First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the equal-weighted Nasdaq US Small Mid Cap Rising Dividend Achievers Index, focusing on small- and mid-cap U.S. companies that have consistently increased dividends over the past three to five years while meeting stringent fundamental criteria including earnings growth, cash flow to debt, and payout ratios. The fund invests at least 90% of its net assets in the common stocks comprising the index, which selects approximately 100 to 186 holdings diversified across sectors such as industrials, financials, and energy; top holdings as of recent data include Comfort Systems USA Inc., InterDigital Inc., and EMCOR Group Inc. Managed by First Trust Advisors L.P. with an expense ratio of 0.59%, SDVY pays quarterly dividends and targets investors seeking extended market equity exposure with rising dividend potential, primarily in the U.S. market.
Launched on November 1, 2017, and headquartered with its sponsor First Trust Advisors L.P. in Wheaton, Illinois, the ETF has grown to approximately $8.65 billion in assets under management as of late 2025, with shares trading on Nasdaq. In September 2024, FT Portfolios Canada Co., an affiliate, expanded availability by launching units of the ETF on Cboe Canada under tickers SDVY and SDVY.F (currency-hedged), providing Canadian investors access to the underlying U.S. small- and mid-cap dividend strategy. The fund continues routine quarterly distributions, with recent payouts including $0.1821 in December 2024 and $0.1178 in June 2025, reflecting ongoing commitment to income generation amid stable operations. No major acquisitions, funding rounds, or reorganizations have been reported for SDVY in the last 1-2 years, underscoring its established index-tracking approach.