The First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) is designed to mirror the overall performance—both market value and income, before any fund fees and expenses—of a specific benchmark: the Nasdaq US Small Mid Cap Rising Dividend Achievers Index. Typically, the fund commits a minimum of 90% of its total assets to the securities that make up this Index. The Index itself is comprised of a curated selection of smaller and medium-sized companies. These firms are chosen for their consistent track record of boosting their dividend payments, alongside possessing the financial characteristics that suggest they are well-positioned to continue this dividend growth into the future. The process for selecting companies for the Index involves a careful evaluation of several factors, including their profit expansion, the strength of their balance sheet (specifically their cash holdings relative to debt), and the percentage of their earnings that they distribute to shareholders as dividends.