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First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF (FMTL) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Jul 17, 2026

The First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF (FMTL) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the Indxx Global Critical Metals Index. The fund invests in a globally diversified portfolio of companies engaged in the mining, exploration, production, and processing of critical metals and materials used in technologies such as batteries, electronics, and clean energy. Holdings span major diversified miners and specialized critical-metals producers.

First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF (FMTL) belongs to the Rare Earth & Strategic Metals category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with FMTL. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to FMTL

FMTL charges 0.65% annually. There are 4 ETFs in the Rare Earth & Strategic Metals category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.49%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
ISTM
iShares Strategic Metals ETF0.49%29.06MSep 2023FMTL vs ISTM
WDIG
WisdomTree Efficient Rare Earth Plus Strategic Met...0.55%8.02MMay 2026FMTL vs WDIG
REMX
VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF0.59%2.40BOct 2010FMTL vs REMX
EART
Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF0.59%39.03MJan 2022FMTL vs EART
REXC
Sprott Rare Earths Ex-China ETF0.65%38.36MApr 2026FMTL vs REXC

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FMTL

FMTL has 39.76% 1-year volatility. There are 2 ETFs in the Rare Earth & Strategic Metals category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 31.72%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
ISTM
iShares Strategic Metals ETF31.72%29.06MSep 2023FMTL vs ISTM
MINY
YieldMax Strategic Metals & Mining Portfolio Optio...34.72%5.51MFeb 2026FMTL vs MINY
EART
Global X Rare Earth & Critical Materials ETF39.92%39.03MJan 2022FMTL vs EART
REMX
VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF49.89%2.40BOct 2010FMTL vs REMX
REXC
Sprott Rare Earths Ex-China ETF50.38%38.36MApr 2026FMTL vs REXC

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
CIBR
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETFCybersecurity, Technology Equities
31
28.94%
14.26BJul 2015FMTL vs CIBR
GRID
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...Alternative Energy Equities
49
16.65%
11.74BNov 2009FMTL vs GRID
AIRR
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...Building & Construction
69
24.42%
10.80BMar 2014FMTL vs AIRR
NFTY
First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETFIndia Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities
4
-8.35%
132.86MFeb 2012FMTL vs NFTY
FDL
First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend
87
17.61%
7.48BMar 2006FMTL vs FDL
IGLD
FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETFGold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals
18
-8.26%
510.89MMar 2021FMTL vs IGLD
FTXL
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETFSemiconductors, Technology Equities
92
77.15%
2.46BSep 2016FMTL vs FTXL
TDIV
First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index FundTechnology Equities, Dividend
33
13.37%
4.34BAug 2012FMTL vs TDIV
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...Alternative Energy Equities
46
17.05%
718.18MFeb 2007FMTL vs QCLN
KNG
FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...Dividend, S&P 500
37
9.14%
3.40BMar 2018FMTL vs KNG

Often Compared With FMTL

Investors most often compare FMTL with LIT, CSNR, COPA. These 19 comparison targets span 6 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
LIT
Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETFLithium & Battery Metals
77
6.62%
1.60BJul 2010FMTL vs LIT
CSNR
Cohen & Steers Natural Resources Active ETFNatural Resources
62
11.48%
60.88MFeb 2025FMTL vs CSNR
COPA
Themes Copper Miners ETFCopper
62
6.52%
—Sep 2024FMTL vs COPA
URA
Global X Uranium ETFUranium
11
-8.47%
5.92BNov 2010FMTL vs URA
ICOP
iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETFCopper
55
7.40%
424.42MJun 2023FMTL vs ICOP
BATT
Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETFLithium & Battery Metals
49
2.90%
118.16MJun 2018FMTL vs BATT
URAN
Themes Uranium & Nuclear ETFUranium, Alternative Energy Equities
9
-12.93%
—Sep 2024FMTL vs URAN
TURF
T. Rowe Price Natural Resources ETFNatural Resources, Actively Managed
53
9.15%
219.20MJun 2025FMTL vs TURF
GUNR
FlexShares Morningstar Global Upstream Natural Res...Natural Resources
63
11.43%
6.85BSep 2011FMTL vs GUNR
URNM
Sprott Uranium Miners ETFUranium
11
-11.15%
1.91BDec 2019FMTL vs URNM
LIMI
Themes Lithium & Battery Metal Miners ETFLithium & Battery Metals
44
-12.56%
—Sep 2024FMTL vs LIMI
NANR
SPDR S&P North American Natural Resources ETFNatural Resources
70
14.56%
710.17MDec 2015FMTL vs NANR
CCNR
ALPS/CoreCommodity Natural Resources ETFNatural Resources
85
14.26%
369.90MJul 2024FMTL vs CCNR
COPP
Sprott Copper Miners ETFCopper
49
4.80%
266.77MMar 2024FMTL vs COPP
FTRI
First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ...Natural Resources
25
3.49%
120.45MMar 2010FMTL vs FTRI
GNR
SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETFNatural Resources
61
12.32%
4.48BSep 2010FMTL vs GNR
COPJ
Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETFCopper
47
-3.23%
146.50MFeb 2023FMTL vs COPJ
UX
Roundhill Uranium ETFUranium
14
-6.80%
5.13MJan 2025FMTL vs UX
METL
Sprott Active Metals & Miners ETFNatural Resources—
-5.03%
83.69MSep 2025FMTL vs METL

Compare FMTL with Any Fund or Stock

Compare FMTL with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

 

Diversifiers

Pair FMTL with funds that move differently

First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to FMTL.

Explore FMTL Diversifiers