First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF
FTLS
262 hedge funds and large institutions have $1.77B invested in First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF in 2026 Q1 according to their latest regulatory filings, with 27 funds opening new positions, 111 increasing their positions, 96 reducing their positions, and 17 closing their positions.
59% more first-time investments, than exits
New positions opened: 27 | Existing positions closed: 17
16% more repeat investments, than reductions
Existing positions increased: 111 | Existing positions reduced: 96
3% more funds holding
Funds holding: 255 → 262 (+7)
0% more capital invested
Capital invested by funds: $1.76B → $1.77B (+$8.72M)
0.07% more ownership
Funds ownership: 81.65% → 81.72% (+0.07%)
0% more funds holding in top 10
Funds holding in top 10: 12 → 12 (0)
Top Buyers
| Rank | Fund | Capital Flow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
MFG
Merit Financial Group
Alpharetta,
Georgia
|
+$12.4M |
| 2 |
Fifth Third Bancorp
Cincinnati,
Ohio
|
+$7.35M |
| 3 |
PWS
Proactive Wealth Strategies
Marietta,
Georgia
|
+$6.65M |
| 4 |
First Trust Advisors
Wheaton,
Illinois
|
+$6.61M |
| 5 |
EH
Equitable Holdings
New York
|
+$5.86M |
Top Sellers
| Rank | Fund | Capital Flow |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
CAS
Coppell Advisory Solutions
Coppell,
Texas
|
-$9.21M |
| 2 |
FHA
Flagship Harbor Advisors
Boston,
Massachusetts
|
-$7.91M |
| 3 |
HPC
Hobart Private Capital
Charlotte,
North Carolina
|
-$7.32M |
| 4 |
Mariner
Overland Park,
Kansas
|
-$7.22M |
| 5 |
Ameriprise
Minneapolis,
Minnesota
|
-$6.02M |
FTLS Hedge Fund Activity: Q1 2026 in Review
262 of the 8,208 institutional investors tracked by Wall St. Rank reported a position in First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) for Q1 2026, worth a combined $1.77B — up 0.5% from $1.76B a quarter earlier.
Buyers outnumbered sellers: 27 funds opened new FTLS positions and 17 closed out — a net gain of 10 holders — while 111 added to existing stakes and 96 trimmed.
The largest buyer was Merit Financial Group, adding an estimated $12.4M. The largest seller was Coppell Advisory Solutions, exiting entirely with an estimated $9.21M sold.
- 262 institutional investors held First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) as of Q1 2026, up from 255 in Q4 2025.
- Funds reported $1.77B of First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF stock for Q1 2026, up 0.5% quarter-over-quarter.
- 27 funds opened new First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF positions in Q1 2026 and 17 closed out, a net change of +10 holders.
- The largest First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF buyer in Q1 2026 was Merit Financial Group, an estimated $12.4M added.
- The largest First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF seller in Q1 2026 was Coppell Advisory Solutions, an estimated $9.21M sold.
Based on aggregated 13F filings for Q1 2026.