Framework Journal · one stock, one dated entry

Recorded 2026-06-14 · Permanent

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund FDTS

An entry written while the outcome is still unknown. It will be scored by what the market does next, and it will never be edited to look cleverer than it was.

In plain words · The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise the index.

The label
Markup

read at $68.38

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund holds its Markup at $68.38.

PHINPOOPSC
  • PHPhase · the trend structure carries the Markup label
  • INInsiders · no filings inside 60 days, left as found
  • POPositioning · no disclosures inside 60 days, left as found
  • OPOptions · no verdict drawn today, left as found
  • SCScreen · does not pass the values gate
  • edge confirmed
  • edge broken
  • edge forming

Each arm is one independent read. Conviction is not a single call, it is how many edges converge.

The investor read · the season, not the day

As held on the ledger · 2026-06-14
PhaseMarkup
Quantitative stateElevated stress, defensive posture warranted, held for 16 days
Price$68.38
Valuation9.78 trailing · N/A forward price to earnings
Values screenFAIL · score 30.0
BetaN/A

The business, in plain words · what the numbers mean

The fundamentals · plain-English read
Trailing P/E9.8x
very cheap relative to earnings

The risks · The main risks here are ordinary market swings and the chance our fair-value read proves too optimistic.

Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.

The trader read · the latest dated commentary

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it D, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 40%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%. Entered 2026-07-28 · Distribution

The dated journal · newest first, never edited

2026-07-28 Distribution $68.38 +0.0% Entry 4

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it D, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 40%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%.

2026-07-18 Distribution $68.38 +0.0% Entry 3

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it D, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 12% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 40%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 16%.

2026-07-03 Distribution $68.38 +0.0% Entry 2

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns.

2026-07-02 Distribution $68.38 Entry 1

The framework reads distribution. Smart money appears to be selling into strength. Institutional holders may be rotating out. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns.

Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.

What holding actually paid · price plus dividends

If $1,000 had been placed · historical, not a promise
PeriodPrice thenPrice returnDivs per share$1,000 becameTotal return
1 month $72.19 -8.0% · $920 -8.0%
2 months $67.99 -2.4% · $977 -2.4%
3 months $65.00 +2.2% $0.16 $1,024 +2.4%
6 months $57.48 +15.5% $0.79 $1,169 +16.9%
1 year $47.33 +40.3% $1.75 $1,440 +44.0%
2 years $39.82 +66.7% $3.24 $1,749 +74.9%
3 years $35.11 +89.1% $4.51 $2,019 +101.9%
5 years $41.44 +60.2% $7.09 $1,773 +77.3%

Historical returns from market close data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

This entry now belongs to the ledger. Whatever FDTS does next, these words stay.

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund · FDTS · Markup · $68.38
Recorded 2026-06-14 · before the outcome · scored mechanically

All of today's entries See the running score

Get our weekly market brief free.