Should You Invest in the First Trust Energy AlphaDEX ETF (FXN)?
First Trust Energy AlphaDEX ETF (FXN):
- Passively managed ETF providing exposure to the Energy - Broad segment of the equity market.
- Popular due to low cost, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency for investors.
- Sponsored by First Trust Advisors with assets over $605.25 million.
- Seeks to match the performance of the StrataQuant Energy Index before fees and expenses.
- Has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.99%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings:
- FXN has the heaviest allocation in the Energy sector, about 96% of the portfolio.
- Top holdings include Valero Energy Corporation, Ovintiv Inc., and Marathon Oil Corporation.
- The top 10 holdings account for about 42.06% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk:
- FXN has gained about 8.28% year-to-date and was up about 19.84% in the last one year.
- It has a beta of 1.64 and standard deviation of 29.41%, making it a high-risk choice.
- With approximately 41 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers.
Alternatives:
- FXN holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy) and is suitable for investors seeking Energy ETF exposure.
- Other alternatives include Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) and Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE).
- VDE has $8.43 billion in assets with an expense ratio of 0.10%, while XLE charges 0.09%.
Bottom Line:
- Investors can explore FXN and other ETFs matching their investment objectives through Zacks ETF Center.
- Stay informed with Zacks' free Fund Newsletter for top news and analysis on ETFs weekly.
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Analyst Views on VDE
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IRAN STICKS TO HARDLINE POSITION—WAR WILL PERSIST, DISMISSES U.S. TIMELINE, RESPONDS COLDLY TO PROPOSAL, AND ASSERTS SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.
Iran's Stance on War: Iran maintains a hardline stance regarding ongoing conflicts, indicating that war will continue despite external pressures.
Rejection of U.S. Proposals: The Iranian government has rejected the U.S. timeline for negotiations and proposals related to regional security.
Response to U.S. Actions: Iran's leadership has issued a lukewarm response to U.S. proposals, signaling a lack of interest in compromise.
Demand for Sovereignty: Iran emphasizes its demand for sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting its rights in the region amidst international tensions.
Sable Offshore Shares Surge – Who Might Acquire Its California Refinery Oil?
Trump's Executive Order: Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order allowing Sable Offshore to restart a pipeline that had been shut down for a decade since the 2015 Refugio Beach oil spill.
Sable Offshore's Oil Sales: Roth Capital maintains a 'Buy' rating on Sable Offshore, predicting the company will achieve its first oil sales by April 1, with an expected output of around 50,000 barrels per day.
Chevron's Involvement: Chevron is reportedly planning to purchase some of the initial shipments of crude oil from Sable Offshore, with intentions to run Sable's crude at its El Segundo facility starting in April.
Market Reaction: Sable Offshore's shares surged nearly 7% following reports of a potential buyer, while retail sentiment around the stock has been bearish amid low message volume, despite a 58% increase in shares so far in 2026.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DESCRIBES INITIAL U.S.-IRAN DISCUSSIONS AS "EXCELLENT," STATING TEHRAN SEEKS PEACE AND HAS COMMITTED TO AVOIDING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
Trump's Remarks on Talks: President Donald Trump described the preliminary U.S.-Iran talks as "very, very good."
Iran's Stance on Peace: Iran, represented by Tehran, expressed a desire for peace and has agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons.
BARCLAYS: BRENT MAY REACH $120 PER BARREL
- Barclays Update: Barclays has indicated a potential test price of $120 for Brent crude oil.
- Market Implications: This price point could have significant implications for the oil market and related investments.
President Trump Expresses Discontent with Iran Negotiations, Claims They Aren't Committed Enough; No Enrichment, Not Even 20%
Trump's Stance on Iran: President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's negotiation approach, indicating that they are not willing to compromise significantly.
Concerns Over Enrichment: Trump emphasized that there should be no enrichment of uranium by Iran, reiterating a hardline stance on nuclear negotiations.
Frustration with Current Negotiations: He conveyed that the current state of negotiations with Iran is unsatisfactory and does not meet U.S. expectations.
Overall Sentiment: Trump's comments reflect a broader frustration with Iran's actions and the ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding their nuclear program.
Leading Coal and Consumable Fuels Companies of the Year to Date
Oil Prices and Tensions: Oil prices gained attention due to escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, impacting the energy sector's performance in 2025, which has been the second-worst performing sector this year.
Energy Sector Performance: The energy sector has seen a modest increase of +1.76% YTD, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) slightly outperforming at +2.29% YTD.
Top Performers in Coal and Fuels: Centrus Energy leads the coal and consumable fuels subsector with a remarkable YTD performance of +254%, followed by Uranium Energy (+81.5%) and Peabody (+32.6%).
Energy-Focused ETFs: Various energy-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are highlighted, including XLE, AMLP, VDE, XOP, OIH, and IXC, indicating a range of investment options within the energy sector.
IRAN STICKS TO HARDLINE POSITION—WAR WILL PERSIST, DISMISSES U.S. TIMELINE, RESPONDS COLDLY TO PROPOSAL, AND ASSERTS SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.
Iran's Stance on War: Iran maintains a hardline stance regarding ongoing conflicts, indicating that war will continue despite external pressures.
Rejection of U.S. Proposals: The Iranian government has rejected the U.S. timeline for negotiations and proposals related to regional security.
Response to U.S. Actions: Iran's leadership has issued a lukewarm response to U.S. proposals, signaling a lack of interest in compromise.
Demand for Sovereignty: Iran emphasizes its demand for sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting its rights in the region amidst international tensions.
Sable Offshore Shares Surge – Who Might Acquire Its California Refinery Oil?
Trump's Executive Order: Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order allowing Sable Offshore to restart a pipeline that had been shut down for a decade since the 2015 Refugio Beach oil spill.
Sable Offshore's Oil Sales: Roth Capital maintains a 'Buy' rating on Sable Offshore, predicting the company will achieve its first oil sales by April 1, with an expected output of around 50,000 barrels per day.
Chevron's Involvement: Chevron is reportedly planning to purchase some of the initial shipments of crude oil from Sable Offshore, with intentions to run Sable's crude at its El Segundo facility starting in April.
Market Reaction: Sable Offshore's shares surged nearly 7% following reports of a potential buyer, while retail sentiment around the stock has been bearish amid low message volume, despite a 58% increase in shares so far in 2026.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DESCRIBES INITIAL U.S.-IRAN DISCUSSIONS AS "EXCELLENT," STATING TEHRAN SEEKS PEACE AND HAS COMMITTED TO AVOIDING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
Trump's Remarks on Talks: President Donald Trump described the preliminary U.S.-Iran talks as "very, very good."
Iran's Stance on Peace: Iran, represented by Tehran, expressed a desire for peace and has agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons.
BARCLAYS: BRENT MAY REACH $120 PER BARREL
- Barclays Update: Barclays has indicated a potential test price of $120 for Brent crude oil.
- Market Implications: This price point could have significant implications for the oil market and related investments.
President Trump Expresses Discontent with Iran Negotiations, Claims They Aren't Committed Enough; No Enrichment, Not Even 20%
Trump's Stance on Iran: President Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's negotiation approach, indicating that they are not willing to compromise significantly.
Concerns Over Enrichment: Trump emphasized that there should be no enrichment of uranium by Iran, reiterating a hardline stance on nuclear negotiations.
Frustration with Current Negotiations: He conveyed that the current state of negotiations with Iran is unsatisfactory and does not meet U.S. expectations.
Overall Sentiment: Trump's comments reflect a broader frustration with Iran's actions and the ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding their nuclear program.
Leading Coal and Consumable Fuels Companies of the Year to Date
Oil Prices and Tensions: Oil prices gained attention due to escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, impacting the energy sector's performance in 2025, which has been the second-worst performing sector this year.
Energy Sector Performance: The energy sector has seen a modest increase of +1.76% YTD, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) slightly outperforming at +2.29% YTD.
Top Performers in Coal and Fuels: Centrus Energy leads the coal and consumable fuels subsector with a remarkable YTD performance of +254%, followed by Uranium Energy (+81.5%) and Peabody (+32.6%).
Energy-Focused ETFs: Various energy-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are highlighted, including XLE, AMLP, VDE, XOP, OIH, and IXC, indicating a range of investment options within the energy sector.
