Should First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted ETF (QQEW) Be on Your Investing Radar?

The First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted ETF (QQEW) was launched on April 19, 2006, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market.The fund is sponsored by First Trust Advisors. It has amassed assets over $1.91 billion, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Growth segment of the US equity market.Why Large Cap GrowthCompanies that fall in the large cap category tend to have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Considered a more stable option, large cap companies boast more predictable cash flows and are less volatile than their mid and small cap counterparts.Qualities of growth stocks include faster growth rates compared to the broader market, as well as higher valuations and higher than average sales and earnings growth rates. Something to keep in mind is the higher level of volatility that is affiliated with growth stocks. Compared to value stocks, growth stocks are a safer bet in a strong bull market, but don't perform as strongly in almost all other financial environments. CostsCost is an important factor in selecting the right ETF, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts if all other fundamentals are the same.Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.55%, putting it on par with most peer products in the space.It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.4%.Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsEven though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Information Technology sector -- about 39.7% of the portfolio. Consumer Discretionary and Healthcare round out the top three.Looking at individual holdings, Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) accounts for about 1.4% of total assets, followed by Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD).The top 10 holdings account for about 12.97% of total assets under management.Performance and RiskQQEW seeks to match the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index before fees and expenses. The NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index is the equal-weighted version of the NASDAQ-100 Index which includes 100 of the largest non-financial securities listed on NASDAQ based on market capitalization.The ETF has gained about 15.99% so far this year and it's up approximately 13.05% in the last one year (as of 12/25/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $106.81 and $146.24.The ETF has a beta of 1.06 and standard deviation of 17.61% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 102 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.AlternativesFirst Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, QQEW is a good option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Growth area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) and the Invesco QQQ (QQQ) track a similar index. While Vanguard Growth ETF has $204.86 billion in assets, Invesco QQQ has $412.11 billion. VUG has an expense ratio of 0.04% and QQQ charges 0.2%.Bottom-LineRetail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.Boost Your Portfolio with Our Top ETF InsightsZacks' exclusive Fund Newsletter delivers actionable information, top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, straight to your inbox every week.Don’t miss out on this valuable resource. It’s free!Get it now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted ETF (QQEW): ETF Research ReportsThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks