote recommendations focuses on how the proposal may enhance or protect shareholder value in either the short or long term.

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote case-by-case, examining primarily whether implementation of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value. The following factors will be considered:

➤

If the issues presented in the proposal are more appropriately or effectively dealt with through legislation or government regulation;

➤

If the company has already responded in an appropriate and sufficient manner to the issue(s) raised in the proposal;

➤

Whether the proposal's request is unduly burdensome (scope or timeframe) or overly prescriptive;

➤

The company's approach compared with any industry standard practices for addressing the issue(s) raised by the proposal;

➤

Whether there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's environmental or social practices;

➤

If the proposal requests increased disclosure or greater transparency, whether reasonable and sufficient information is currently available to shareholders from the company or from other publicly available sources; and

➤

If the proposal requests increased disclosure or greater transparency, whether implementation would reveal proprietary or confidential information that could place the company at a competitive disadvantage.

Climate Change /Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote for resolutions requesting that a company disclose information on the financial, physical, or regulatory risks it faces related to climate change on its operations and investments or on how the company identifies, measures, and manages such risks, considering:

➤

Whether the company already provides current, publicly-available information on the impact that climate change may have on the company as well as associated company policies and procedures to address related risks and/or opportunities;

➤

The company’s level of disclosure compared to industry peers; and

➤

Whether there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company’s climate change-related performance.

Generally vote for proposals requesting a report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from company operations and/or products and operations, unless:

➤

The company already discloses current, publicly-available information on the impacts that GHG emissions may have on the company as well as associated company policies and procedures to address related risks and/or opportunities;

➤

The company's level of disclosure is comparable to that of industry peers; and

➤

There are no significant, controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's GHG emissions.

Vote case-by-case on proposals that call for the adoption of GHG reduction goals from products and operations, taking into account:

➤

Whether the company provides disclosure of year-over-year GHG emissions performance data;

➤

Whether company disclosure lags behind industry peers;

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The company's actual GHG emissions performance;

➤

The company's current GHG emission policies, oversight mechanisms, and related initiatives; and

➤

Whether the company has been the subject of recent, significant violations, fines, litigation, or controversy related to GHG emissions.

Gender, Race, or Ethnicity Pay Gap

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on requests for reports on a company's pay data by gender or race/ ethnicity, or a report on a company’s policies and goals to reduce any gender or race/ethnicity pay gaps, taking into account:

➤

The company's current policies and disclosure related to both its diversity and inclusion policies and practices and its compensation philosophy on fair and equitable compensation practices;

➤

Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation, or regulatory actions related to gender, race, or ethnicity pay gap issues;

➤

The company’s disclosure regarding gender, race, or ethnicity pay gap policies or initiatives compared to its industry peers; and

➤

Local laws regarding categorization of race and/or ethnicity and definitions of ethnic and/or racial minorities.

Mandatory Arbitration

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on requests for a report on a company’s use of mandatory arbitration on employment-related claims, taking into account:

➤

The company's current policies and practices related to the use of mandatory arbitration agreements on workplace claims;

➤

Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation, or regulatory actions related to the use of mandatory arbitration agreements on workplace claims; and

➤

The company's disclosure of its policies and practices related to the use of mandatory arbitration agreements compared to its peers.

Sexual Harassment

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on requests for a report on company actions taken to strengthen policies and oversight to prevent workplace sexual harassment, or a report on risks posed by a company’s failure to prevent workplace sexual harassment, taking into account:

➤

The company's current policies, practices, oversight mechanisms related to preventing workplace sexual harassment;

➤

Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation, or regulatory actions related to workplace sexual harassment issues; and

➤

The company's disclosure regarding workplace sexual harassment policies or initiatives compared to its industry peers.

B-17

ISSGOVERNANCE.COM

U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

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The Information has not been submitted to, nor received approval from, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory body. None of the Information constitutes an offer to sell (or a solicitation of an offer to buy), or a promotion or recommendation of, any security, financial product or other investment vehicle or any trading strategy, and ISS does not endorse, approve, or otherwise express any opinion regarding any issuer, securities, financial products or instruments or trading strategies.

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ISS MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ORIGINALITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, NON-INFRINGEMENT, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS for A PARTICULAR PURPOSE) WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE INFORMATION.

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B-18

ISSGOVERNANCE.COM

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Investment Company Act File No. 811-21774

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

FUND NAME	TICKER SYMBOL	EXCHANGE
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF	DWPP	Nasdaq
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	EDOW	NYSE Arca
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	FCTR	Cboe BZX
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	TUSA	Nasdaq

DATED MAY 3, 2021

Table of Contents

General Description of the Trust and the Funds	1
Exchange Listing and Trading	3
Investment Objectives and Policies	3
Investment Strategies	5
Sublicense Agreements	9
Investment Risks	9
Management of the Funds	13
Brokerage Allocations	22
Administrator, Fund Accounting Agent, Custodian, Transfer Agent, Distributor, Index Providers and Exchanges	24
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries	28
Additional Information	30
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures	31
Creation and Redemption of Creation Units	32
Federal Tax Matters	35
Determination of Net Asset Value	39
Dividends and Distributions	41
Miscellaneous Information	41
Financial Statements	41
Exhibit A — Principal Holders Table	A-1
Exhibit B — Proxy Voting Guidelines	B-1

The audited financial statements for the Funds' most recent fiscal year appear in the Funds' Annual Report to Shareholders dated December 31, 2020, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 11, 2021. The financial statements from the Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference. The audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF ("FTSM"), contained in FTSM’s most recent Annual Report to Shareholders, are also incorporated herein by reference. The Annual Report is available without charge by calling (800) 621-1675 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

General Description of the Trust and the Funds

Fund Name	Classification
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF	Diversified
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	Diversified
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	Non-Diversified
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	Diversified

Each Fund, as a series of the Trust, represents a beneficial interest in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets, with its own objectives and policies. On January 9, 2015, First Trust ValueLine Equity Allocation Index Fund changed its name to First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF pursuant to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. On August 18, 2017, First Trust CBOE S&P 500 VIX Tail Hedge Fund changed its name to First Trust Dorsey Wright Peoples Portfolio ETF pursuant to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

The Trust or any series or class thereof may be terminated at any time by the Board of Trustees upon written notice to the shareholders.

The Trust is not required to and does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders.

The Declaration further provides that a Trustee acting in his or her capacity as Trustee is not personally liable to any person other than the Trust, for any act, omission, or obligation of the Trust. The Declaration requires the Trust to indemnify any persons who are or who have been Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust for any liability for actions or failure to act except to the extent prohibited by applicable federal law. In making any determination as to whether any person is entitled to the advancement of expenses in connection with a claim for which indemnification is sought, such person is entitled to a rebuttable presumption that he or she did not engage in conduct for which indemnification is not available. The Declaration provides that any Trustee who serves as chair of the Board of Trustees or of a committee of the Board of Trustees, as lead independent Trustee or as audit committee financial expert, or in any other similar capacity will not be subject to any greater standard of care or liability because of such position.

The Funds are advised by First Trust Advisors L.P. (the “Advisor” or “First Trust”).

The shares of each Fund are principally listed and traded on NYSE Arca, Inc., (“NYSE Arca”), Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. ("Cboe BZX") or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) (each an "Exchange"), as shown on the cover of this SAI. ETFs, such

as the Funds, do not sell or redeem individual shares of a Fund. Instead, financial entities known as “Authorized Participants” (which are discussed in greater detail below) have contractual arrangements with each Fund or the Distributor to purchase and redeem Fund shares directly with a Fund in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” An Authorized Participant that purchases a Creation Unit of Fund shares deposits with a Fund a “basket” of securities, cash and/or other assets identified by the Fund that day, and then receives the Creation Unit of Fund shares in return for those assets. The redemption process is the reverse of the purchase process: the Authorized Participant redeems a Creation Unit of Fund shares for a basket of securities, cash and/or other assets. The basket is generally representative of a Fund’s portfolio, and together with a cash balancing amount, it is equal to the NAV of the Fund shares comprising the Creation Unit. Pursuant to Rule 6c-11 of the 1940 Act, the Funds may utilize baskets that are not representative of each Fund’s portfolio. Such “custom baskets” are discussed in the section entitled “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units.”

Fund shares may be issued in advance of receipt of deposit securities subject to various conditions including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Fund cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing deposit securities. See the section entitled “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units.” In each instance of such cash creations or redemptions, transaction fees may be imposed that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations or redemptions. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

Exchange Listing and Trading

As in the case of other stocks traded on the Exchanges, brokers’ commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

Investment Objectives and Policies

The Prospectus describes the investment objectives and certain policies of the Funds. The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus concerning the investment objectives and policies of the Funds.

(1)

A Fund may not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

(2)

For First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF and First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX ETF, a Fund may not borrow money, except that a Fund may (i) borrow money from banks for temporary or emergency purposes (but not for leverage or the purchase of investments) and (ii) engage in other transactions permissible under the 1940 Act that may involve a borrowing (such as obtaining short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions, engaging in delayed-delivery transactions, or purchasing certain futures, forward contracts and options), provided that the combination of (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33⅓% of the value of a Fund's total assets (including the amount borrowed), less a Fund's liabilities (other than borrowings). For First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF and First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF, a Fund may not borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF is subject to the following fundamental policy: the Fund, may not, as to 75% of its total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer (except securities of other investment companies or securities issued or guaranteed by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof) if, as a result, (i) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer; or (ii) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

Except for restriction (2) above, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase in percentage resulting from a change in market value of the investment or the total assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction. With respect to restriction (2), if the limitations are exceeded as a result of a change in market value then the Fund will reduce the amount of borrowings within three days thereafter to the extent necessary to comply with the limitations (not including Sundays and holidays).

Each of the First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF and First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF has adopted a non-fundamental investment policy pursuant to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act (a “Name Policy”) whereby each Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities issued by companies domiciled or operating in the United States. As a result, each Fund must provide shareholders with a notice meeting the requirements of Rule 35d-1(c) at least 60 days prior to any change of the Funds’ Name Policy.

Investment Strategies

The following information supplements the discussion of the Funds' investment objectives, policies and strategies that appear in the Prospectus.

Under normal circumstances, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise its index and each of First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF, First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF and First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF will invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise the index it seeks to track (each, an "Index" and collectively, the "Indices"). Fund shareholders are entitled to 60 days’ notice prior to any change in this non-fundamental investment policy.

The table below sets forth each Fund's Index. Nasdaq, Inc. serves as the index provider for the indices tracked by First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF and First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC serves as the index provider for the index tracked by First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF and Lunt Capital Management, Inc. serves as the index provider for the index tracked by First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF. Nasdaq, Inc., S&P Dow Jones Indices and LLC Lunt Capital Management, Inc. may individually be referred to throughout this statement of additional information as an "Index Provider" and collectively as the "Index Providers."

Fund	Index
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF	Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio Index (1)
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	Lunt Capital Large Cap Factor Rotation Index
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index (2)

(1)

Prior to August 18, 2017, the First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF’s Index was the CBOE® VIX® Tail Hedge Index.

(2)

Prior to January 9, 2015, the First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF’s Index was the Value Line® Equity Allocation IndexTM.

Types of Investments

market instruments, fixed income instruments and cash equivalents on an ongoing basis in order to provide income, liquidity and preserve capital.

Fixed income investments and cash equivalents held by each Fund may include, without limitation, the types of investments set forth below.

(1)

A Fund may invest in U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest, which are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government securities include securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, by various agencies of the U.S. government, or by various instrumentalities that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some of the U.S. government agencies that issue or guarantee securities include the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Farmers Home Administration, the Federal Housing Administration, the Maritime Administration, the Small Business Administration and The Tennessee Valley Authority. An instrumentality of the U.S. government is a government agency organized under federal charter with government supervision. Instrumentalities issuing or guaranteeing securities include, among others, the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Land Banks, the Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”). In the case of those U.S. government securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the security for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event that the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities; consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.

(2)

(3)

(4)

managers do so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to a Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of a Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.

(5)

(6)

A Fund may invest in commercial paper, which are short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no secondary market for the notes. However, they are redeemable by a Fund at any time. A Fund's portfolio managers will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios) and will continuously monitor the corporation’s ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because a Fund's liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. A Fund may invest in commercial paper rated at the day of purchase “Prime-1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or “A-1+” or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc., or, if unrated, of comparable quality as determined by First Trust.

(7)

Investment Companies. The First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs. An ETF is a fund that holds a portfolio of securities and trades on a securities exchange and its shares may, at times, trade a premium or discount to its net asset value. As a shareholder in a pooled investment vehicle, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF will bear its ratable share of that vehicle’s expenses and would remain subject to payment of that vehicle’s management fees with respect to assets so invested. Shareholders may therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF invests in other pooled asset vehicles. In addition, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF will also incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs. Other pooled investment vehicles may be leveraged, and the net asset value and market value of their securities will therefore be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield of unleveraged pooled investment vehicles.

Real Estate Investment Trusts ( “REITs”) . REITs are typically publicly traded corporations or trusts that invest in residential or commercial real estate. REITs generally can be divided into the following three types: (i) equity REITs which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains or real estate appreciation; (ii) mortgage REITs which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgage loans and derive their income primarily from interest payments; and (iii) hybrid REITs which combine the characteristics of equity REITs and mortgage REITs.

Portfolio Turnover

The Funds buy and sell portfolio securities in the normal course of their investment activities. The proportion of a Fund's investment portfolio that is bought and sold during a year is known as a Fund's portfolio turnover rate. A portfolio turnover rate of 100% would occur, for example, if all of the portfolio securities (other than short-term securities) were replaced once during the fiscal year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in the payment by a Fund of increased brokerage costs, expenses and taxes. The portfolio turnover rates for the specified periods are set forth in the tables below. Significant variations in portfolio turnover from year to year are generally the result of fluctuations in the size of a Fund or changes to a Fund's portfolio holdings.

Portfolio Turnover Rate
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019
First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF	114%	30%
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	31%	13%
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	460%	246%
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	125%	119%

Lending of Portfolio Securities

In these loan arrangements, the First Trust Funds will receive collateral in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade debt obligations in an amount at least equal to the value of the borrowed securities, marked to market daily. This collateral must be valued daily by First Trust or the First Trust Fund’s lending agent and, if the market value of the loaned securities increases, the borrower must furnish additional collateral to the lending First Trust Fund. During the time portfolio securities are on loan, the borrower pays the lending First Trust Fund any dividends or interest paid on the securities. Loans are subject to termination at any time by the lending First Trust Fund or the borrower. While a First Trust Fund does not have the right to vote securities on loan, it would terminate the loan and regain the right to vote if that were considered important with respect to the investment. When a First Trust Fund lends portfolio securities to a borrower, payments in lieu of dividends made by the borrower to the First Trust Fund will not constitute “qualified dividends” taxable at the same rate as long-term capital gains, even if the actual dividends would have constituted qualified dividends had the First Trust Fund held the securities. Please see "Securities Lending Risk" below for a description of the risks associated with securities lending activities.

The following table describes the securities lending activities of a Fund that engaged in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020:

FIRST TRUST TOTAL US MARKET ALPHADEX® ETF
Gross income from securities lending activities	$ 5,313
Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services
Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split	497
Fees paid for any cash collateral management service (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split	201
Administrative fees not included in revenue split	0
Indemnification fee not included in revenue split	0
Rebate (paid to borrower)	146
Other fees not included in revenue split (specify)	0
Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities	844
Net income from securities lending activities	$4,469

Sublicense Agreements

The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, relies on a product license agreement (each, a “Product License Agreement”) by and between each Index Provider and First Trust, and a related sublicense agreement (the “Sublicense Agreement”) with First Trust that grants the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, a non-exclusive and non-transferable sublicense to use certain intellectual property of such Index Provider in connection with the issuance, distribution, marketing and/or promotion of each Fund. Pursuant to each Sublicense Agreement, each Fund has agreed to be bound by certain provisions of each Product License Agreement. Pursuant to each Product License Agreement, First Trust will pay each Index Provider an annual license fee. Under the Sublicense Agreement for the First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF, that Fund bears the costs associated with the Product License Agreement.

Investment Risks

The following risk disclosure supplements the discussion of the Funds' investment risks that appears in the Prospectus.

Overview

Common Stock Risk

Debt Securities Risk

In addition to the risks described elsewhere in the Prospectus and this SAI, debt securities are subject to certain other risks, including:

•

Issuer Risk . The value of debt securities may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods and services. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF’s investment in that issuer.

•

Interest Rate Risk . Interest rate risk is the risk that debt securities will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of fixed rate securities generally will fall. Currently, interest rates are at or near historical lows and, as a result, they are likely to rise over time. Market value generally falls further for fixed rate securities with longer duration. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of slower than expected prepayments. This may lock in a below-market yield, increase the security’s duration and further reduce the value of the security. Investments in debt securities with long-term maturities may experience significant price declines if long-term interest rates increase. Fluctuations in the value of portfolio securities will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities but will be reflected in First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF’s net asset value. Since the magnitude of these fluctuations will generally be greater at times when First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF’s average maturity is longer, under certain market conditions First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF may, for temporary defensive purposes, accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in higher yielding long-term securities.

•

Liquidity Risk . Certain debt securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks traded on an exchange. Illiquid securities involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF or at prices approximating the value at which First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF is carrying the securities on its books.

•

Prepayment Risk . During periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a security may exercise its option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayment in lower yielding securities, which may result in a decline in First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF’s income and distributions to common shareholders of First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF. This is known as call or prepayment risk. Debt securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to redeem the security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem an obligation if the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. If First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF bought a security at a premium, the premium could be lost in the event of a prepayment.

•

Reinvestment Risk . Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF’s portfolio will decline if First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called bonds at market interest rates that are below First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF portfolio’s current earnings rate. A decline in income could affect the market price of First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF’s common shares or the overall return of First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF.

Depositary Receipts Risk

A Fund may hold securities of certain non-U.S. companies in the form of Depositary Receipts. Depositary Receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs are receipts issued by a European bank or trust company evidencing ownership of securities issued by a foreign corporation. New York shares are typically issued by a company incorporated in the Netherlands and represent a direct interest in the company. Unlike traditional depositary receipts, New York share programs do not involve custody of the Dutch shares of the company. GDRs are receipts issued throughout the world that evidence a similar arrangement. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may trade in foreign currencies that differ from the currency the underlying security for each ADR, EDR or GDR principally trades in. Global shares are the actual (ordinary) shares of a non-U.S. company which trade both in the home market and the United States. Generally, ADRs and New York shares, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. EDRs, in registered form, are used to access European markets. GDRs, in registered form, are tradable both in the United States and in Europe and are designed for use throughout the world. Global shares are represented by the same share certificate in the United States and the home market, and separate registrars in the United States and the home country are maintained. In most cases, purchases occurring on a U.S. exchange would be reflected on the U.S. registrar. Global shares may also be eligible to list on exchanges in addition to the United States and the home country. The Funds may hold unsponsored Depositary Receipts. The issuers of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States; therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts.

Dividends Risk

Liquidity Risk

Listing Standards Risk

Each Fund is required to comply with listing requirements adopted by the Exchange. Non-compliance with such requirements may result in the Funds' shares being delisted by the Exchange. Any resulting liquidation of a Fund could cause a Fund to incur elevated transaction costs and could result in negative tax consequences for its shareholders.

Market Risk

Health crises caused by the outbreak of infectious diseases or other public health issues, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of any such events, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries or regions, the financial performance of individual companies, sectors and industries, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which a Fund invests and negatively impact a Fund’s investment return. For example, an outbreak of a respiratory disease designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. The impact of this COVID-19 pandemic may be short term or may last for an extended period of time, and in either case could result in a substantial economic downturn or recession.

Real Estate Investment Trust Risk

Securities Lending Risk

Securities lending involves exposure to certain risks, including counterparty risk, collateral risk and operational risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, a First Trust Fund engaged in securities lending transactions may suffer a loss and there may be a delay in recovering the lent securities. Any delay in the return of securities on loan may restrict the ability of a Fund to meet delivery or payment obligations. Collateral risk is the risk that the collateral received may be realized at a value lower than the value of the securities lent, whether due to inaccurate pricing of the collateral, adverse market movements in the value of the collateral, intra-day increases in the value of the securities lent, a deterioration in the credit rating of the collateral issuer, or the illiquidity of the market in which the collateral is traded. Securities lending also entails operational risks, such as settlement failures or delays in the settlement of instructions. Such failures or delays may restrict the ability of a Fund to meet delivery or payment obligations. Lastly, securities lending activities may result in adverse tax consequences for a Fund and its shareholders. For instance, substitute payments

for dividends received by a Fund for securities loaned out by the Fund will not be considered qualified dividend income. A Fund could lose money if its short-term investment of the collateral declines in value over the period of the loan.

Small and Mid Capitalization Companies Risk

Management of the Funds

Trustees and Officers

Name and Year of Birth	Position and Offices with Trust	Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed	Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years	Number of Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee	Other Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past 5 Years
TRUSTEE WHO IS AN INTERESTED PERSON OF THE TRUST
James A. Bowen (1) 1955	Chairman of the Board and Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Chief Executive Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chairman of the Board of Directors, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)	203 Portfolios	None
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Richard E. Erickson 1951	Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Physician; Officer, Wheaton Orthopedics; Limited Partner, Gundersen Real Estate Limited Partnership (June 1992 to December 2016)	203 Portfolios	None

Name and Year of Birth	Position and Offices with Trust	Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed	Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years	Number of Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee	Other Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During the Past 5 Years
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Thomas R. Kadlec 1957	Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	President, ADM Investor Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant)	203 Portfolios	Director of ADM Investor Services, Inc., ADM Investor Services International, Futures Industry Association, and National Futures Association
Robert F. Keith 1956	Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial and Management Consulting)	203 Portfolios	Director of Trust Company of Illinois
Niel B. Nielson 1954	Trustee	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Senior Advisor (August 2018 to present), Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (January 2015 to August 2018), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services)	203 Portfolios	None

Name and Year of Birth	Position and Offices with Trust	Term of Office and Length of Service	Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years
OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
James M. Dykas 1966	President and Chief Executive Officer	•Indefinite term •Since January 2016	Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to present), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to present), BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)
W. Scott Jardine 1960	Secretary and Chief Legal Officer	•Indefinite term •Since inception	General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Secretary and General Counsel, BondWave LLC; and Secretary, Stonebridge Advisors LLC
Daniel J. Lindquist 1970	Vice President	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Kristi A. Maher 1966	Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary	•Indefinite term •Chief Compliance Officer since January 2011, Assistant Secretary since inception	Deputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Donald P. Swade 1972	Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer	•Indefinite term •Since January 2016	Senior Vice President (July 2016 to Present), Vice President (April 2012 to July 2016), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Roger F. Testin 1966	Vice President	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Stan Ueland 1970	Vice President	•Indefinite term •Since inception	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.

(1)

Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of First Trust, investment advisor of the Funds.

Unitary Board Leadership Structure

Each Trustee serves as a trustee of all open-end and closed-end funds in the First Trust Fund Complex (as defined below), which is known as a “unitary” board leadership structure. Each Trustee currently serves as a trustee of First Trust Series Fund and First Trust Variable Insurance Trust, open-end funds with eight portfolios advised by First Trust; First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II, Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund, First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund, First Trust/Aberdeen Global Opportunity Income Fund, First Trust Mortgage Income Fund, First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund, First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund, First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund, First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund, First Trust MLP and Energy

Income Fund, First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund, First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund, First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energy Fund, First Trust Senior Floating Rate 2022 Target Term Fund and First Trust High Yield Opportunities 2027 Term Fund, closed-end funds advised by First Trust; and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund and First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX® Fund II, exchange-traded funds with 179 portfolios advised by First Trust (each a “First Trust Fund” and collectively, the “First Trust Fund Complex”). None of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, nor any of their immediate family members, has ever been a director, officer or employee of, or consultant to, First Trust, First Trust Portfolios L.P. or their affiliates.

to the extent permitted by the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By Laws. Mr. Nielson, Mr. Bowen and Dr. Erickson are members of the Executive Committee. During the last fiscal year, the Executive Committee held three meetings.

The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for appointing and nominating non-interested persons to the Board of Trustees. Messrs. Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson are members of the Nominating and Governance Committee. If there is no vacancy on the Board of Trustees, the Board will not actively seek recommendations from other parties, including shareholders. The Board of Trustees adopted a mandatory retirement age of 75 for Trustees, beyond which age Trustees are ineligible to serve. The Committee will not consider new trustee candidates who are 72 years of age or older or will turn 72 years old during the initial term. When a vacancy on the Board of Trustees occurs or is anticipated to occur and nominations are sought to fill such vacancy, the Nominating and Governance Committee may seek nominations from those sources it deems appropriate in its discretion, including shareholders of the Funds. To submit a recommendation for nomination as a candidate for a position on the Board of Trustees, shareholders of the Funds should mail such recommendation to W. Scott Jardine, Secretary, at the Trust’s address, 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Such recommendation shall include the following information: (i) evidence of Fund ownership of the person or entity recommending the candidate (if a Fund shareholder); (ii) a full description of the proposed candidate’s background, including education, experience, current employment and date of birth; (iii) names and addresses of at least three professional references for the candidate; (iv) information as to whether the candidate is an “interested person” in relation to the Funds, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, and such other information that may be considered to impair the candidate’s independence; and (v) any other information that may be helpful to the Committee in evaluating the candidate. If a recommendation is received with satisfactorily completed information regarding a candidate during a time when a vacancy exists on the Board or during such other time as the Nominating and Governance Committee is accepting recommendations, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and to counsel to the Independent Trustees. During the last fiscal year, the Nominating and Governance Committee held six meetings.

Executive Officers

The executive officers of the Trust hold the same positions with each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex (representing 203 portfolios) as they hold with the Trust, except Mr. Ueland who is an executive officer of the ETFs advised by First Trust and Mr. Testin who is an executive officer of only the ETFs and open-end funds advised by First Trust.

Risk Oversight

with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Nominating and Governance Committee monitors all matters related to the corporate governance of the Funds. The Valuation Committee monitors valuation risk and compliance with the Funds' Valuation Procedures and oversees the pricing services and actions by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities.

Not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified nor can controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. It may not be practical or cost effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the Funds or the Advisor or other service providers. For instance, as the use of Internet technology has become more prevalent, the Funds and their service providers have become more susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security (generally, intentional and unintentional events that may cause a Fund or a service provider to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity). There can be no guarantee that any risk management systems established by the Funds, their service providers, or issuers of the securities in which the Funds invest to reduce cyber security risks will succeed, and the Funds cannot control such systems put in place by service providers, issuers or other third parties whose operations may affect the Funds and/or their shareholders. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment related risks) to achieve the Funds' goals. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, a Fund's ability to manage risk is subject to substantial limitations.

Board Diversification and Trustee Qualifications

Robert F. Keith is President of Hibs Enterprises, a financial and management consulting firm. Mr. Keith has been with Hibs Enterprises since 2003. Prior thereto, Mr. Keith spent 18 years with ServiceMaster and Aramark, including three years as President and COO of ServiceMaster Consumer Services, where he led the initial expansion of certain products overseas; five years as President and COO of ServiceMaster Management Services; and two years as President of Aramark ServiceMaster Management Services. Mr. Keith is a certified public accountant and also has held the positions of Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of ServiceMaster, at which time he oversaw the financial aspects of ServiceMaster’s expansion of its Management Services division into Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Mr. Keith has served as a Trustee of the First Trust Funds since June 2006.

Mr. Keith has also served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee (2008–2009 and 2017–2019), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (2010–2011) and Chairman of the Valuation Committee (2014–2016) of the First Trust Funds. He served as Lead Independent Trustee and on the Executive Committee (2012–2016) and currently serves as Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee (since January 1, 2020) of the First Trust Funds.

Name of Trustee	Total Compensation from the Funds (1)	Total Compensation from the First Trust Fund Complex (2)
Richard E. Erickson	$ 6,705	$ 472,625
Thomas R. Kadlec	$ 6,705	$ 472,625
Robert F. Keith	$ 6,689	$ 462,625
Niel B. Nielson	$ 6,722	$482,625

(1)

The compensation paid by the Funds to the Independent Trustees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for services to the Funds.

(2)

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in the Funds as of December 31, 2020:

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Funds

	Interested Trustee	Independent Trustees
	James A. Bowen	Richard E. Erickson	Thomas R. Kadlec	Robert F. Keith	Niel B. Nielson
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	None	None	None	None	$1–10,000
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in First Trust Fund Complex	Over $100,000	Over $100,000	Over $100,000	Over $100,000	Over $100,000

As of December 31, 2020, the officers and Trustees, in the aggregate, owned less than 1% of the shares of each Fund.

Pursuant to an investment management agreement (the "Expense Cap Investment Management Agreement") between First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF, First Trust manages First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF's assets and is paid an annual management fee equal to 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Additionally, First Trust and the Trust, on behalf of First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF, have also entered into an Expense Reimbursement, Fee Waiver and Recovery Agreement (“Recovery Agreement”) in which First Trust has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) exceed 0.70% of the Fund's average daily net assets per year (the “Expense Cap”) at least through April 30, 2022 (the "Expense Cap Termination Date"). First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF is responsible for all of its expenses, including management fees, costs of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses related to the execution of portfolio transactions, paying for its sublicensing fees related to the Fund’s Index, any distribution fees or expenses, and extraordinary expenses. The Recovery Agreement may be terminated by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, at any time and by First Trust only after April 30, 2022 upon 60 days’ written notice. Expenses borne and fees waived

by First Trust are subject to reimbursement by the Fund up to three years from the date the fee or expense was incurred by the Fund, but no reimbursement payment will be made by the Fund at any time if it would result in the Fund’s expenses exceeding (i) the Expense Cap in place for the most recent fiscal year for which the Expense Cap was in place, (ii) the Expense Cap in place at the time the fees were waived, or (iii) the Expense Cap.

Pursuant to a contractual agreement between the Trust, on behalf of First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF, and First Trust, the management fees paid to First Trust will be reduced by the proportional amount of the acquired fund fees and expenses of the shares of investment companies held by First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF so that First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF would not bear the indirect costs of holding them, provided that, the investment companies are advised by First Trust. This contractual agreement shall continue until the earlier of (i) its termination at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (ii) upon the termination of the Investment Management Agreement, however, it is expected to remain in place for no less than one year from the date of this prospectus.

Fund	Annual Management Fee
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF	0.60% of average daily net assets
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	0.50% of average daily net assets
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	0.65% of average daily net assets

Under the Investment Management Agreements, First Trust shall not be liable for any loss sustained by reason of the purchase, sale or retention of any security, whether or not such purchase, sale or retention shall have been based upon the investigation and research made by any other individual, firm or corporation, if such recommendation shall have been selected with due care and in good faith, except loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of First Trust in the performance of its obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties. The Investment Management Agreements terminate automatically upon assignment and is terminable at any time without penalty as to a Fund by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities on 60 days’ written notice to First Trust, or by First Trust on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund.

The following table sets forth the management fees (net of fees waived and expenses reimbursed) paid by First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF to First Trust, and the fees waived and expenses reimbursed by First Trust for the specified periods. The subsequent tables set forth the unitary management fees paid by the Unitary Fee Funds to First Trust for the specified periods.

	Amount of Management Fees (Net of Fees Waived and Expenses Reimbursed by First Trust)			Amount of Fees Waived and Expenses Reimbursed By First Trust
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,			Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019	2018	2020	2019	2018
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	$ 6,022	$ 29,452	$ 0	$ 63,952	$ 54,452	$135,446

Amount of Unitary Fees
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019	2018
First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF	$ 182,945	$ 295,952	$ 203,932
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	$ 187,107	$ 162,087	$52,765


Fund	Inception Date	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,		Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2018
		2020	2019
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	7/25/2018	$ 554,812	$ 289,291	$80,837

Name	Position with First Trust	Length of Service with First Trust	Principal Occupation During Past Five Years
Daniel J. Lindquist	Chairman of the Investment Committee and Managing Director	Since 2004	Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Jon C. Erickson	Senior Vice President	Since 1994	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
David G. McGarel	Chief Operating Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director	Since 1997	Chief Operating Officer (2016 to present), Chief Investment Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Roger F. Testin	Senior Vice President	Since 2001	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Stan Ueland	Senior Vice President	Since 2005	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Chris A. Peterson	Senior Vice President	Since 2000	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Erik Russo	Vice President	Since 2010	Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P.

Roger F. Testin: As head of First Trust’s Portfolio Management Group, Mr. Testin is responsible for executing the instructions of the Strategy Research Group and Equity Research Group.

Stan Ueland: Mr. Ueland is a Senior Vice President and is responsible for executing the investment strategies of the Funds.

As of December 31, 2020, Mr. Lindquist beneficially owned shares of First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF in the amount of $10,001-$50,000 and Mr. McGarel owned shares of First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF in the amount of $10,001-$50,000. No other member of the Investment Committee beneficially owned shares of a Fund.

Accounts Managed by Investment Committee

The Investment Committee manages the investment vehicles (other than the Funds) with the number of accounts and assets, as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, set forth in the table below:

Investment Committee Member	Registered Investment Companies Number of Accounts ($ Assets)	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Number of Accounts ($ Assets)	Other Accounts Number of Accounts ($ Assets)
Dan Lindquist	109 ($74,429,365,518)	41 ($1,361,670,267)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
David McGarel	109 ($74,429,365,518)	41 ($1,361,670,267)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
Jon Erickson	108 ($74,429,365,518)	41 ($1,361,670,267)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
Roger Testin	108 ($74,429,365,518)	41 ($1,361,670,267)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
Stan Ueland	100 ($73,323,407,380)	32 ($1,226,720,281)	N/A
Chris Peterson	109 ($74,429,365,518)	37 ($1,273,575,332)	1,423 ($567,681,065)
Erik Russo	100 ($73,323,407,380)	32 ($1,226,720,281)	N/A

Brokerage Allocations

research services are often referred to as “soft dollars.” First Trust has advised the Board of Trustees that it does not currently intend to use soft dollars.

Brokerage Commissions

The following tables set forth the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by each Fund for the specified periods. Significant variations in the amount a Fund paid in brokerage commissions from year-to-year are generally the result of fluctuations in the size of a Fund or changes to a Fund's portfolio holdings.

Aggregate Amount of Brokerage Commissions
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
Fund	2020	2019	2018
First Trust Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF	$ 15,501	$ 5,583	$ 4,060
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	$ 2,864	$ 966	$ 639
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	$ 10,577	$ 10,436	$7,999

Aggregate Amount of Brokerage Commissions
Fund	Inception Date	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,		Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2018
		2020	2019
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	7/25/2018	$ 145,245	$ 36,919	$ 16,828

During the last fiscal year, the First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF held securities of BOFA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC, JP Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in BOFA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC, JP Morgan Securities

LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Wells Fargo Securities LLC was 0.75%, 0.42%, 0.29%, 1.25%, 0.32% and 0.40%, respectively, of the Fund’s net assets.

During the last fiscal year, the First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF held securities of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and JP Morgan Securities LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund's investment in Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and JP Morgan Securities LLC was 3.60% and 3.49%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

During the last fiscal year, the First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF held securities of BOFA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and JP Morgan Securities, LLC, each a regular broker or dealer of the Fund as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act. As of December 31, 2020, the Fund’s investment in BOFA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and JP Morgan Securities LLC was 0.26%, 0.39%, 0.62% and 0.63%, respectively, of the Fund's net assets.

Administrator, Fund Accounting Agent, Custodian, Transfer Agent, Distributor, Index Providers and Exchanges

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has agreed to indemnify BNYM for certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the federal securities laws, unless such loss or liability results from negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties. As compensation for these services, BNYM is paid a fee based on each Fund’s total average daily net assets. BNYM also is entitled to certain out-of-pocket expenses for the services described above. This fee is subject to reduction for assets over $1 billion. First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF, First Dorsey Wright People's Portfolio ETF and First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF have not paid any fees to BNYM under the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement as the Advisor has assumed responsibility for payment of these fees as part of the unitary management fee. The following table sets forth the amounts paid to BNYM by First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF pursuant to services rendered under the Administration and Accounting Agreement.

Fund Administration and Accounting
Fund	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	2018
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	$ 14,220	$ 15,974	$15,210

As set forth in the Administration and Accounting Agreement, Custody Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless BNYM from certain costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims which are sustained or incurred or which may be asserted against BNYM, provided that such costs, expenses, damages, liabilities and claims did not result from BNYM’s own negligence or willful misconduct.

As compensation for the services provided by BNYM under the Administration and Accounting Agreement, Custody Agreement and Transfer Agency Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, has agreed to pay to BNYM such compensation as may be specifically agreed upon from time to time and reimburse BNYM for out-of-pocket expenses which are a normal incident of the services provided under the agreements. Pursuant to the terms of the Unitary Fee Investment Management Agreement, the Funds do not directly pay BNYM for these services, as First Trust has assumed responsibility for the payment of these expenses out of the unitary management fee it receives from the Funds.

Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees will receive and review after the end of each calendar quarter a written report provided by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made. With the exception of the Distributor and its affiliates, no “interested person” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) and no Trustee of the Trust has a direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any related agreement.

No fees are currently paid by a Fund under the Plan and pursuant to a contractual agreement, the Funds will not pay 12b-1 fees any time before April 30, 2022.

First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. or its affiliates (Nasdaq, Inc., with its affiliates, are referred to as the “Corporations”). The Corporations have not passed on the legality or suitability of, or the accuracy or adequacy of descriptions and disclosures relating to, the Fund. The Corporations make no representation or warranty, express

or implied to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of the Fund to track general stock market performance. The Corporations’ only relationship to First Trust is in the licensing of the Nasdaq, Nasdaq, Inc., Nasdaq Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio Index (the “Index”) registered trademarks, trade names and service marks of the Corporations and the use of the Index which are determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq, Inc. without regard to Licensee or the Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. The Corporations are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be issued or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. The Corporations have no liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR UNINTERRUPTED CALCULATION OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ DORSEY WRIGHT PEOPLE’S PORTFOLIO INDEX, OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF

The “Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight Index” is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (“SPDJI”), and has been licensed for use by First Trust. S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”); Dow Jones® and “Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight” are trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by First Trust. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). S&P Dow Jones Indices makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly or the ability of the Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices’ only relationship to First Trust with respect to the Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices or its licensors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to First Trust or the Fund. S&P Dow Jones Indices have no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight. S&P Dow Jones Indices is notresponsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the Fund or the timing of the issuance or sale of the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash, surrendered or redeemed, as the case may be. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.There is no assurance that investment products based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average® Equal Weight will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.

S&P DOW JONES INDICES DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE EQUAL WEIGHT OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICESSHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST,OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE EQUAL WEIGHT OR WITH RESPECT TO ANY DATA RELATED THERETO. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT WHATSOEVER SHALL S&P DOW JONES INDICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, TRADING LOSSES, LOST TIME OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THERE ARE NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN S&P DOW JONES INDICES AND FIRST TRUST, OTHER THAN THE LICENSORS OF S&P DOW JONES INDICES.

First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF

First Trust does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the Index or any data included therein, and First Trust shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein. First Trust makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by the Fund, owners of the shares of the Fund or any other person or entity from the use of the Index or any data included therein. First Trust makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall First Trust have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect or consequential damages (including lost profits) arising out of matters relating to the use of the Index, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

Lunt Capital Management, Inc. (“Lunt Capital” or the “Index Provider”) is not affiliated with the Trust, Fund’s administrator, custodian, transfer agent or distributor. The Lunt Capital Large Cap Factor Rotation Index (the “Index”) is a product of Lunt Capital. The Advisor (or, the “Licensee”) has entered into a license agreement with Lunt Capital pursuant to which the Licensee pays a fee to use the Index and the marketing names and licensed trademarks of Lunt Capital (the “Trademarks”). The Licensee is sub-licensing rights to the Index to the Fund. The Index is compiled and calculated by Lunt Capital. Lunt Capital has no obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. Lunt Capital shall not be liable (whether in negligence or otherwise) to any person for any error in the Index and shall not be under any obligation to advise any person of any error therein. Neither the publication of the Index by Lunt Capital nor the granting of a license of rights relating to the Index or to the Trademarks for the utilization in connection with the Fund represents a recommendation by Lunt Capital for a capital investment or contains in any manner a warranty or opinion by Lunt Capital with respect to the attractiveness of an investment in the Fund. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, or sold by Lunt Capital. Lunt Capital 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. Lunt Capital is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be sold or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. Lunt Capital has an obligation in connection with the administration and marketing of the Fund, but has no obligations or liabilities in connection with the trading of the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Lunt Capital may independently issue and/or sponsor financial products unrelated to the Fund currently being issued by the Licensee, but which may be similar to and competitive with the Fund. In addition, Lunt Capital may trade financial products which are linked to the performance of the Index. It is possible that this trading activity will affect the value of the Index and the Fund.

LUNT CAPITAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. LUNT CAPITAL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE LICENSEES, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. LUNT CAPITAL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL LUNT CAPITAL HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

The Index is the property of Lunt Capital Management, Inc., which has contracted with Nasdaq, Inc. to calculate and maintain the Index.

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Nasdaq, Inc. Nasdaq, Inc. 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. Nasdaq, Inc.’s only relationship to First Trust is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of Nasdaq, Inc. and of the Index, which is determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq, Inc., or its agent, without regard to First Trust or the Fund, Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the Fund into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. Nasdaq, Inc. is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices at, or quantities of the Fund to be listed or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Fund is to be converted into cash. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

NASDAQ, INC. DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND NASDAQ, INC. SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. NASDAQ, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST,

OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NASDAQ, INC. MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN, WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL NASDAQ, INC. HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGREEMENTS OR ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN NASDAQ, INC. AND FIRST TRUST.

First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF

The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Nasdaq, Inc. Nasdaq, Inc. makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Fund particularly, or the ability of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index to track general stock market performance or a segment of the same. Nasdaq, Inc.’s only relationship to First Trust is in the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of Nasdaq, Inc. and of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index, which are determined, composed and calculated by Nasdaq, Inc. without regard to First Trust or the Fund. Nasdaq, Inc. is not responsible for and has not reviewed the Fund nor any associated literature or publications and makes no representation or warranty express or implied as to their accuracy or completeness, or otherwise. Nasdaq, Inc. reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to alter, amend, terminate or in any way change the NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Total US Market Index. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

THE CORPORATIONS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE NASDAQ ALPHADEX® TOTAL US MARKET INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND NASDAQ SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, INVESTORS, OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE NASDAQ ALPHADEX® TOTAL US MARKET INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE NASDAQ ALPHADEX® TOTAL US MARKET INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CORPORATIONS HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Exchanges. Besides serving as the index calculation agent for certain of the Funds as described above, the only other relationship that NYSE Arca has with First Trust or the Distributor in connection with the Funds is that NYSE Arca lists the shares of the First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF pursuant to its Listing Agreement with the Trust. NYSE Arca is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of pricing or the timing of the issuance or sale of the shares of the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the net asset value of the Fund. NYSE Arca has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

Nasdaq, Inc. serves as the Index Provider and the index calculation agent for the Nasdaq Indices. The only other relationship that Nasdaq, Inc. has with First Trust or the Distributor in connection with the Nasdaq Funds is that Nasdaq, Inc. lists the shares of the Nasdaq Funds pursuant to its Listing Agreement with the Trust. Nasdaq, Inc. is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of pricing or the timing of the issuance or sale of the shares of the Nasdaq Funds or in the determination or calculation of the net asset value of such Funds. Nasdaq, Inc. has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Nasdaq Funds.

The only relationship that Cboe BZX has with First Trust or the Distributor of the First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF in connection with the Fund is that Cboe BZX lists the shares of the Fund and disseminates the intra-day portfolio values pursuant to its listing agreement with the Trust. Cboe BZX is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of pricing or the timing of the issuance or sale of the shares of the Fund or in the determination or calculation of the net asset value of the Fund. Cboe BZX has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Fund.

Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries

of Fund shares by those firms and their customers. The amounts of these payments vary by intermediary. The level of payments that First Trust is willing to provide to a particular intermediary may be affected by, among other factors, (i) the firm’s total assets or Fund shares held in and recent net investments into First Trust Funds, (ii) the value of the assets invested in the First Trust Funds by the intermediary’s customers, (iii) redemption rates, (iv) its ability to attract and retain assets, (v) the intermediary’s reputation in the industry, (vi) the level and/or type of marketing assistance and educational activities provided by the intermediary, (vii) the firm’s level of participation in First Trust Funds’ sales and marketing programs, (viii) the firm’s compensation program for its registered representatives who sell Fund shares and provide services to Fund shareholders, and (ix) the asset class of the First Trust Funds for which these payments are provided. Such payments are generally asset-based but also may include the payment of a lump sum.

First Trust and/or its affiliates occasionally sponsor due diligence meetings for registered representatives during which they receive updates on various First Trust Funds and are afforded the opportunity to speak with portfolio managers. Although invitations to these meetings are not conditioned on selling a specific number of shares, those who have shown an interest in First Trust Funds are more likely to be considered. To the extent permitted by their firm’s policies and procedures, all or a portion of registered representatives’ expenses in attending these meetings may be covered by First Trust and/or its affiliates.

Additional Information

Book Entry Only System. The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.

DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

Policy Regarding Investment in Other Investment Companies. The Funds (other than First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF) will not rely on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act to invest in other investment companies.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

The Trust has adopted a proxy voting policy that seeks to ensure that proxies for securities held by the Funds are voted consistently with the best interests of the Funds.

Ethics contain policies restricting securities trading in personal accounts of the officers, Trustees and others who normally come into possession of information on portfolio transactions. Personnel subject to the Codes of Ethics may invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds; however, the Codes of Ethics require that each transaction in such securities be reviewed by the CCO or his or her designee. These Codes of Ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.

Creation and Redemption of Creation Units

General. ETFs, such as the Funds, generally issue and redeem their shares in primary market transactions through a creation and redemption mechanism and do not sell or redeem individual shares. Instead, financial entities known as “Authorized Participants” have contractual arrangements with an ETF or one of the ETF’s service providers to purchase and redeem ETF shares directly with the ETF in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” Prior to the start of trading on every business day, an ETF publishes through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) the “basket” of securities, cash or other assets that it will accept in exchange for a Creation Unit of the ETF’s shares. An Authorized Participant that wishes to effectuate a creation of an ETF’s shares deposits with the ETF the “basket” of securities, cash or other assets identified by the ETF that day, and then receives the Creation Unit of the ETF’s shares in return for those assets. After purchasing a Creation Unit, the Authorized Participant may continue to hold the ETF’s shares or sell them in the secondary market. The redemption process is the reverse of the purchase process: the authorized participant redeems a Creation Unit of ETF shares for a basket of securities, cash or other assets. The combination of the creation and redemption process with secondary market trading in ETF shares and underlying securities provides arbitrage opportunities that are designed to help keep the market price of ETF shares at or close to the NAV per share of the ETF.

Authorized Participants. An “Authorized Participant” is a member or participant of a clearing agency registered with the SEC that has a written agreement with a Fund or one of its service providers that allows the Authorized Participant to place orders for the purchase or redemption of Creation Units (a “Participant Agreement”). Orders to purchase Creation Units must be delivered through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement and must comply with the applicable provisions of such Participant Agreement. Investors wishing to purchase or sell shares generally do so on an exchange. Institutional investors other than Authorized Participants are responsible for making arrangements for a redemption request to be made through an Authorized Participant.

Business Day. A “Business Day” is generally any day on which the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the Exchange and the Trust are open for business. As of the date of this SAI, the NYSE observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Business Day on which an order to purchase or redeem Creation Units is received in proper form is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.”

Each Fund may utilize a pro rata basket or a custom basket in reliance on Rule 6c-11. A “pro rata basket” is a basket that is a pro rata representation of the ETF’s portfolio holdings, except for minor deviations when it is not operationally feasible to include a particular instrument within the basket, except to the extent that the Fund utilized different baskets in transactions on the same Business Day.

Participant, that basket would be a custom basket. The Advisor’s Rule 6c-11 Committee defines any deviation from a pro rata basket to be a “custom basket.” Rebalancing and reconstitution baskets do not constitute custom baskets. All cash baskets that are the initial basket on a Business Day also do not constitute custom baskets.

Placement of Creation or Redemption Orders. All orders to purchase or redeem Creation Units are to be governed according to the applicable Participant Agreement that each Authorized Participant has executed. In general, all orders to purchase or redeem Creation Units must be received by the transfer agent in the proper form required by the Participant Agreement no later than the closing time of the regular trading session of the NYSE (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business (the “Closing Time”) in order for the purchase or redemption of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of shares of a Fund as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. However, at its discretion, the Fund may require an Authorized Participant to submit orders to purchase or redeem Creation Units be placed earlier in the day (such as instances where an applicable market for a security comprising a creation or redemption basket closes earlier than usual).

Delivery of Redemption Proceeds. Deliveries of securities to Authorized Participants in connection with redemption orders are generally expected to be made within two Business Days. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds for a Fund may take longer than two Business Days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act generally prohibits a registered open-end management investment company from postponing the date of satisfaction of redemption requests for more than seven days after the tender of a security for redemption. This prohibition can cause operational difficulties for ETFs that hold foreign investments and exchange in-kind baskets for Creation Units. For example, local market delivery cycles for transferring foreign investments to redeeming investors, together with local market holiday schedules, can sometimes require a delivery process in excess of seven days. However, Rule 6c-11 grants relief from Section 22(e) to permit an ETF to delay satisfaction of a redemption request for more than seven days if a local market holiday, or series of consecutive holidays, or the extended delivery cycles for transferring foreign investments to redeeming Authorized Participants, or the combination thereof prevents timely delivery of the foreign investment included in the ETF’s basket. Under this exemption, an ETF must deliver foreign investments as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 days after the tender to the ETF. The exemption therefore will permit a delay only to the extent that additional time for settlement is actually required, when a local market holiday, or series of consecutive holidays, or the extended delivery cycles for transferring foreign investments to redeeming authorized participants prevents timely delivery of the foreign investment included in the ETF’s basket. If a foreign investment settles in less than 15 days, Rule 6c-11 requires an ETF to deliver it pursuant to the standard settlement time of the local market where the investment

trades. Rule 6c-11 defines “foreign investment” as any security, asset or other position of the ETF issued by a foreign issuer (as defined by Rule 3b-4 under the 1934 Act), and that is traded on a trading market outside of the United States. This definition is not limited to “foreign securities,” but also includes other investments that may not be considered securities. Although these other investments may not be securities, they may present the same challenges for timely settlement as foreign securities if they are transferred in kind.

Creation Transaction Fees. Each Fund imposes fees in connection with the purchase of Creation Units. These fees may vary based upon various facts-based circumstances, including, but not limited to, the composition of the securities included in the Creation Unit or the countries in which the transactions are settled. The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per share of a Fund times the number of shares in a Creation Unit, plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to the securities comprising the creation basket.

Redemption Transaction Fees. Each Fund also imposes fees in connection with the redemption of Creation Units. These fees may vary based upon various facts-based circumstances, including, but not limited to, the composition of the securities included in the Creation Unit or the countries in which the transactions are settled. The price received for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per share of a Fund times the number of shares in a Creation Unit, minus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to the securities comprising the redemption basket. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary in addition to an Authorized Participant to effect a redemption of a Creation Unit may also be assessed an amount to cover the cost of such services. The redemption fee charged by a Fund will comply with Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act which limits redemption fees to no more than 2% of the value of the shares redeemed.

Suspension of Creations. The SEC has stated its position that an ETF generally may suspend the issuance of Creation Units only for a limited time and only due to extraordinary circumstances, such as when the markets on which the ETF’s portfolio holdings are traded are closed for a limited period of time. The SEC has also stated that an ETF could not set transaction fees so high as to effectively suspend the issuance of Creation Units. Circumstances in which a Fund may suspend creations include, but are not limited to: (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the purchaser or group of related purchasers, upon obtaining the Creation Units of Fund shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of a Fund; (iii) the required consideration is not delivered; (iv) the acceptance of the basket would have certain adverse tax consequences; (v) the acceptance of the basket would, in the opinion of a Fund, be unlawful; (vi) the acceptance of the basket would otherwise, in the discretion of a Fund, First Trust and/or any sub-advisor, have an adverse effect on the Fund or the rights of the Fund’s Beneficial Owners; or (vii) there exist circumstances outside the control of a Fund that make it impossible to process purchases of Creation Units for all practical purposes. Examples of such circumstances include: acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting a Fund, First Trust, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the transfer agent, the custodian, any sub-custodian or any other participant in the purchase process; and similar extraordinary events. Each Fund reserves the absolute right to reject a creation order transmitted to it. The Transfer Agent shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such prospective creator of the rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, a Fund, the Transfer Agent, the custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of baskets, nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

Federal Tax Matters

This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Funds. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. In addition, our counsel was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to, the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be deposited in the Funds. The following disclosure may not be sufficient for prospective investors to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law.

As with any investment, prospective investors should seek advice based on their individual circumstances from their own tax advisor.

Each Fund intends to qualify annually and to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Distributions

Sale or Exchange of Fund Shares

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

for securities cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales,” or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

Nature of Fund Investments

Futures Contracts and Options

Investments in Certain Foreign Corporations

If a Fund holds an equity interest in any “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”), which are generally certain foreign corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. A Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. A Fund may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, a Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, a Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax (described above). Dividends paid by PFICs are not treated as qualified dividend income.

Backup Withholding

Non-U.S. Shareholders

assets for the account of others as a substantial portion of its business; or (iii) is engaged (or holds itself out as being engaged) primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, partnership interests, commodities or any interest (including a futures contract or option) in such securities, partnership interests or commodities. This withholding tax is also currently scheduled to apply to the gross proceeds from the disposition of securities that produce U.S. source interest or dividends. However, proposed regulations may eliminate the requirement to withhold on payments of gross proceeds from dispositions.

Distributions of capital gain dividends and any amounts retained by a Fund which are properly reported by the Funds as undistributed capital gains will not be subject to U.S. tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate) unless the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual and is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements. However, this 30% tax on capital gains of nonresident alien individuals who are physically present in the United States for more than the 182 day period only applies in exceptional cases because any individual present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year is generally treated as a resident for U.S. income tax purposes; in that case, he or she would be subject to U.S. income tax on his or her worldwide income at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, rather than the 30% U.S. tax. In the case of a non-U.S. shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, a Fund may be required to withhold U.S. income tax from distributions of net capital gain unless the non-U.S. shareholder certifies his or her non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption. If a non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual, any gain such shareholder realizes upon the sale or exchange of such shareholder’s shares of a Fund in the United States will ordinarily be exempt from U.S. tax unless the gain is U.S. source income and such shareholder is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements.

Distributions from a Fund that are properly reported by the Funds as an interest-related dividend attributable to certain interest income received by the Funds or as a short-term capital gain dividend attributable to certain net short-term capital gain income received by a Fund may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes when received by certain non-U.S. shareholders, provided that each Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met.

Capital Loss Carry-forward

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, net capital losses of a Fund incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. To the extent that these loss carry-forwards are used to offset future capital gains, it is probable that the capital gains so offset will not be distributed to Fund shareholders. The Funds intend to utilize provisions of the federal income tax laws, which allow the Funds to carry a realized capital loss forward indefinitely following the year of the loss and offset such loss against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2020, the Funds had non-expiring capital loss carry-forwards for federal income tax purposes as shown in the table below. The Funds are subject to certain limitations, under

U.S. tax rules, on the use of capital loss carry-forwards and net unrealized built-in losses. These limitations generally apply when there has been a 50% change in ownership.

Fund	Total Non-Expiring Capital Loss Available
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF	$ 10,425,850
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	4,160,749
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	12,812,202
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX® ETF	3,213,939

Other Taxation

Determination of Net Asset Value

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Net Asset Value.”

(1)

Common stocks, real estate investment trusts and other equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange other than Nasdaq and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) will be valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded, or the official closing price for Nasdaq and AIM securities. Portfolio securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as applicable, on the Business Day as of which such value is being determined at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities.

(2)

Shares of open-end funds are valued at fair value which is based on NAV per share.

(3)

Securities traded in the OTC market are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.

(4)

(5)

In addition, the following types of securities will be fair valued by the Fund accounting agent as follows:

(1)

(2)

the Advisor’s Pricing Committee has determined that the use of amortized cost is an appropriate reflection of fair value given market and issuer specific conditions existing at the time of the determination. Factors that may be considered in determining the appropriateness of the use of amortized cost include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i)

the credit conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto;

(ii)

the liquidity conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto;

(iii)

the interest rate conditions in the relevant market and changes thereto (such as significant changes in interest rates);

(iv)

issuer-specific conditions (such as significant credit deterioration); and

(v)

(3)

Dividends and Distributions

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”

Miscellaneous Information

Counsel. Chapman and Cutler LLP, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, is counsel to the Trust.

Financial Statements

The audited financial statements and notes thereto for the Funds, contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders dated December 31, 2020, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information and have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, whose report also appears in the Annual Report and is also incorporated by reference herein. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The Annual Report is available without charge by calling (800) 621-1675 or by visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Exhibit A—Principal Holders Table

NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER	% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OWNED
FIRST TRUST DORSEY WRIGHT PEOPLE’S PORTFOLIO ETF
National Financial Services LLC	24.72%
Pershing LLC	19.33%
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.	12.67%
LPL Financial LLC	11.53%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	7.23%
BOFA Securities, Inc.	6.50%
Raymond James LTD./CDS	5.17%
FIRST TRUST DOW 30 EQUAL WEIGHT ETF
LPL Financial LLC	26.32%
National Financial Services LLC	19.22%
Pershing LLC	10.16%
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.	7.97%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	7.27%
RBC Capital Markets, LLC	5.66%
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC	5.32%
FIRST TRUST LUNT U.S. FACTOR ROTATION ETF
Pershing LLC	31.22%
National Financial Services LLC	28.93%
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.	12.74%
LPL Financial LLC	11.94%
FIRST TRUST TOTAL US MARKET ALPHADEX® ETF
National Financial Services LLC	23.80%
LPL Financial LLC	21.23%
Pershing LLC	13.06%
BOFA Securities, Inc.	6.22%

BOFA Securities, Inc.: 4804 Deer Lake Drive East, Jacksonville, Florida 32246

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.: 2423 East Lincoln Drive, Phoenix, Arizona 85016

LPL Financial LLC: 1055 LPL Way. Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC: 1300 Thames Street 6th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21231

National Financial Services LLC: 499 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310

Pershing LLC: One Pershing Plaza, Jersey City, New Jersey 07399

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.: 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716

Raymond James LTD./CDS: 925 West Georgia Street- 2100, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3L2 Canada

RBC Capital Markets, LLC: 60 South 6th Street P-09, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.: 200 South 108th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68154

A-1

Exhibit B—Proxy Voting Guidelines

UNITED STATES

Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

Benchmark Policy Recommendations

Effective for Meetings on or after February 1, 2021
Published November 19, 2020

ISSGOVERNANCE.COM

B-1

U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote for director nominees, except under the following circumstances (with new nominees1 considered on case-by-case basis):

Independence

Vote against2 or withhold from non-independent directors (Executive Directors and Non-Independent Non-Executive Directors per ISS’ Classification of Directors) when:

➤

Independent directors comprise 50 percent or less of the board;

➤

The non-independent director serves on the audit, compensation, or nominating committee;

➤

The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee; or

➤

The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee.

Composition

➤

Medical issues/illness;

➤

Family emergencies; and

➤

Missing only one meeting (when the total of all meetings is three or fewer).

Nominees who served for only part of the fiscal year are generally exempted from the attendance policy.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

Overboarded Directors: Generally vote against or withhold from individual directors who:

➤

Sit on more than five public company boards; or

➤

Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards4.

Racial and/or Ethnic Diversity: For companies in the Russell 3000 or S&P 1500 indices, highlight boards with no apparent racial and/or ethnic diversity5.

Responsiveness

Vote case-by-case on individual directors, committee members, or the entire board of directors as appropriate if:

➤

Disclosed outreach efforts by the board to shareholders in the wake of the vote;

➤

Rationale provided in the proxy statement for the level of implementation;

➤

The subject matter of the proposal;

➤

The level of support for and opposition to the resolution in past meetings;

➤

Actions taken by the board in response to the majority vote and its engagement with shareholders;

➤

The continuation of the underlying issue as a voting item on the ballot (as either shareholder or management proposals); and

➤

Other factors as appropriate.

➤

The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of shares are tendered;

➤

Vote case-by-case on Compensation Committee members (or, in exceptional cases, the full board) and the Say on Pay proposal if:

➤

The company’s previous say-on-pay received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast. Factors that will be considered are:

➤

The company's response, including:

➤

Aggregate diversity statistics provided by the board will only be considered if specific to racial and/or ethnic diversity.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

Disclosure of the specific concerns voiced by dissenting shareholders that led to the say-on-pay opposition;

➤

Disclosure of specific and meaningful actions taken to address shareholders' concerns;

➤

Other recent compensation actions taken by the company;

➤

Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated;

➤

The company's ownership structure; and

➤

Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness.

➤

The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the plurality of votes cast.

Accountability

Problematic Takeover Defenses/Governance Structure

Poison Pills: Vote against or withhold from all nominees (except new nominees1, who should be considered case-by-case) if:

➤

The board makes a material adverse modification to an existing pill, including, but not limited to, extension, renewal, or lowering the trigger, without shareholder approval; or

➤

The pill, whether short-term7 or long-term, has a deadhand or slowhand feature.

Removal of Shareholder Discretion on Classified Boards: The company has opted into, or failed to opt out of, state laws requiring a classified board structure.

➤

A classified board structure;

➤

A supermajority vote requirement;

➤

Either a plurality vote standard in uncontested director elections, or a majority vote standard in contested elections;

➤

The inability of shareholders to call special meetings;

➤

The inability of shareholders to act by written consent;

➤

A multi-class capital structure; and/or

➤

A non-shareholder-approved poison pill.

Public shareholders only, approval prior to a company’s becoming public is insufficient.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

The board's rationale for adopting the bylaw/charter amendment without shareholder ratification;

➤

Disclosure by the company of any significant engagement with shareholders regarding the amendment;

➤

The level of impairment of shareholders' rights caused by the board's unilateral amendment to the bylaws/charter;

➤

The board's track record with regard to unilateral board action on bylaw/charter amendments or other entrenchment provisions;

➤

The company's ownership structure;

➤

The company's existing governance provisions;

➤

The timing of the board's amendment to the bylaws/charter in connection with a significant business development; and

➤

Other factors, as deemed appropriate, that may be relevant to determine the impact of the amendment on shareholders.

➤

Classified the board;

➤

Adopted supermajority vote requirements to amend the bylaws or charter; or

➤

Eliminated shareholders' ability to amend bylaws.

Continue to vote against or withhold from incumbent directors in subsequent years, unless the problematic capital structure is reversed or removed.

➤

Supermajority vote requirements to amend the bylaws or charter;

➤

A classified board structure; or

➤

Other egregious provisions.

A reasonable sunset provision will be considered a mitigating factor.

Unless the adverse provision is reversed or removed, vote case-by-case on director nominees in subsequent years.

➤

The presence of a shareholder proposal addressing the same issue on the same ballot;

➤

The board's rationale for seeking ratification;

➤

Disclosure of actions to be taken by the board should the ratification proposal fail;

Newly-public companies generally include companies that emerge from bankruptcy, spin-offs, direct listings, and those who complete a traditional initial public offering.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

Disclosure of shareholder engagement regarding the board’s ratification request;

➤

The level of impairment to shareholders' rights caused by the existing provision;

➤

The history of management and shareholder proposals on the provision at the company’s past meetings;

➤

Whether the current provision was adopted in response to the shareholder proposal;

➤

The company's ownership structure; and

➤

Previous use of ratification proposals to exclude shareholder proposals.

Restrictions on Shareholders’ Rights

Restricting Binding Shareholder Proposals: Generally, vote against or withhold from the members of the governance committee if:

➤

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally vote against or withhold from the members of the Audit Committee if:

➤

The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive;

➤

The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or

➤

Vote case-by-case on members of the Audit Committee and potentially the full board if:

➤

Problematic Compensation Practices

➤

There is an unmitigated misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

➤

The company maintains significant problematic pay practices; or

➤

The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Generally, vote against or withhold from the Compensation Committee chair, other committee members, or potentially the full board if:

➤

The company fails to include a Say on Pay ballot item when required under SEC provisions, or under the company’s declared frequency of say on pay; or

➤

The company fails to include a Frequency of Say on Pay ballot item when required under SEC provisions.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

Problematic Pledging of Company Stock:

➤

The presence of an anti-pledging policy, disclosed in the proxy statement, that prohibits future pledging activity;

➤

The magnitude of aggregate pledged shares in terms of total common shares outstanding, market value, and trading volume;

➤

Disclosure of progress or lack thereof in reducing the magnitude of aggregate pledged shares over time;

➤

Disclosure in the proxy statement that shares subject to stock ownership and holding requirements do not include pledged company stock; and

➤

Any other relevant factors.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

➤

Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight9, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

➤

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

➤

Voting on Director Nominees in Contested Elections

Vote-No Campaigns

➤

Proxy Contests/Proxy Access

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

➤

Long-term financial performance of the company relative to its industry;

➤

Management’s track record;

➤

Background to the contested election;

➤

Nominee qualifications and any compensatory arrangements;

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of the critique against management;

➤

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates); and

➤

Stock ownership positions.

Other Board-Related Proposals

Board Refreshment

Term/Tenure Limits

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on management proposals regarding director term/tenure limits, considering:

➤

The rationale provided for adoption of the term/tenure limit;

➤

The robustness of the company’s board evaluation process;

➤

Whether the limit is of sufficient length to allow for a broad range of director tenures;

➤

Whether the limit would disadvantage independent directors compared to non-independent directors; and

➤

Whether the board will impose the limit evenly, and not have the ability to waive it in a discriminatory manner.

Vote case-by-case on shareholder proposals asking for the company to adopt director term/tenure limits, considering:

➤

The scope of the shareholder proposal; and

➤

Evidence of problematic issues at the company combined with, or exacerbated by, a lack of board refreshment.

Age Limits

➤

Independent Board Chair

➤

General Recommendation: Generally vote for shareholder proposals requiring that the board chair position be filled by an independent director, taking into consideration the following:

➤

The scope and rationale of the proposal;

➤

The company's current board leadership structure;

➤

The company's governance structure and practices;

➤

Company performance; and

➤

Any other relevant factors that may be applicable.

The following factors will increase the likelihood of a “for” recommendation:

➤

A majority non-independent board and/or the presence of non-independent directors on key board committees;

➤

A weak or poorly-defined lead independent director role that fails to serve as an appropriate counterbalance to a combined CEO/chair role;

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

The presence of an executive or non-independent chair in addition to the CEO, a recent recombination of the role of CEO and chair, and/or departure from a structure with an independent chair;

➤

Evidence that the board has failed to oversee and address material risks facing the company;

➤

A material governance failure, particularly if the board has failed to adequately respond to shareholder concerns or if the board has materially diminished shareholder rights; or

➤

Evidence that the board has failed to intervene when management’s interests are contrary to shareholders' interests.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses

Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals/Nominations

➤

Shareholder Litigation Rights

Federal Forum Selection Provisions

Federal forum selection provisions require that U.S. federal courts be the sole forum for shareholders to litigate claims arising under federal securities law.

➤

Exclusive Forum Provisions for State Law Matters

➤

For states other than Delaware, vote case-by-case on exclusive forum provisions, taking into consideration:

➤

The company's stated rationale for adopting such a provision;

➤

Disclosure of past harm from duplicative shareholder lawsuits in more than one forum;

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

The breadth of application of the charter or bylaw provision, including the types of lawsuits to which it would apply and the definition of key terms; and

➤

Fee shifting

Fee-shifting provisions in the charter or bylaws require that a shareholder who sues a company unsuccessfully pay all litigation expenses of the defendant corporation and its directors and officers.

➤

Unilateral adoption of a fee-shifting provision will generally be considered an ongoing failure under the Unilateral Bylaw/Charter Amendments policy.

➤

Virtual Shareholder Meetings

➤

Vote case-by-case on shareholder proposals concerning virtual-only meetings, considering:

➤

Scope and rationale of the proposal; and

➤

Concerns identified with the company’s prior meeting practices.

Capital/Restructuring

Common Stock Authorization

➤

Vote against proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

➤

Past Board Performance:

➤

The company's use of authorized shares during the last three years

“Virtual-only shareholder meeting” refers to a meeting of shareholders that is held exclusively using technology without a corresponding in-person meeting.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

➤

The Current Request:

➤

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

➤

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and

➤

Most companies: 100 percent of existing authorized shares.

Companies with less than 50 percent of existing authorized shares either outstanding or reserved for issuance: 50 percent of existing authorized shares.

Companies at which both conditions (B and C) above are both present: 25 percent of existing authorized shares.

Mergers and Acquisitions

➤

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

➤

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➤

Compensation

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

➤

Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;

➤

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation—Management Proposals (Say-on-Pay)

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on ballot items related to executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation.

Vote against Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay or “SOP”) if:

➤

There is an unmitigated misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

➤

The company maintains significant problematic pay practices;

➤

The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Vote against or withhold from the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

➤

The board fails to respond adequately to a previous SOP proposal that received less than 70 percent support of votes cast;

➤

The company has recently practiced or approved problematic pay practices, such as option repricing or option backdating; or

➤

The situation is egregious.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay-for-Performance Evaluation

Peer Group12 Alignment:

➤

The degree of alignment between the company's annualized TSR rank and the CEO's annualized total pay rank within a peer group, each measured over a three-year period.

➤

The rankings of CEO total pay and company financial performance within a peer group, each measured over a three-year period.

➤

The multiple of the CEO's total pay relative to the peer group median in the most recent fiscal year.

➤

The ratio of performance- to time-based incentive awards;

➤

The overall ratio of performance-based compensation to fixed or discretionary pay;

➤

The rigor of performance goals;

➤

The complexity and risks around pay program design;

➤

The transparency and clarity of disclosure;

➤

The company's peer group benchmarking practices;

➤

Financial/operational results, both absolute and relative to peers;

➤

Special circumstances related to, for example, a new CEO in the prior FY or anomalous equity grant practices (e.g., bi-annual awards);

➤

Realizable pay14 compared to grant pay; and

➤

Any other factors deemed relevant.

Problematic Pay Practices

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

➤

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

➤

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking or present a windfall risk; and

➤

Pay decisions that circumvent pay-for-performance, such as options backdating or waiving performance requirements.

The Russell 3000E Index includes approximately 4,000 of the largest U.S. equity securities.

Only Russell 3000 Index companies are subject to the Absolute Alignment analysis.

ISS research reports include realizable pay for S&P1500 companies.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

➤

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

➤

Extraordinary perquisites or tax gross-ups;

➤

New or materially amended agreements that provide for:

➤

Excessive termination or CIC severance payments (generally exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus);

➤

CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties ("single" or "modified single" triggers) or in connection with a problematic Good Reason definition;

➤

CIC excise tax gross-up entitlements (including "modified" gross-ups);

➤

Multi-year guaranteed awards that are not at risk due to rigorous performance conditions;

➤

Liberal CIC definition combined with any single-trigger CIC benefits;

➤

Insufficient executive compensation disclosure by externally-managed issuers (EMIs) such that a reasonable assessment of pay programs and practices applicable to the EMI's executives is not possible;

➤

Any other provision or practice deemed to be egregious and present a significant risk to investors.

Options Backdating

The following factors should be examined case-by-case to allow for distinctions to be made between “sloppy” plan administration versus deliberate action or fraud:

➤

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

➤

Duration of options backdating;

➤

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

➤

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

➤

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

Compensation Committee Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors case-by-case when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay on the board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues:

➤

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

➤

Failure to adequately respond to the company's previous say-on-pay proposal that received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account:

➤

Disclosure of the specific concerns voiced by dissenting shareholders that led to the say-on-pay opposition;

➤

Disclosure of specific and meaningful actions taken to address shareholders’ concerns;

➤

Other recent compensation actions taken by the company;

➤

Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated;

➤

The company's ownership structure; and

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➤

Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Please refer to ISS' U.S. Equity Compensation Plans FAQ document for additional details on the Equity Plan Scorecard policy.

➤

SVT based on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants, plus outstanding unvested/unexercised grants; and

➤

SVT based only on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants.

➤

Plan Features:

➤

Quality of disclosure around vesting upon a change in control (CIC);

➤

Discretionary vesting authority;

➤

Liberal share recycling on various award types;

➤

Lack of minimum vesting period for grants made under the plan;

➤

Dividends payable prior to award vesting.

➤

Grant Practices:

➤

The company’s three-year burn rate relative to its industry/market cap peers;

➤

Vesting requirements in CEO's recent equity grants (3-year look-back);

➤

The estimated duration of the plan (based on the sum of shares remaining available and the new shares requested, divided by the average annual shares granted in the prior three years);

➤

The proportion of the CEO's most recent equity grants/awards subject to performance conditions;

➤

Whether the company maintains a sufficient claw-back policy;

➤

Whether the company maintains sufficient post-exercise/vesting share-holding requirements.

➤

Awards may vest in connection with a liberal change-of-control definition;

➤

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices or a significant pay-for-performance disconnect under certain circumstances;

➤

The plan is excessively dilutive to shareholders' holdings;

➤

The plan contains an evergreen (automatic share replenishment) feature; or

➤

Any other plan features are determined to have a significant negative impact on shareholder interests.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Global Approach

➤

If the issues presented in the proposal are more appropriately or effectively dealt with through legislation or government regulation;

➤

If the company has already responded in an appropriate and sufficient manner to the issue(s) raised in the proposal;

➤

Whether the proposal's request is unduly burdensome (scope or timeframe) or overly prescriptive;

➤

The company's approach compared with any industry standard practices for addressing the issue(s) raised by the proposal;

➤

Whether there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's environmental or social practices;

➤

Climate Change /Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

➤

The company’s level of disclosure compared to industry peers; and

➤

Whether there are significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company’s climate change-related performance.

Generally vote for proposals requesting a report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from company operations and/or products and operations, unless:

➤

The company's level of disclosure is comparable to that of industry peers; and

➤

There are no significant, controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the company's GHG emissions.

Vote case-by-case on proposals that call for the adoption of GHG reduction goals from products and operations, taking into account:

➤

Whether the company provides disclosure of year-over-year GHG emissions performance data;

➤

Whether company disclosure lags behind industry peers;

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➤

The company's actual GHG emissions performance;

➤

The company's current GHG emission policies, oversight mechanisms, and related initiatives; and

➤

Whether the company has been the subject of recent, significant violations, fines, litigation, or controversy related to GHG emissions.

Gender, Race, or Ethnicity Pay Gap

➤

The company's current policies and disclosure related to both its diversity and inclusion policies and practices and its compensation philosophy on fair and equitable compensation practices;

➤

Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation, or regulatory actions related to gender, race, or ethnicity pay gap issues;

➤

The company’s disclosure regarding gender, race, or ethnicity pay gap policies or initiatives compared to its industry peers; and

➤

Local laws regarding categorization of race and/or ethnicity and definitions of ethnic and/or racial minorities.

Mandatory Arbitration

➤

General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on requests for a report on a company’s use of mandatory arbitration on employment-related claims, taking into account:

➤

The company's current policies and practices related to the use of mandatory arbitration agreements on workplace claims;

➤

Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation, or regulatory actions related to the use of mandatory arbitration agreements on workplace claims; and

➤

The company's disclosure of its policies and practices related to the use of mandatory arbitration agreements compared to its peers.

Sexual Harassment

➤

The company's current policies, practices, oversight mechanisms related to preventing workplace sexual harassment;

➤

Whether the company has been the subject of recent controversy, litigation, or regulatory actions related to workplace sexual harassment issues; and

➤

The company's disclosure regarding workplace sexual harassment policies or initiatives compared to its industry peers.

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U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines

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B-18

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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

Part C – Other Information

Item 28.

Exhibits

Exhibit No. Description

(a)

(1) Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 96 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on July 24, 2017.

(2) Amended and Restated Establishment and Designation of Series is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 125 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on January 15, 2021.

(b)

By-Laws of the Registrant is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 51 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 27, 2011.

(c)

Not applicable.

(d)

(1) Investment Management Agreement, dated December 6, 2010, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 51 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 27, 2011.

(2) Amendment to Schedule A of the Investment Management Agreement is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 84 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 23, 2015.

(3) Investment Management Agreement, dated July 20, 2017, relating to First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 97 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on July 28, 2017.

(4) Investment Management Agreement, dated July 17, 2018, relating to First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 106 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on July 19, 2018.

(5) Amended Schedule A to Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and First Trust Advisors L.P., is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 133 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on February 24, 2021.

(6) Expense Reimbursement, Fee Waiver and Recovery Agreement. (12) is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 51 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 27, 2011.

(7) Amendment of Exhibit A of the Expense Reimbursement Letter is filed herewith

(e)

(1) Distribution Agreement is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 51 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 27, 2011.

(2) Amendment to Exhibit A of the Distribution Agreement is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 133 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on February 24, 2021.

(f)

Not Applicable.

(g)

(1) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 1 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on September 26, 2005.

(2) Amendment to Schedule II of the Custody Agreement, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 125 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on January 15, 2021.

(h)

(1) Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 1 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on September 26, 2005.

(2) Amendment to Exhibit A of the Transfer Agency Agreement, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 125 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on January 15, 2021.

(3) Administration and Accounting Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 1 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on September 26, 2005.

(4) Amendment to Exhibit A of the Administration and Accounting Agreement is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 133 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on February 24, 2021.

(5) Sublicense Agreement by and among the First Trust Morningstar^® Dividend Leaders^SM Index Fund, Morningstar, Inc. and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated March 14, 2006, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 7 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on March 15, 2006.

(6) Sublicense Agreement by and among the First Trust IPOX-100 Index Fund, IPOX Schuster LLC and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated April 5, 2006, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 11 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 13, 2006.

(7) Sublicense Agreement by and between First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, dated April 24, 2006, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 12 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 25, 2006.

(8) Sublicense Agreement by and between First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, dated April 24, 2006, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 12 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 25, 2006.

(9) Sublicense Agreement by and among the First Trust Amex Biotechnology Index Fund, the American Stock Exchange LLC and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated June 22, 2006, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 15 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on June 23, 2006.

(10) Sublicense Agreement by and among First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund, Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated June 22, 2006, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 15 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on June 23, 2006.

(11) Sublicense Agreement by and between First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Value Line^® Dividend Index Fund, dated October 4, 2006, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 21 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on October 13, 2006.

(12) Board Administration Services Agreement among PFPC, Inc. and First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, dated February 5, 2007, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 39 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 27, 2007.

(13) Sublicense Agreement by and between First Trust Advisors L.P., Clean Edge, Inc. and First Trust NASDAQ^® Clean Edge^® U.S. Liquid Series Index Fund, dated February 7, 2007, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 34 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on February 14, 2017.

(14) Sublicense Agreement by and between First Trust Advisors L.P., and First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index^SM Fund, dated February 7, 2007, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 34 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on February 14, 2017.

(15) Sublicense Agreement by and among First Trust ISE Chindia Index Fund, International Securities Exchange, LLC and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated April 25, 2007, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 42 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on May 11, 2007.

(16) Sublicense Agreement by and among First Trust ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index Fund, International Securities Exchange, LLC and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated April 25, 2007, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 42 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on May 11, 2007.

(17) Sublicense Agreement by and among First Trust ISE Water Index Fund, International Securities Exchange, LLC and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated April 25, 2007, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 42 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on May 11, 2007.

(18) Sublicense Agreement by and between First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated April 26, 2007, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 39 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 27, 2007.

(19) Sublicense Agreement by and between First Trust Advisors L.P., American Bankers Association and First Trust NASDAQ^® ABA Community Bank Index Fund, dated June 30, 2009, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 50 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on May 3, 2010.

(20) Sublicense Agreement by and among First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, on behalf of its series, First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX ETF, The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. and First Trust Portfolios L.P., dated January 9, 2015, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 84 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 23, 2015.

(21) Sublicense Agreement by and among First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, on behalf of its series, First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF and First Trust Advisors L.P., dated April 10, 2018, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 106 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on July 19, 2018.

(22) Subscription Agreement is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 1 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on September 26, 2005.

(23) Form of Participant Agreement is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 106 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on July 19, 2018.

(i)

Not Applicable.

(j)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is filed herewith.

(k)

Not Applicable.

(l)

Not Applicable.

(m)

(1) 12b-1 Service Plan is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 1 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on September 26, 2005.

(2) Exhibit A of the 12b-1 Service Plan is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 133 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on February 24, 2021.

(3) 12b-1 Plan Extension Letter Agreement is filed herewith.

(n)

Not Applicable.

(o)

Not Applicable.

(p)

(1) First Trust Advisors L.P., First Trust Portfolios L.P. Code of Ethics, amended on July 1, 2013, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 77 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 30, 2014.

(2) First Trust Funds Code of Ethics, amended on October 30, 2013, is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 77 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 30, 2014.

(q)

Powers of Attorney for Messrs. Bowen, Erickson, Kadlec, Keith and Nielson authorizing James A. Bowen, W. Scott Jardine, James M. Dykas, Kristi A. Maher and Eric F. Fess to execute the Registration Statement is incorporated by reference to the post-effective Amendment no. 86 filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-125751) for Registrant on April 27, 2016.

Item 29.

Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

Not applicable.

Item 30.

Indemnification

Section 9.5 of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust provides as follows:

Section 9.5. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 9.5, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, or employee of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person"), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him or in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof.

No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person to the extent such indemnification is prohibited by applicable federal law.

The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

Subject to applicable federal law, expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 9.5 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.5.

To the extent that any determination is required to be made as to whether a Covered Person engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Person or Persons making the determination shall afford the Covered Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in such conduct and that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

As used in this Section 9.5, the words "claim," "action," "suit" or "proceeding" shall apply to all claims, demands, actions, suits, investigations, regulatory inquiries, proceedings or any other occurrence of a similar nature, whether actual or threatened and whether civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals, and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

Item 31.

Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser

First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”), investment adviser to the Registrant, serves as adviser or sub-adviser to various other open-end and closed-end management investment companies and is the portfolio supervisor of certain unit investment trusts. The principal business of certain of First Trust’s principal executive officers involves various activities in connection with the family of unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”). The principal address for all these investment companies, First Trust, FTP and the persons below is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187.

A description of any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which the officers of First Trust who serve as officers or trustees of the Registrant have engaged during the last two years for his or her account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee appears under “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information. Such information for the remaining senior officers of First Trust appears below:

Name and Position with First Trust	Employment During Past Two Years
Andrew S. Roggensack, President	Managing Director and President, First Trust
R. Scott Hall, Managing Director	Managing Director, First Trust
David G. McGarel, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director	Managing Director; Senior Vice President, First Trust
Kathleen Brown, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President	Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President, First Trust
Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President	Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, First Trust

Item 32.

Principal Underwriter

(a) FTP serves as principal underwriter of the shares of the Registrant, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V, First Trust Exchange Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX^®Fund, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX^®Fund II, First Trust Variable Insurance Trust and First Trust Series Fund. FTP serves as principal underwriter and depositor of the following investment companies registered as unit investment trusts: the First Trust Combined Series, FT Series (formerly known as the First Trust Special Situations Trust), the First Trust Insured Corporate Trust, the First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds and the First Trust GNMA.

(b) Positions and Offices with Underwriter.

Name and Principal Business Address*	Positions and Offices with Underwriter	Positions and Offices with Fund
The Charger Corporation	General Partner	None
Grace Partners of DuPage L.P.	Limited Partner	None
James A. Bowen	Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director	Trustee and Chairman of the Board
James M. Dykas	Chief Financial Officer	President and Chief Executive Officer
Frank L. Fichera	Managing Director	None
R. Scott Hall	Managing Director	None
W. Scott Jardine	General Counsel, Secretary and Managing Director	Secretary
Daniel J. Lindquist	Managing Director	Vice President
David G. McGarel	Chief Investment Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director	None
Richard A. Olson	Managing Director	None
Marisa Bowen	Managing Director	None
Andrew S. Roggensack	President and Managing Director	None
Kristi A. Maher	Deputy General Counsel	Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary
* All addresses are 120 East Liberty Drive, Wheaton, Illinois 60187.

Item 33.

Location of Accounts and Records

First Trust, 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, maintains the Registrant’s organizational documents, minutes of meetings, contracts of the Registrant and all advisory material of the investment adviser.

Item 34.

Management Services

Not Applicable.

Item 35.

Undertakings

Not Applicable.

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Wheaton, and State of Illinois, on the 29th day of April, 2021.

	First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund
	By:	/s/ James M. Dykas
		James M. Dykas, President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:

Signature	Title		Date
/s/ James M. Dykas	President and Chief Executive Officer		April 29, 2021
James M. Dykas
/s/ Donald P. Swade	Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer		April 29, 2021
Donald P. Swade
James A. Bowen*	) Trustee )
	)
Richard E. Erickson*	) Trustee )
	)
Thomas R. Kadlec*	) Trustee )
	)	By:	/s/ W. Scott Jardine
Robert F. Keith*	) Trustee )		W. Scott Jardine Attorney-In-Fact
	)		April 29, 2021
Niel B. Nielson *	) Trustee )
	)

Original powers of attorney authorizing James A. Bowen, W. Scott Jardine, James M. Dykas, Eric F. Fess and Kristi A. Maher to execute Registrant’s Registration Statement, and Amendments thereto, for each of the trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed, were previously executed, and are filed herewith.

Index to Exhibits

(d)(7)

Amendment of Exhibit A of the Expense Reimbursement Letter.

(j)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

(m)(3)

12b-1 Plan Extension Letter Agreement.

Exhibit A

Name of Fund	Expense Cap (of average net assets)	Effective Date	Expense Cap Term
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index^sm Fund	0.60%	December 6, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust Morningstar^Ò Dividend Leaders^sm Index Fund	0.45%	December 20, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index^sm Fund	0.60%	December 6, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Technology Sector Index^sm Fund	0.60%	December 6, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	0.60%	January 3, 2011	April 30, 2022
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund	0.60%	January 3, 2011	April 30, 2022
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	0.65%	January 3, 2011	April 30, 2022
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index^sm Fund	0.60%	December 6, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust Nasdaq-100 ex-Technology Sector Index^sm Fund	0.60%	December 6, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust Nasdaq^Ò Clean Edge^Ò Green Energy Index Fund	0.60%	January 3, 2011	April 30, 2022
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX ETF	0.70%	December 6, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust Value Line^Ò Dividend Index Fund	0.70%	January 3, 2011	April 30, 2022
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	0.50%	December 6, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	0.60%	January 20, 2011	April 30, 2022
First Trust Water ETF	0.60%	December 6, 2010	April 30, 2022
First Trust Chindia ETF	0.60%	January 3, 2011	April 30, 2022
First Trust Value Line^Ò 100 Exchange-Traded Fund	0.70%	January 3, 2011	April 30, 2022
First Trust Nasdaq^Ò ABA Community Bank Index Fund	0.60%	January 3, 2011	April 30, 2022

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement No. 333-125751 on Form N-1A of our report dated February 23, 2021, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of First Trust Capital Strength ETF, First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund, First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund, First Trust Chindia ETF, First Trust Natural Gas ETF, First Trust Water ETF, First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ^® ABA Community Bank Index Fund, First Trust NASDAQ^® Clean Edge^® Green Energy Index Fund, First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund, First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund, First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF, First Trust Value Line^® Dividend Index Fund, First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF, First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF, First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF, and First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX^® ETF, appearing in the Annual Reports on Form N-CSR for First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund as of and for the period ended December 31, 2020, and to the references to us under the headings “Financial Highlights” in the Prospectuses and “Additional Information”, “Miscellaneous Information”, and “Financial Statements” in the Statements of Additional Information, which are part of such Registration Statement.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Chicago, Illinois

April 28, 2021

February 24, 2021

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

Re: 12b-1 Plan Extension Letter for First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund (the “Trust”).

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is hereby acknowledged that First Trust Portfolios L.P. serves as the distributor of the shares of each series of the above-referenced Trust. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), comprised of various exchange-traded funds (each, a “Fund,” and, collectively, the “Funds”) set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto, which may be supplemented to add new Funds.

It is further acknowledged that the Trust has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule l2b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of the Funds. Pursuant to the Plan, each Fund may bear a fee not to exceed 0.25% per annum of such Fund’s average daily net assets.

The purpose of this letter agreement is to agree and acknowledge that the Funds shall not pay, and we shall not collect, any fees pursuant to the Plan any time before the date set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto for each Fund.

Very Truly Yours,

First Trust Portfolios L.P.

/s/ James M. Dykas

James M. Dykas

Chief Financial Officer

Agreed and Acknowledged:

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund

/s/ Donald P. Swade

Donald P. Swade

Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and

Chief Accounting Officer

Exhibit A

Funds	Dates
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index^SM Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders^SM Index Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF	04/30/2022
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index^SMFund	04/30/2022
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index^SM Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index^SM Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust Capital Strength ETF	04/30/2022
First Trust Total US Market AlphaDEX^® ETF	04/30/2022
First Trust Value Line^® Dividend Index Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index^SM Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust NASDAQ^® Clean Edge^® Green Energy Index Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust Chindia ETF	04/30/2022
First Trust Natural Gas ETF	04/30/2022
First Trust Water ETF	04/30/2022
First Trust Value Line^® 100 Exchange-Traded Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust NASDAQ^® ABA Community Bank Index Fund	04/30/2022
First Trust Dorsey Wright People’s Portfolio ETF	04/30/2022
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF	04/30/2022
First Trust Lunt U.S. Factor Rotation ETF	04/30/2022
FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF	01/15/2023
FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	02/24/2023