Target Dividend Double Play Portfolio, 1st Quarter 2025 Series
The Target Dividend Double Play Portfolio is a unit investment trust which consists of an approximately equal weighting
between two strategies – The S&P Dividend Aristocrats Target 25 Strategy and the Target High Quality Dividend Strategy. It
invests in a fixed portfolio of stocks which are selected by applying pre-determined screens and factors and holds the stocks
for approximately 15 months. The portfolio offers several potential advantages:
- Complete transparency from the stock selection process to portfolio holdings and
individual stock weightings;
- Automated buy decisions helping to eliminate unwanted emotions from the
investment process;
- No style drift from manager-driven trading;
- Low cash positions so more of your money is invested;
- Diversification, discipline, and a periodic rebalancing opportunity helping to decrease
volatility and potentially increase returns.
As you can see in the charts below, if this strategy had been applied since
2000, investors would have realized higher total returns than by investing in the S&P 500
Index. It is important to note that the past performance of the strategy is hypothetical and it
is not indicative of the future performance of the Target Dividend Double Play Portfolio.
Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.
Portfolio Selection Process
The Target Dividend Double Play Portfolio seeks above-average total return by adhering to a simple investment strategy; however, there is no assurance the objective will be met. On the initial date
of deposit, the portfolio is approximately equally weighted between the two strategies described below.
S&P Dividend Aristocrats Target 25 Strategy
- Begin with the stocks that comprise the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index. The index
consists of companies from the S&P 500 Index that have increased dividends every year for at
least 25 consecutive years.
- Rank each stock on three equally weighted factors:
- Debt-to-equity. Compares a company’s long-term debt to their stockholder’s equity.
Higher levels of this ratio are associated with higher risk, lower levels with lower risk.
- Price-to-cash flow. Measures the cost of a company’s stock for every dollar of cash flow
generated. A lower, but positive, ratio indicates investors are paying less for the cash flow
generated which can be a sign of value.
- Return-on-assets. Compares a company’s net income to its total assets. The ratio shows how
efficiently a company generates net income from its assets.
- Purchase an approximately equally weighted portfolio of the 25 stocks with the best overall
ranking on the three factors with a maximum of seven stocks from any one of the major Global
Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) market sectors. Regulated investment companies,
limited partnerships and business development companies are not eligible for selection.
Target High Quality Dividend Strategy
- Begin with the 1,000 stocks with the largest market capitalization as of two business days
prior to the Initial Date of Deposit which trade on a U.S. exchange, excluding REITs, ADRs,
regulated investment companies and limited partnerships.
- Select only those stocks that meet the following criteria:
- Minimum three month average daily trading volume of $2.5 million.
- Three consecutive years of dividend increases.
- Screen for quality on the following factors:
- Net debt/assets of less than 50%.
- Three-year payout ratio of less than 50% of earnings.
- Positive free cash flow after dividends for the trailing 12 months.
- Purchase an approximately equally weighted portfolio of the 30 stocks with the highest
dividend yield, subject to a maximum of nine stocks from any one of the major GICS® market
sectors. The financials and real estate sectors are combined for the sector limit purpose.
Standard Deviations* |
Average Annual Total Returns* |
|
S&P 500 Index |
Strategy |
S&P 500 Index |
Strategy |
Since 2000 |
15.46% |
15.78% |
7.02% |
9.06% |
20 years |
14.88% |
15.75% |
9.68% |
8.94% |
15 years |
15.36% |
17.03% |
13.95% |
12.04% |
10 years |
15.18% |
17.75% |
12.01% |
7.90% |
5 years |
18.51% |
22.10% |
15.66% |
10.82% |
3 years |
17.53% |
20.44% |
9.97% |
10.14% |
*Through 12/29/23 |
Annual Total Returns |
Year |
S&P 500
Index |
Strategy
|
2000 |
-9.10% |
11.88% |
2001 |
-11.88% |
18.79% |
2002 |
-22.09% |
-9.66% |
2003 |
28.65% |
20.43% |
2004 |
10.87% |
15.97% |
2005 |
4.90% |
2.48% |
2006 |
15.76% |
17.27% |
2007 |
5.56% |
0.25% |
2008 |
-36.99% |
-27.85% |
2009 |
26.46% |
32.03% |
2010 |
15.08% |
15.16% |
2011 |
2.08% |
8.56% |
2012 |
15.98% |
11.57% |
2013 |
32.36% |
39.63% |
2014 |
13.66% |
10.78% |
2015 |
1.38% |
-6.43% |
2016 |
11.93% |
13.14% |
2017 |
21.80% |
20.59% |
2018 |
-4.39% |
-9.49% |
2019 |
31.45% |
27.91% |
2020 |
18.39% |
-2.19% |
2021 |
28.67% |
30.07% |
2022 |
-18.12% |
-7.89% |
2023 |
26.24% |
11.53% |
9/30/24 |
22.06% |
10.36% |
Past performance is no guarantee of future results and the actual current
performance of the portfolio may be lower or higher than the hypothetical performance
of the strategy. Hypothetical returns for the strategy in certain years were
significantly higher than the returns of the S&P 500 Index. Hypothetical strategy
returns were the result of certain market factors and events which may not be
replicated in the future. You can obtain performance information which is current
through the most recent month-end by calling First Trust Portfolios L.P. at
1-800-621-1675 option 2. Investment return and principal value of the portfolio
will fluctuate causing units of the portfolio, when redeemed, to be worth more
or less than their original cost.
Simulated strategy returns are hypothetical, meaning that they do not represent actual trading, and, thus, may not reflect material economic
and market factors, such as liquidity constraints, that may have had an impact on actual decision making. The hypothetical performance is the
retroactive application of the strategy designed with the full benefit of hindsight. Strategy returns reflect a sales charge of 1.85% and estimated
annual operating expenses of 0.195%, plus organization costs, but not taxes or commissions paid by the portfolio to purchase securities. Returns
assume that all dividends received during a year are reinvested monthly. Actual portfolio performance will vary from that of investing in the
strategy stocks because it may not be invested equally in these stocks and may not be fully invested at all times. It is important to note that the
strategy may underperform the S&P 500 Index in certain years and may produce negative results.
The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 stocks used to measure large-cap
U.S. stock market performance. The index cannot be purchased directly by investors.
Standard Deviation is a measure of price variability (risk). A higher degree of variability indicates more volatility and therefore greater risk.
Not FDIC Insured Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value |
You should consider the portfolio's investment objectives, risks, and
charges and expenses carefully before investing. Contact your financial professional
or call First Trust Portfolios, L.P. at 1.800.621.1675 to request a prospectus,
which contains this and other information about the portfolio. Read it carefully
before you invest.
Risk Considerations
An investment in this unmanaged unit investment trust should be
made with an understanding of the risks involved with owning common stocks, such as an
economic recession and the possible deterioration of either the financial condition of the issuers
of the equity securities or the general condition of the stock market.
You should be aware that the portfolio is concentrated in stocks in the financials sector which involves
additional risks, including limited diversification. The companies engaged in the financials sector are subject
to the adverse effects of volatile interest rates, economic recession, decreases in the availability of capital,
increased competition from new entrants in the field, and potential increased regulation.
Securities of non-U.S. issuers are subject to additional risks, including currency fluctuations, political risks, withholding, the lack of adequate financial information, and exchange control restrictions impacting non-U.S. issuers.
An investment in a portfolio containing small-cap and mid-cap companies is subject to additional risks, as the share prices of small-cap companies and certain mid-cap companies are often more volatile than those of larger
companies due to several factors, including limited trading volumes, products, financial resources, management inexperience and less publicly available information.
Large capitalization companies may grow at a slower rate than the overall market.
As the use of Internet technology has become more prevalent in the course of business, the trust
has become more susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cybersecurity.
Ongoing armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and among Israel, Hamas and other militant groups in the Middle East, have caused and could continue to cause significant market disruptions and volatility
within the markets in Russia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The hostilities and sanctions resulting from those hostilities could have a significant impact on certain investments as well as performance.
A public health crisis, and the ensuing policies enacted by governments and central banks in response, could cause significant volatility and uncertainty in global financial markets, negatively impacting global growth prospects.
The value of the securities held by the trust may be subject to steep declines or increased
volatility due to changes in performance or perception of the issuers.
This UIT is a buy and hold strategy and investors should consider their ability to hold the trust until maturity. There may be tax consequences unless units are purchased in an IRA or other qualified plan.
The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC or its affiliates (“SPDJI”) and has been licensed for use by First Trust Portfolios L.P. Standard & Poor’s® and S&P® are registered trademarks
of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark 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 Portfolios L.P. The Target Dividend Double Play Portfolio, which contains the S&P Dividend Aristocrats Target 25 Strategy, is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones,
S&P, their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P 500
Dividend Aristocrats Index.