International High Dividend Equity Portfolio, Series 55
The International High Dividend Equity Portfolio provides a convenient way to add both an international
dimension to your investment portfolio as well as to invest in companies that we believe have shown a
solid history of distributing dividends to shareholders. We believe that this could significantly expand
your investment opportunities and potentially enhance your overall return.
Portfolio Selection Process
Through our selection process we seek to find
the stocks that we believe have the best
prospects for above-average total return.
Identify the Universe
We
begin by selecting stocks of foreign companies
that trade on a U.S. stock exchange either directly
or through an American Depositary Receipt and
eliminate those companies that do not meet our
investment criteria. These criteria are designed to
identify well-capitalized companies with above-average
dividend yields and the ability to sustain
current dividend levels.
Examine Historical Financial Results
The next step in our process is to look
for those companies that have earned a net cash flow return on investment that is above the average of
their peers. Historically, companies that have increased their cash flows at a higher rate have rewarded
shareholders with superior total returns.
Select Companies with Attractive Valuations
The final step in our
process is to select companies based on the fundamental analysis of our team of research analysts. The
stocks selected for the portfolio are those that meet our investment objectives, trade at attractive
valuations and, in our opinion, are likely to exceed market expectations of future cash flows.
Portfolio Objective
This unit investment trust seeks above-average total return through a combination of
capital appreciation and dividend income; however, there is no assurance the
objective will be met.
| Not FDIC Insured • Not Bank Guaranteed • May Lose Value |
You should consider the portfolio's investment objective, 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.
A significant percentage of the securities held in the trust are issued by companies headquartered or incorporated in Europe and the United Kingdom, which may present more risks than a portfolio which is broadly diversified over
several regions.
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.
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.
The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic, or the potential impacts of any future public health crisis, may cause significant volatility and uncertainty in global financial markets. While vaccines have been developed, there is no guarantee that vaccines will be effective against future variants of the disease.
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.