First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI

Book 2

 

First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)

First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)

First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)

First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)

First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)

First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)

Annual Report
For the Period Ended
September 30, 2021
Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Annual Report
September 30, 2021

2

3
Fund Performance Overview

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

17
Portfolio of Investments

18

21

26

31

33

35

38

40

42

44

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59

61

69

71

Table of Contents
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the goals, beliefs, plans or current expectations of First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”) and its representatives, taking into account the information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to current or historical fact. For example, forward-looking statements include the use of words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “would” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of any series of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI (the “Trust”) described in this report (each such series is referred to as a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. When evaluating the information included in this report, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the judgment of the Advisor and its representatives only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events and circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
Performance and Risk Disclosure
There is no assurance that any Fund described in this report will achieve its investment objective. Each Fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and that the value of the Fund’s shares may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money by investing in a Fund. See “Risk Considerations” in the Additional Information section of this report for a discussion of certain other risks of investing in the Funds.
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For the most recent month-end performance figures, please visit www.ftportfolios.com or speak with your financial advisor. Investment returns, net asset value and share price will fluctuate and Fund shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The Advisor may also periodically provide additional information on Fund performance on each Fund’s web page at www.ftportfolios.com.
How to Read This Report
This report contains information that may help you evaluate your investment. It includes details about each Fund and presents data and analysis that provide insight into each Fund’s performance and investment approach.
By reading the market overview by Robert F. Carey, Chief Market Strategist of the Advisor, you may obtain an understanding of how the market environment affected the performance of each Fund. The statistical information that follows may help you understand each Fund’s performance compared to that of relevant market benchmarks.
It is important to keep in mind that the opinions expressed by personnel of the Advisor are just that: informed opinions. They should not be considered to be promises or advice. The opinions, like the statistics, cover the period through the date on the cover of this report. The material risks of investing in each Fund are spelled out in the prospectus, the statement of additional information, and other Fund regulatory filings.
Page 1

Table of Contents
Shareholder Letter
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Annual Letter from the Chairman and CEO
September 30, 2021
Dear Shareholders,
First Trust is pleased to provide you with the annual report for certain series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI (the “Funds”), which contains detailed information about the Funds for the twelve months ended September 30, 2021. Please note that the First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF was incepted on December 15, 2020, and so information in this letter and the annual report prior to the inception date of the Fund will not apply to this Fund.
A great deal has changed over the past 18 months. Suffice it to say that the dominant story in 2020 was the onset of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. It is still a huge story 20 months later, mostly due to the arrival of the Delta variant in the U.S. and the subsequent surge in cases around mid-2021. The Delta variant is twice as contagious as the previous variants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). Fortunately, we have come to learn that the existing vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been effective in providing protection against the Delta variant, particularly with respect to keeping the people already vaccinated out of the intensive care unit. As I’m sure you are aware, a significant percentage of the U.S. population has chosen not to be vaccinated. These individuals have proven to be much more vulnerable to the virus and account for the lion’s share of hospitalizations, according to the CDC. While it is these individuals right to choose, unless mandated by a private company or government agency, the universe of people that have not gotten vaccinated is large enough that it has likely delayed the full economic recovery, at least on the margin, in our opinion. In the U.S., the path chosen by the federal government to help mitigate the economic fallout from the pandemic has been to inject trillions of dollars of liquidity (stimulus) into the financial system. To date, it appears to have been effective, however, it has contributed to a new and potentially ominous headwind for the economy: inflation.
The Consumer Price Index came in at 5.4% year-over-year in September 2021, the largest increase since 2008, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”). The BLS also reported that the Producer Price Index was up 8.6% compared to a year ago, its highest level since 1981. These two barometers of inflation are clearly elevated. Why is rising inflation worth noting? It tends to reduce the purchasing power of the currency one uses over time. In the case of the U.S., it reduces how much consumers can buy with their dollars. A modest amount of inflation can be a sign that the economy is healthy. Too much inflation can derail an economy. While we are not even close to that point yet, investors should monitor the direction of inflation moving forward because the U.S. economy has yet to fully reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic and millions of workers remain on the sideline. Earlier this year, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell proclaimed that the spike in inflation in the U.S. would be relatively short-lived, or “transitory.” He cited the pandemic-related bottlenecks in the global supply chain for creating shortages in such critical industries as semiconductors as being largely responsible for the sharp rise in prices. With prices rising nearly across the board, his take on inflation is losing credibility with each passing month, in my opinion. If inflation continues to run hotter-than-expected, we believe that the Federal Reserve will likely have to alter its easy monetary policy in favor of one that boosts interest rates and bond yields.
The markets have performed quite well over the past 18 months. I believe that the combination of the federal government’s efforts in fast-tracking the vaccines, its decisiveness in injecting trillions of dollars of capital into the financial system to help backstop it, and the ability of millions of workers to adapt to working efficiently from home helped boost the confidence levels of investors throughout. Having said that, I still feel we need to fully reopen the U.S. economy, put the millions of people out of work back to work and remedy the global supply chain bottlenecks. While investors should be prepared for the possibility of some additional volatility moving forward, due to inflationary pressures, the potential for higher interest rates and bond yields, and next year’s mid-term election season, we encourage them to stay the course.
Thank you for giving First Trust the opportunity to play a role in your financial future. We value our relationship with you and will report on the Funds again in six months.
Sincerely,
James A. Bowen
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P.
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Table of Contents
Market Overview
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Annual Report
September 30, 2021
Robert F. Carey, CFA
Senior Vice President and Chief Market Strategist
First Trust Advisors L.P.
Mr. Carey is responsible for the overall management of research and analysis of the First Trust product line. Mr. Carey has more than 30 years of experience as an Equity and Fixed-Income Analyst and is a recipient of the Chartered Financial Analyst (“CFA”) designation. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a B.S. in Physics. He is also a member of the Investment Analysts Society of Chicago and the CFA Institute. Mr. Carey has appeared as a guest on such programs as Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and WBBM Radio, and has been quoted by several publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Wall Street Reporter, Bloomberg News Service, and Registered Rep.
State of the Global Economy
The International Monetary Fund (“IMF”) reported in its latest release that global gross domestic product (“GDP”) growth is expected to come in at 5.9% in 2021 and 4.9% in 2022, up from -3.1% in 2020. Keep in mind that the onset of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic in the U.S. and most global regions occurred in the first quarter of 2020. The IMF sees the U.S. economy growing at 6.0% in 2021 and 5.2% in 2022, up from -3.4% in 2020. With respect to all Advanced Economies, the IMF is projecting GDP growth of 5.2% in 2021 and 4.5% in 2022, up from -4.5% in 2020. Lastly, the IMF projects Emerging Market and Developing Economies to grow at a rate of 6.4% in 2021 and 5.1% in 2022, up from -2.1% in 2020. Looking ahead to 2022, the outlook for growth is encouraging, but down a bit from the strong pandemic-induced recovery in 2021. The IMF is concerned that inflationary pressures stemming from the global supply chain bottlenecks could push prices higher if the problems persist. That scenario could, in turn, cause central banks to raise rates quickly to try and prevent inflation from overheating.
One of the better barometers for judging the overall business climate is mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) activity, in our opinion. M&A deals totaled $4.3 trillion over the first nine months of 2021, the most ever recorded for that period, according to data from Refinitiv. The $1.52 trillion in deal value registered in the third quarter of 2021 was the highest ever for a calendar quarter. Executives are expanding their businesses aggressively in the current climate.
Performance of Global Stocks and Bonds
U.S. equities performed extremely well over the past year. The S&P 500®, S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® Indices posted total returns of 30.00%, 43.68% and 57.64%, respectively, for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2021. Small- and mid-capitalization (“cap”) stocks significantly outperformed large-cap stocks over the period, an indication that investors were willing to assume more risk despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in our opinion. All 11 sectors that comprise the S&P 500® Index were up on a total return basis. The top-performer was the Energy sector, up 82.83%, while the worst result came from the Utilities sector, up just 11.06%.
A Bloomberg survey of 21 equity strategists found that their average 2021 year-end price target for the S&P 500® Index was 4,466 as of September 21, 2021, up from 4,335 on August 20, 2021, according to its own release. The highest and lowest estimates were 4,825 (up from 4,700) and 3,800 (unchanged), respectively. On September 30, 2021, the S&P 500® Index closed at 4,307.54, which was 5.06% below its all-time closing high of 4,536.95 on September 2, 2021. As of October 1, 2021, Bloomberg’s 2021, 2022 and 2023 consensus earnings growth rate estimates for the S&P 500® Index stood at 44.90%, 8.95% and 9.80%, respectively.
Foreign equities also performed well, but the broader indices continue to lag the performance of the major U.S. stock indices. Over the past 12 months, the MSCI World ex USA and MSCI Emerging Markets Indices posted total returns of 26.50% (USD) and 18.20% (USD), respectively, according to Bloomberg. The major foreign bond indices had mixed results. The Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index of higher quality debt posted a total return of -0.91% (USD), while the Bloomberg EM Hard Currency Aggregate Index of emerging markets debt rose by 3.15% (USD), according Bloomberg. Over that same period, the U.S. dollar rose by 0.36% against a basket of major currencies, as measured by the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY). The slight bump in the dollar had little influence on the performance of these foreign indices, in our opinion.
In the U.S. bond market, the top-performing major debt group we track was speculative-grade corporate bonds. The Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Index posted a total return of 11.28% for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2021. The worst-performing U.S. debt group that we track was government bonds. The Bloomberg U.S. Treasury: Intermediate Index posted a total return of -1.38%. The yield on the benchmark 10-Year Treasury Note (“T-Note”) rose by 80 basis points in the period to close at 1.49% on September 30, 2021, according to Bloomberg. For comparative purposes, the average yield on the 10-Year T-Note was 2.04% for the 10-year period ended September 30, 2021.
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Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited)
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)
The First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (the “Fund”) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of an index called the Nasdaq US Small Mid Cap Rising Dividend Achievers™ Index (the “Index”). The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks that comprise the Index. The Index is designed to provide access to a diversified portfolio of 100 small and mid cap companies with a history of raising their dividends and exhibit the characteristics to continue to do so in the future. The shares of the Fund are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, under the ticker symbol “SDVY.”
Performance
    Average Annual
Total Returns
Cumulative
Total Returns
  1 Year Ended
9/30/21
Inception (11/1/17)
to 9/30/21
Inception (11/1/17)
to 9/30/21
Fund Performance      
NAV 56.77% 11.05% 50.69%
Market Price 56.90% 11.09% 50.90%
Index Performance      
Nasdaq US Small Mid Cap Rising Dividend Achievers™ Index 57.92% 11.74% 54.39%
S&P 1000® Index 47.66% 11.70% 54.15%
(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 16.)
The Fund generated a net asset value (“NAV”) return of 56.77% during the 12-month period covered by this report. During the same period, the S&P 1000® Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 47.66%. The Financials sector received the largest portfolio allocation for the Fund during the period at 29.3%. This sector also provided the largest contribution to the Fund’s return at 26.4%. The only negative contribution to the Fund’s return for the period came from the Communication Services sector where the contribution to the Fund’s return was -0.3%. On a relative basis, the Fund outperformed the Benchmark. The largest source of relative outperformance was the 12.8% from investments in the Financials sector. The Fund’s outperformance was partially reduced by the -2.4% drag on performance from investments in the Information Technology sector.

Nasdaq® and Nasdaq US Small Mid Cap Rising Dividend Achievers™ Index are registered trademarks and service marks of Nasdaq, Inc. (together with its affiliates hereinafter referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by First Trust. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND.
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Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) (Continued)
Sector Allocation % of Total
Investments
Financials 31.3%
Industrials 25.9
Consumer Discretionary 15.3
Information Technology 13.6
Materials 5.0
Consumer Staples 3.9
Communication Services 3.0
Energy 1.0
Utilities 1.0
Total 100.0%
Top Ten Holdings % of Total
Investments
Western Alliance Bancorp 1.1%
Synovus Financial Corp. 1.1
M&T Bank Corp. 1.1
Zions Bancorp N.A. 1.1
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. 1.1
Regions Financial Corp. 1.1
East West Bancorp, Inc. 1.1
Wintrust Financial Corp. 1.1
First Horizon Corp. 1.1
Progress Software Corp. 1.1
Total 11.0%

Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Information showing the number of days the market price of the Fund’s shares was greater (at a premium) and less (at a discount) than the Fund’s net asset value for the most recently completed year, and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year (or life of the Fund, if shorter), is available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx.
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Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)
The First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (the “Fund”) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of an index called the Indxx Blockchain Index (the “Index”). The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and depositary receipts that comprise the Index. The Index is designed to track the performance of companies that are either actively using, investing in, developing, or have products that are poised to benefit from blockchain technology and/or the potential for increased efficiency that it provides to various business processes. The Index seeks to include only companies that have devoted material resources to the use of blockchain technologies. The shares of the Fund are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, under the ticker symbol “LEGR.”
Performance
    Average Annual
Total Returns
Cumulative
Total Returns
  1 Year Ended
9/30/21
Inception (1/24/18)
to 9/30/21
Inception (1/24/18)
to 9/30/21
Fund Performance      
NAV 36.13% 11.30% 48.32%
Market Price 36.70% 11.38% 48.71%
Index Performance      
Indxx Blockchain Index 38.00% 12.43% 53.92%
S&P 500® Index 30.00% 14.08% 62.45%
(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 16.)
The Fund generated a NAV return of 36.13% during the 12-month period covered by this report. During the same period, the S&P 500® Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 30.00%. The Fund invested primarily in the Financials and Information Technology sectors during the period covered by this report. The Financials sector received an allocation of 36.2% and contributed 18.6% to the Fund’s return, while the Information Technology sector received an allocation of 36.0% and contributed 12.9% to the Fund’s return. No sector had a negative contribution to the Fund’s return during the period covered by this report. The Fund’s currency exposure resulted in a -0.4% impact on the Fund’s return. On a relative basis, the Fund outperformed the Benchmark. The greatest source of outperformance came from investments in the Financials sector which earned 5.5% of outperformance for the Fund versus the Benchmark. Meanwhile, the greatest source of underperformance for the Fund came from investments in the Energy sector. This sector was underweight in the Fund and caused -1.1% of underperformance for the Fund versus the Benchmark.

Indxx and Indxx Blockchain Index (“Index”) are trademarks of Indxx, LLC (“Indxx”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by First Trust. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Indxx and Indxx makes no representation regarding the advisability of trading in such product. The Index is determined, composed and calculated by Indxx without regard to First Trust or the Fund.
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Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR) (Continued)
Sector Allocation % of Total
Long-Term
Investments
Financials 39.1%
Information Technology 32.1
Consumer Discretionary 8.6
Communication Services 7.0
Industrials 4.9
Utilities 2.7
Energy 2.4
Consumer Staples 1.6
Materials 1.6
Total 100.0%
Top Ten Holdings % of Total
Long-Term
Investments
Gazprom PJSC, ADR 1.4%
Nordea Bank Abp 1.4
Sberbank of Russia PJSC, ADR 1.3
salesforce.com, Inc. 1.3
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., ADR 1.3
VMware, Inc., Class A 1.3
International Business Machines Corp. 1.3
Intel Corp. 1.3
Mastercard, Inc., Class A 1.3
Swisscom AG 1.3
Total 13.2%

Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Information showing the number of days the market price of the Fund’s shares was greater (at a premium) and less (at a discount) than the Fund’s net asset value for the most recently completed year, and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year (or life of the Fund, if shorter), is available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx.
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Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
The First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (the “Fund”) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of an index called the Nasdaq CTA Artificial Intelligence and Robotics IndexSM (the “Index”). The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and depositary receipts that comprise the Index. The Index is designed to track the performance of companies engaged in the artificial intelligence and robotics segments of the technology, industrial and other economic sectors. The shares of the Fund are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, under the ticker symbol “ROBT.”
Performance
    Average Annual
Total Returns
Cumulative
Total Returns
  1 Year Ended
9/30/21
Inception (2/21/18)
to 9/30/21
Inception (2/21/18)
to 9/30/21
Fund Performance      
NAV 37.27% 17.74% 80.17%
Market Price 37.34% 17.76% 80.30%
Index Performance      
Nasdaq CTA Artificial Intelligence and Robotics IndexSM 38.32% 18.65% 85.25%
S&P 500® Index 30.00% 15.92% 70.33%
(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 16.)
The Fund generated a NAV return of 37.27% during the 12-month period covered by this report. During the same period, the S&P 500® Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 30.00%. The Fund allocated 33.7% to the Software industry, which was by far the most of any industry in the Fund during the period covered by this report. This industry also contributed more than any industry to the Fund’s total return, with a contribution to the Fund’s return of 12.6%. The greatest source of drag on the Fund’s performance came from investments in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, which had a contribution of -1.2% to the Fund’s return. The Fund’s currency exposure had a -0.6% impact on the Fund’s performance. On a relative basis, the Fund outperformed the Benchmark. The greatest source of outperformance for the Fund came from investments in the Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components industry. Investments in this industry, due in part to receiving a higher allocation in the Fund than in the Benchmark and also a positive selection effect, caused 4.2% of outperformance for the Fund versus the Benchmark. Meanwhile, investments in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry caused -3.2% of underperformance for the Fund versus the Benchmark during the 12-month period covered by this report.

Nasdaq® and Nasdaq CTA Artificial Intelligence and Robotics IndexSM are registered trademarks and service marks of Nasdaq, Inc. (together with its affiliates hereinafter referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by First Trust. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND.
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Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT) (Continued)
Sector Allocation % of Total
Long-Term
Investments
Information Technology 62.7%
Industrials 19.2
Consumer Discretionary 8.4
Health Care 7.4
Communication Services 1.9
Real Estate 0.4
Total 100.0%
Top Ten Holdings % of Total
Long-Term
Investments
Ambarella, Inc. 3.2%
Gentex Corp. 2.2
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. 2.2
Dynatrace, Inc. 2.2
Atos SE 2.1
Topcon Corp. 2.1
Blue Prism Group PLC 2.1
Obic Co., Ltd. 2.1
PKSHA Technology, Inc. 2.1
Elbit Systems Ltd. 2.1
Total 22.4%

Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Information showing the number of days the market price of the Fund’s shares was greater (at a premium) and less (at a discount) than the Fund’s net asset value for the most recently completed year, and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year (or life of the Fund, if shorter), is available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx.
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Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)
The First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (the “Fund”) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of an index called the Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Value™ Index (the “Index”). Under normal conditions, the Fund will invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the equity securities that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is a rules-based equity index designed to track the overall performance of the 50 most undervalued stocks comprising the NASDAQ US Large Mid Cap Index that exhibit high levels of “relative strength.” A relative strength analysis is a momentum-based investment strategy that emphasizes a security’s forward price momentum in the security selection process. The Fund’s investment advisor seeks a correlation of 0.95 or better (before fees and expenses) between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the Index; a figure of 1.00 would represent perfect correlation. The Index is owned and was developed by Nasdaq, Inc. The shares of the Fund are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, under the ticker symbol “DVLU.”
Performance
    Average Annual
Total Returns
Cumulative
Total Returns
  1 Year Ended
9/30/21
Inception (9/5/18)
to 9/30/21
Inception (9/5/18)
to 9/30/21
Fund Performance      
NAV 57.98% 7.13% 23.55%
Market Price 57.98% 7.13% 23.55%
Index Performance      
Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Value™ Index 59.19% 7.78% 25.86%
S&P 500® Index 30.00% 15.99% 57.64%
(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 16.)
The Fund generated a NAV return of 57.98% during the 12-month period covered by this report. During the same period, the S&P 500® Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 30.00%. Two sectors in the Fund received much greater allocations than any other sectors: the Financials sector and the Consumer Discretionary sector. The allocation to the Financials sector was 34.8% and contributed 20.9% to the Fund’s return, while the allocation to the Consumer Discretionary sector was 30.0% and contributed 13.2% to the Fund’s return. No other sector received an allocation greater than 8.2%. No sector had a negative contribution to the Fund’s return during the 12-month period covered by this report. On a relative basis, the Fund outperformed the Benchmark. This outperformance came primarily from the large allocation to the Financials sector. This sector received only an 11% allocation in the Benchmark and investments in the Financials sector contributed 9.8% of outperformance for the Fund versus the Benchmark. The Fund experienced outperformance versus the Benchmark across all 11 sectors represented in the Fund. Aside from the substantial outperformance from the Financials sector, the contribution of the other 10 sectors ranged from 0.4% of outperformance from the Materials sector to 4.6% of outperformance from the Consumer Discretionary sector, with the other 8 sectors all falling in between those two sectors.

Nasdaq® and Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Value™ Index are registered trademarks and service marks of Nasdaq, Inc. (together with its affiliates hereinafter referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by First Trust. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND.
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Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU) (Continued)
Sector Allocation % of Total
Investments
Financials 36.6%
Consumer Discretionary 27.8
Communication Services 6.7
Materials 5.8
Information Technology 5.6
Energy 5.3
Health Care 3.2
Real Estate 3.1
Consumer Staples 3.0
Industrials 2.9
Total 100.0%
Top Ten Holdings % of Total
Investments
Lincoln National Corp. 3.3%
AutoNation, Inc. 3.3
Prudential Financial, Inc. 3.1
Bunge Ltd. 3.0
Principal Financial Group, Inc. 2.9
Popular, Inc. 2.9
DISH Network Corp., Series A 2.8
Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Class A 2.8
Toll Brothers, Inc. 2.7
Capital One Financial Corp. 2.7
Total 29.5%

Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Information showing the number of days the market price of the Fund’s shares was greater (at a premium) and less (at a discount) than the Fund’s net asset value for the most recently completed year, and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year (or life of the Fund, if shorter), is available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx.
Page 11

Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
The First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (the “Fund”) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of an index called the Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Low Volatility™ Index (the “Index”). Under normal conditions, the Fund will invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the equity securities that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is a rules-based equity index designed to track the overall performance of the 50 stocks comprising the NASDAQ US Large Mid Cap Index that exhibit the lowest levels of volatility while still maintaining high levels of “relative strength.” A relative strength analysis is a momentum-based investment strategy that emphasizes a security’s forward price momentum in the security selection process. The Fund’s investment advisor seeks a correlation of 0.95 or better (before fees and expenses) between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the Index; a figure of 1.00 would represent perfect correlation. The Index is owned and was developed by Nasdaq, Inc. The shares of the Fund are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Exchange LLC, under the ticker symbol “DVOL.”
Performance
    Average Annual
Total Returns
Cumulative
Total Returns
  1 Year Ended
9/30/21
Inception (9/5/18)
to 9/30/21
Inception (9/5/18)
to 9/30/21
Fund Performance      
NAV 22.98% 12.21% 42.39%
Market Price 22.98% 12.21% 42.39%
Index Performance      
Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Low Volatility™ Index 23.72% 12.93% 45.24%
S&P 500® Index 30.00% 15.99% 57.64%
(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 16.)
The Fund generated a NAV return of 22.98% during the 12-month period covered by this report. During the same period, the S&P 500® Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 30.00%. The Fund allocated 26.0% to the Industrials sector during the period covered by this report, which was the greatest allocation of any sector in the Fund. Investments in the Industrials sector contributed only 3.0% to the Fund’s overall performance. The greatest contribution to the Fund’s performance came from investments in the Health Care sector. This sector received the second largest allocation of 17.8% and contributed 6.0% to the Fund’s performance. No sector had a negative contribution to the Fund’s return during the 12-month period covered by this report. On a relative basis, the Fund underperformed the Benchmark. The Industrials sector, which received the largest allocation of any sector in the Fund, was significantly overweight in comparison to the Benchmark, and the paltry performance of the investments in this sector caused a -4.2% of underperformance for the Fund versus the Benchmark. The Fund saw the greatest outperformance versus the Benchmark come from investments in the Consumer Discretionary sector, which earned 1.2% of outperformance for the Fund.

Nasdaq® and Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Low Volatility™ Index are registered trademarks and service marks of Nasdaq, Inc. (together with its affiliates hereinafter referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by First Trust. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND.
Page 12

Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL) (Continued)
Sector Allocation % of Total
Investments
Industrials 29.4%
Financials 21.0
Consumer Discretionary 15.1
Information Technology 11.3
Health Care 8.5
Real Estate 5.9
Materials 4.0
Communication Services 3.8
Consumer Staples 1.0
Total 100.0%
Top Ten Holdings % of Total
Investments
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 3.3%
Yum! Brands, Inc. 3.1
Nasdaq, Inc. 3.1
Blackstone, Inc. 3.1
Garmin Ltd. 3.0
Agilent Technologies, Inc. 3.0
Sherwin-Williams (The) Co. 2.9
Accenture PLC, Class A 2.8
Amphenol Corp., Class A 2.8
Domino’s Pizza, Inc. 2.6
Total 29.7%

Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Information showing the number of days the market price of the Fund’s shares was greater (at a premium) and less (at a discount) than the Fund’s net asset value for the most recently completed year, and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year (or life of the Fund, if shorter), is available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx.
Page 13

Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)
The First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (the “Fund”) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of an index called The International Developed Capital Strength IndexSM (the “Index”). The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the common stocks and real estate investment trusts that comprise the Index. The Index seeks to provide exposure to well-capitalized companies in the developed markets outside of the U.S. with strong market positions that have the potential to provide a greater degree of stability and performance over time. The shares of the Fund are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, under the ticker symbol “FICS.”
Performance
    Cumulative
Total Returns
    Inception (12/15/20)
to 9/30/21
Fund Performance    
NAV   14.25%
Market Value   14.48%
Index Performance    
The International Developed Capital Strength IndexSM   16.00%
MSCI World ex USA Index   11.29%
(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 16.)
The Fund generated a NAV return of 14.25% during the period from the Fund’s inception date of December 15, 2020 through September 30, 2021. During the same period, the MSCI World ex USA Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 11.29%. Japan received the greatest allocation of any country in the Fund. With an allocation of 18.9%, investments in Japan contributed 2.0% to the Fund’s return, stemming from its 12.5% return. The greatest contribution to the Fund’s return came from the Switzerland securities where the Fund allocated 18.1%, returned 25.6%, and contributed 4.4%. The most negative contribution to the Fund’s return came from investments in Finland. These investments received an allocation of 1.8% and caused a -0.2% contribution to the Fund’s return. The Fund’s currency exposure caused -5.5% of performance during the period. On a relative basis, the Fund outperformed the Benchmark. The greatest source of outperformance for the Fund came from investments in Switzerland, in which the Fund significantly outperformed in comparison to the Benchmark. Investments in Switzerland caused 2.8% of outperformance for the Fund versus the Benchmark. The Fund underperformed Canadian securities relative to the Benchmark by -7.8%, which created -0.6% of relative drag.

Nasdaq® and The International Developed Capital Strength IndexSM are registered trademarks and service marks of Nasdaq, Inc. (together with its affiliates hereinafter referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by First Trust. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND.
Page 14

Table of Contents
Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS) (Continued)
Sector Allocation % of Total
Investments
Industrials 28.7%
Health Care 24.3
Consumer Discretionary 13.6
Consumer Staples 9.9
Financials 9.8
Information Technology 9.7
Materials 2.1
Communication Services 1.9
Total 100.0%
Top Ten Holdings % of Total
Investments
Novo Nordisk A.S., Class B 2.6%
Sonova Holding AG 2.5
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. 2.5
Hoya Corp. 2.4
Eurofins Scientific SE 2.3
Nomura Research Institute Ltd. 2.3
AstraZeneca PLC 2.3
Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., Class B 2.2
Wolters Kluwer N.V. 2.2
Hermes International 2.2
Total 23.5%

Performance figures assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike the Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by the Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. The Fund’s past performance does not predict future performance.
Frequency Distribution of Discounts and Premiums
Information showing the number of days the market price of the Fund’s shares was greater (at a premium) and less (at a discount) than the Fund’s net asset value for the most recently completed year, and the most recently completed calendar quarters since that year (or life of the Fund, if shorter), is available at https://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/etf/home.aspx.
Page 15

Table of Contents
Nasdaq® and Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Low Volatility™ Index are registered trademarks and service marks of Nasdaq, Inc. (together with its affiliates hereinafter referred to as the “Corporations”) and are licensed for use by First Trust. The Fund has not been passed on by the Corporations as to their legality or suitability. The Fund is not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Corporations. THE CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE FUND.

Table of Contents
Notes to Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited)
Total returns for the periods since inception are calculated from the inception date of each Fund. “Average Annual Total Returns” represent the average annual change in value of an investment over the periods indicated. “Cumulative Total Returns” represent the total change in value of an investment over the periods indicated.
Each Fund’s per share net asset value (“NAV”) is the value of one share of the Fund and is computed by dividing the value of all assets of the Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), by the total number of outstanding shares. The price used to calculate market return (“Market Price”) is determined by using the midpoint of the national best bid and offer price (“NBBO”) as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. Under SEC rules, the NBBO consists of the highest displayed buy and lowest sell prices among the various exchanges trading the Fund at the time the Fund’s NAV is calculated. Prior to January 1, 2019, the price used was the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the stock exchange on which shares of the Fund were listed for trading as of the time that the Fund’s NAV was calculated. Since shares of each Fund did not trade in the secondary market until after the Fund’s inception, for the period from inception to the first day of secondary market trading in shares of the Fund, the NAV of each Fund is used as a proxy for the secondary market trading price to calculate market returns. NAV and market returns assume that all distributions have been reinvested in each Fund at NAV and Market Price, respectively.
An index is a statistical composite that tracks a specified financial market or sector. Unlike each Fund, the indices do not actually hold a portfolio of securities and therefore do not incur the expenses incurred by each Fund. These expenses negatively impact the performance of each Fund. Also, market returns do not include brokerage commissions that may be payable on secondary market transactions. If brokerage commissions were included, market returns would be lower. The total returns presented reflect the reinvestment of dividends on securities in the indices. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. The investment return and principal value of shares of each Fund will vary with changes in market conditions. Shares of each Fund may be worth more or less than their original cost when they are redeemed or sold in the market. Each Fund’s past performance is no guarantee of future performance.
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Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Understanding Your Fund Expenses
September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
As a shareholder of First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF, First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF, First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF, First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF or First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, if any, and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held through the six-month period ended September 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The first line in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this six-month period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not each Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as brokerage commissions. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
  Beginning
Account Value
April 1, 2021
Ending
Account Value
September 30, 2021
Annualized
Expense Ratio
Based on the
Six-Month
Period
Expenses Paid
During the
Six-Month
Period (a)
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,006.10 0.60% $3.02
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,022.06 0.60% $3.04
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,064.10 0.65% $3.36
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.81 0.65% $3.29
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,028.00 0.65% $3.30
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.81 0.65% $3.29
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,061.40 0.60% $3.10
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,022.06 0.60% $3.04
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,117.80 0.60% $3.19
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,022.06 0.60% $3.04
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,094.20 0.70% $3.67
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.56 0.70% $3.55
    
(a) Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratios as indicated in the table multiplied by the average account value over the period (April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021), multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the six-month period).
Page 17

Table of Contents
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9%
    Aerospace & Defense – 1.0%    
10,922   Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.   $2,108,601
    Air Freight & Logistics – 1.0%    
17,220   Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.   2,051,419
    Auto Components – 1.0%    
49,632   BorgWarner, Inc.   2,144,599
    Banks – 17.3%    
105,042   Associated Banc-Corp.   2,250,000
53,547   Cathay General Bancorp   2,216,310
39,387   Eagle Bancorp, Inc.   2,264,753
29,497   East West Bancorp, Inc.   2,287,197
139,960   First Horizon Corp.   2,279,948
66,407   Hilltop Holdings, Inc.   2,169,517
102,616   KeyCorp   2,218,558
15,488   M&T Bank Corp.   2,312,978
29,087   Popular, Inc.   2,259,187
32,267   Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.   2,295,152
107,425   Regions Financial Corp.   2,289,227
8,144   Signature Bank   2,217,448
52,899   Synovus Financial Corp.   2,321,737
21,654   Western Alliance Bancorp   2,356,388
28,421   Wintrust Financial Corp.   2,284,196
37,309   Zions Bancorp N.A.   2,309,054
        36,331,650
    Building Products – 5.9%    
32,632   A.O. Smith Corp.   1,992,836
19,727   Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.   2,133,870
15,385   Allegion PLC   2,033,589
10,677   Carlisle Cos., Inc.   2,122,481
19,961   Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.   2,135,228
30,578   UFP Industries, Inc.   2,078,693
        12,496,697
    Capital Markets – 4.0%    
15,415   Evercore, Inc., Class A   2,060,523
58,296   Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.   2,164,530
45,142   Lazard Ltd., Class A   2,067,504
23,894   Raymond James Financial, Inc.   2,204,938
        8,497,495
    Chemicals – 2.1%    
14,305   Celanese Corp.   2,154,905
19,098   Stepan Co.   2,156,928
        4,311,833
    Commercial Services &
Supplies – 2.0%
   
14,722   Tetra Tech, Inc.   2,198,584
9,562   UniFirst Corp.   2,033,072
        4,231,656
Shares   Description   Value
    Construction & Engineering – 1.0%    
42,398   Arcosa, Inc.   $2,127,108
    Consumer Finance – 2.0%    
40,594   Ally Financial, Inc.   2,072,324
117,694   SLM Corp.   2,071,414
        4,143,738
    Diversified Consumer
Services – 1.0%
   
30,053   Strategic Education, Inc.   2,118,736
    Electric Utilities – 1.0%    
50,626   NRG Energy, Inc.   2,067,060
    Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components – 2.9%
   
23,979   Cognex Corp.   1,923,595
49,439   Methode Electronics, Inc.   2,078,910
104,062   Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.   2,090,606
        6,093,111
    Food & Staples Retailing – 1.0%    
11,081   Casey’s General Stores, Inc.   2,088,214
    Food Products – 1.0%    
527   Seaboard Corp.   2,160,695
    Household Durables – 4.7%    
50,075   KB Home   1,948,919
41,320   MDC Holdings, Inc.   1,930,471
43,797   PulteGroup, Inc.   2,011,158
33,869   Toll Brothers, Inc.   1,872,617
10,115   Whirlpool Corp.   2,062,044
        9,825,209
    Insurance – 6.0%    
16,134   American Financial Group, Inc.   2,030,141
18,295   Cincinnati Financial Corp.   2,089,655
91,275   CNO Financial Group, Inc.   2,148,613
54,030   Employers Holdings, Inc.   2,133,645
46,227   Fidelity National Financial, Inc.   2,095,932
31,681   First American Financial Corp.   2,124,211
        12,622,197
    Internet & Direct Marketing
Retail – 1.0%
   
17,856   Shutterstock, Inc.   2,023,442
    IT Services – 3.9%    
43,359   Genpact Ltd.   2,059,986
25,450   Maximus, Inc.   2,117,440
21,774   TTEC Holdings, Inc.   2,036,522
102,412   Western Union (The) Co.   2,070,771
        8,284,719
 
Page 18
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
    Leisure Products – 3.9%    
42,024   Acushnet Holdings Corp.   $1,962,521
21,867   Brunswick Corp.   2,083,269
19,508   Johnson Outdoors, Inc., Class A   2,063,946
28,670   Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc.   2,115,273
        8,225,009
    Machinery – 6.8%    
16,876   AGCO Corp.   2,067,816
23,201   Crane Co.   2,199,687
28,337   Graco, Inc.   1,982,740
9,871   IDEX Corp.   2,042,803
19,692   Oshkosh Corp.   2,015,870
9,974   Snap-on, Inc.   2,084,067
20,714   Toro (The) Co.   2,017,751
        14,410,734
    Media – 2.0%    
1,082   Cable One, Inc.   1,961,807
120,492   EW Scripps (The) Co., Class A   2,176,085
        4,137,892
    Metals & Mining – 1.9%    
20,371   Royal Gold, Inc.   1,945,227
39,767   Worthington Industries, Inc.   2,095,721
        4,040,948
    Multiline Retail – 0.9%    
44,679   Big Lots, Inc.   1,937,281
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 1.0%    
64,809   World Fuel Services Corp.   2,178,879
    Paper & Forest Products – 1.0%    
34,897   Louisiana-Pacific Corp.   2,141,629
    Personal Products – 1.8%    
9,702   Medifast, Inc.   1,868,993
48,891   Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Class A   1,978,619
        3,847,612
    Professional Services – 5.1%    
26,653   Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.   2,114,916
20,103   Insperity, Inc.   2,226,206
16,322   Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.   2,163,155
34,924   Kforce, Inc.   2,082,867
21,074   Robert Half International, Inc.   2,114,354
        10,701,498
    Road & Rail – 1.0%    
13,302   Landstar System, Inc.   2,099,322
Shares   Description   Value
    Semiconductors &
Semiconductor Equipment – 3.7%
   
78,141   Amkor Technology, Inc.   $1,949,618
16,373   CMC Materials, Inc.   2,017,645
16,129   Entegris, Inc.   2,030,641
10,882   Universal Display Corp.   1,860,387
        7,858,291
    Software – 2.0%    
22,830   Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A   2,009,040
46,217   Progress Software Corp.   2,273,414
        4,282,454
    Specialty Retail – 2.8%    
15,974   Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.   1,913,206
34,373   Rent-A-Center, Inc.   1,932,106
11,491   Williams-Sonoma, Inc.   2,037,699
        5,883,011
    Technology Hardware,
Storage & Peripherals – 1.0%
   
23,668   NetApp, Inc.   2,124,440
    Thrifts & Mortgage Finance – 2.1%    
142,775   MGIC Investment Corp.   2,135,914
97,098   Radian Group, Inc.   2,206,067
        4,341,981
    Trading Companies &
Distributors – 2.1%
   
39,333   Boise Cascade Co.   2,123,195
58,123   Global Industrial Co.   2,202,281
        4,325,476
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services – 1.0%
   
107,375   Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.   2,093,812
    Total Investments – 99.9%   210,358,448
    (Cost $214,914,283) (a)    
    Net Other Assets and Liabilities – 0.1%   314,663
    Net Assets – 100.0%   $210,673,111
    

(a) Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was $215,839,569. As of September 30, 2021, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $5,040,390 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $10,521,511. The net unrealized depreciation was $5,481,121.
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 19

Table of Contents
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021

Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2021 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
  Total
Value at
9/30/2021
Level 1
Quoted
Prices
Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Common Stocks* $210,358,448 $210,358,448 $ $
    
* See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.
Page 20
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS – 99.9%
    Aerospace & Defense – 2.6%    
8,342   Airbus SE (a) (b)   $1,105,948
5,308   Boeing (The) Co. (b)   1,167,441
3,256   Lockheed Martin Corp.   1,123,646
        3,397,035
    Automobiles – 2.7%    
12,222   Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (a)   1,160,834
14,032   Daimler AG (a)   1,238,067
1,505   Tesla, Inc. (b)   1,167,097
        3,565,998
    Banks – 28.4%    
55,950   Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (a)   1,123,619
105,654   Axis Bank Ltd. (a) (b)   1,083,152
174,375   Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (a)   1,150,981
313,896   Banco Santander S.A. (a)   1,137,046
27,749   Bank of America Corp.   1,177,945
3,189,875   Bank of China Ltd., Class H (a)   1,127,096
1,920,459   Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Class H (a)   1,136,713
451,398   Barclays PLC (a)   1,146,993
17,886   BNP Paribas S.A. (a) (c)   1,144,359
370,235   BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. (a)   1,115,674
3,641,197   China CITIC Bank Corp., Ltd., Class H (a)   1,641,190
2,333,469   China Construction Bank Corp., Class H (a)   1,665,357
132,968   China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Class H (a)   1,058,179
16,121   Citigroup, Inc.   1,131,372
50,400   DBS Group Holdings Ltd. (a)   1,116,795
14,980   HDFC Bank, Ltd., ADR   1,094,888
217,923   HSBC Holdings PLC (a)   1,139,449
58,158   ICICI Bank, Ltd., ADR   1,097,441
3,005,100   Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Class H (a)   1,665,799
82,249   ING Groep N.V., ADR (c)   1,191,788
7,134   JPMorgan Chase & Co.   1,167,764
13,367   KBC Group N.V. (a)   1,205,764
45,924   Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (a)   1,235,927
496,002   Lloyds Banking Group PLC, ADR   1,215,205
296,822   Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., ADR (c)   1,760,154
139,272   Nordea Bank Abp (a)   1,805,055
1,522,827   Postal Savings Bank of China Co., Ltd., Class H (a) (d) (e)   1,046,875
11,066   Royal Bank of Canada   1,101,096
95,316   Sberbank of Russia PJSC, ADR (a)   1,777,028
Shares   Description   Value
    Banks (Continued)    
60,123   Westpac Banking Corp. (a)   $1,111,884
        37,572,588
    Capital Markets – 6.5%    
21,480   Bank of New York Mellon (The) Corp.   1,113,523
5,903   CME Group, Inc.   1,141,522
6,655   Deutsche Boerse AG (a)   1,079,884
2,809   Goldman Sachs Group (The), Inc.   1,061,886
10,138   London Stock Exchange Group PLC (a)   1,015,911
5,738   Nasdaq, Inc.   1,107,549
658   Partners Group Holding AG (a)   1,026,901
68,482   UBS Group AG (a)   1,093,084
        8,640,260
    Communications Equipment – 2.8%    
19,384   Cisco Systems, Inc.   1,055,071
192,191   Nokia Oyj, ADR (b)   1,047,441
142,908   Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B (a)   1,612,993
        3,715,505
    Diversified Telecommunication
Services – 4.6%
   
62,135   AT&T, Inc.   1,678,266
81,308   Deutsche Telekom AG (a)   1,630,567
2,925   Swisscom AG (a)   1,683,282
20,864   Verizon Communications, Inc.   1,126,864
        6,118,979
    Electric Utilities – 1.5%    
93,544   Iberdrola S.A. (a)   941,093
10,235   Verbund AG (a)   1,035,116
        1,976,209
    Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components – 0.8%
   
1,773   Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. (a)   1,057,985
    Food & Staples Retailing – 1.6%    
24,623   Kroger (The) Co.   995,508
7,757   Walmart, Inc.   1,081,171
        2,076,679
    Household Durables – 1.6%    
561,093   Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., Class D (a)   961,203
10,331   Sony Corp., ADR   1,142,402
        2,103,605
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 21

Table of Contents
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
    Industrial Conglomerates – 1.2%    
7,642   Honeywell International, Inc.   $1,622,244
    Insurance – 4.2%    
94,607   AIA Group Ltd. (a)   1,088,398
4,951   Allianz SE (a)   1,109,250
20,770   American International Group, Inc.   1,140,065
41,162   AXA S.A. (a)   1,140,733
132,074   China Life Insurance Co., Ltd., ADR (c)   1,077,724
        5,556,170
    Interactive Media & Services – 1.2%    
10,410   Baidu, Inc., ADR (b)   1,600,537
    Internet & Direct Marketing
Retail – 3.5%
   
10,184   Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., ADR (b)   1,507,741
490   Amazon.com, Inc. (b)   1,609,670
21,228   JD.com, Inc., ADR (b)   1,533,511
        4,650,922
    IT Services – 13.1%    
4,994   Accenture PLC, Class A   1,597,680
7,609   Capgemini SE (a)   1,577,930
22,278   Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A   1,653,250
8,700   Fujitsu Ltd. (a)   1,572,183
74,302   Infosys Ltd., ADR   1,653,219
12,368   International Business Machines Corp.   1,718,286
4,848   Mastercard, Inc., Class A   1,685,553
5,938   PayPal Holdings, Inc. (b)   1,545,127
33,028   Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (a)   1,673,802
4,992   Visa, Inc., Class A   1,111,968
180,867   Wipro Ltd., ADR   1,597,056
        17,386,054
    Marine – 1.1%    
550   AP Moller - Maersk A.S., Class B (a)   1,488,900
    Metals & Mining – 1.6%    
37,614   BHP Group Ltd. (a)   1,004,589
15,762   Rio Tinto PLC, ADR   1,053,217
        2,057,806
    Multi-Utilities – 1.2%    
120,103   Engie S.A. (a)   1,571,331
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 2.4%    
191,348   Gazprom PJSC, ADR (a)   1,891,195
Shares   Description   Value
    Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels (Continued)
   
28,865   Royal Dutch Shell PLC, ADR, Class A   $1,286,513
        3,177,708
    Semiconductors &
Semiconductor Equipment – 7.0%
   
16,051   Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (b)   1,651,648
26,180   Infineon Technologies AG (a)   1,070,715
31,904   Intel Corp.   1,699,845
23,381   Micron Technology, Inc.   1,659,583
7,683   NVIDIA Corp.   1,591,610
13,887   Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., ADR   1,550,484
        9,223,885
    Software – 7.1%    
5,732   Microsoft Corp.   1,615,965
19,028   Oracle Corp.   1,657,910
6,535   salesforce.com, Inc. (b)   1,772,423
11,696   SAP SE (a)   1,581,641
11,706   VMware, Inc., Class A (b) (c)   1,740,682
4,208   Workday, Inc., Class A (b)   1,051,537
        9,420,158
    Specialty Retail – 0.8%    
3,423   Home Depot (The), Inc.   1,123,634
    Technology Hardware,
Storage & Peripherals – 1.2%
   
26,458   Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (a)   1,640,253
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services – 1.2%
   
118,100   Softbank Corp. (a)   1,602,002
    Total Common Stocks   132,346,447
    (Cost $116,967,023)    
MONEY MARKET FUNDS – 2.0%
2,623,642   Goldman Sachs Financial Square Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Class - 0.01% (f) (g)   2,623,642
    (Cost $2,623,642)    
 
Page 22
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Principal
Value
  Description   Value
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS – 2.0%
$2,722,196   BNP Paribas S.A., 0.03% (f), dated 9/30/21, due 10/1/21, with a maturity value of $2,722,198. Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Note, interest rates of 0.375% to 0.750%, due 4/15/24 to 1/31/28. The value of the collateral including accrued interest is $2,791,343 (g)   $2,722,196
    (Cost $2,722,196)    
    Total Investments – 103.9%   137,692,285
    (Cost $122,312,861) (h)    
    Net Other Assets and Liabilities – (3.9)%   (5,180,235)
    Net Assets – 100.0%   $132,512,050
    

(a) This security is fair valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and in accordance with provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. At September 30, 2021, securities noted as such are valued at $63,290,725 or 47.8% of net assets. Certain of these securities are fair valued using a factor provided by a third-party pricing service due to the change in value between the foreign markets’ close and the New York Stock Exchange close exceeding a certain threshold. On days when this threshold is not exceeded, these securities are typically valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) All or a portion of this security is on loan. The remaining contractual maturity of all of the securities lending transactions is overnight and continuous. The aggregate value of such securities is $5,104,400 and the total value of the collateral held by the Fund is $5,345,838.
(d) This security may be resold to qualified foreign investors and foreign institutional buyers under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).
(e) This security is exempt from registration upon resale under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. This security is not restricted on the foreign exchange where it trades freely without any additional registration. As such, it does not require the additional disclosure required of restricted securities.
(f) Rate shown reflects yield as of September 30, 2021.
(g) This security serves as collateral for securities on loan.
(h) Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was $123,659,774. As of September 30, 2021, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $17,602,832 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $3,570,321. The net unrealized appreciation was $14,032,511.
    
ADR American Depositary Receipt
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 23

Table of Contents
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021

Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2021 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
  Total
Value at
9/30/2021
Level 1
Quoted
Prices
Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Common Stocks:        
Aerospace & Defense $3,397,035 $2,291,087 $1,105,948 $
Automobiles 3,565,998 1,167,097 2,398,901
Banks 37,572,588 10,937,653 26,634,935
Capital Markets 8,640,260 4,424,480 4,215,780
Communications Equipment 3,715,505 2,102,512 1,612,993
Diversified Telecommunication Services 6,118,979 2,805,130 3,313,849
Food & Staples Retailing 2,076,679 2,076,679
Household Durables 2,103,605 1,142,402 961,203
Industrial Conglomerates 1,622,244 1,622,244
Insurance 5,556,170 2,217,789 3,338,381
Interactive Media & Services 1,600,537 1,600,537
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 4,650,922 4,650,922
IT Services 17,386,054 12,562,139 4,823,915
Metals & Mining 2,057,806 1,053,217 1,004,589
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 3,177,708 1,286,513 1,891,195
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 9,223,885 8,153,170 1,070,715
Software 9,420,158 7,838,517 1,581,641
Specialty Retail 1,123,634 1,123,634
Other industry categories* 9,336,680 9,336,680
Money Market Funds 2,623,642 2,623,642
Repurchase Agreements 2,722,196 2,722,196
Total Investments $137,692,285 $71,679,364 $66,012,921 $
    
* See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

Offsetting assets and liabilities requires entities to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset, and to disclose instruments and transactions subject to master netting or similar agreements (see Note 2D – Offsetting on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities in the Notes to Financial Statements).
The Fund’s loaned securities were all subject to an enforceable Securities Lending Agency Agreement. Securities lent in accordance with the Securities Lending Agency Agreement on a gross basis were as follows:
Security Lending Agency Agreement  
Total gross amount presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities (1) $5,104,400
Non-cash Collateral (2) (5,104,400)
Net Amount $
    
(1) The amount presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, which is included in “Investments, at value,” is not offset and is shown on a gross basis.
(2) At September 30, 2021, the value of the collateral received from each borrower exceeded the value of the related securities loaned. This amount is disclosed on the Portfolio of Investments.
    
Repurchase Agreements  
Total gross amount presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities (3) $2,722,196
Non-cash Collateral (4) (2,722,196)
Net Amount $
    
(3) The amount is included in “Investments, at value” on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
(4) At September 30, 2021, the value of the collateral received from each seller exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements.
    
 
Page 24
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Currency Exposure
Diversification
% of Total
Investments
United States Dollar 55.9%
Euro 17.2
Hong Kong Dollar 8.4
Indian Rupee 2.9
Swiss Franc 2.8
British Pound Sterling 2.4
Australian Dollar 2.3
Japanese Yen 2.3
South Korean Won 1.9
Swedish Krona 1.2
Danish Krone 1.1
Singapore Dollar 0.8
Canadian Dollar 0.8
Total 100.0%
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 25

Table of Contents
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS – 99.0%
    Aerospace & Defense – 6.1%    
54,254   AeroVironment, Inc. (a)   $4,683,205
38,136   Elbit Systems Ltd. (b)   5,522,033
2,830   Northrop Grumman Corp.   1,019,225
1,166,868   QinetiQ Group PLC (b)   5,050,769
        16,275,232
    Auto Components – 4.1%    
6,839   Aptiv PLC (a)   1,018,806
7,747   Continental AG (a) (b)   841,004
14,600   Denso Corp. (b)   953,341
180,299   Gentex Corp.   5,946,261
13,195   Magna International, Inc.   992,792
36,629   Valeo S.A. (b)   1,022,237
1,310   Vitesco Technologies Group AG (a)   77,389
        10,851,830
    Automobiles – 0.8%    
26,488   NIO, Inc., ADR (a)   943,767
1,414   Tesla, Inc. (a)   1,096,529
        2,040,296
    Communications Equipment – 1.9%    
97,203   Ciena Corp. (a)   4,991,374
    Electrical Equipment – 3.3%    
49,331   ABB Ltd. (b)   1,650,212
9,871   Emerson Electric Co.   929,848
76,200   Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (b)   1,058,997
16,100   Nidec Corp. (b)   1,774,864
5,612   Rockwell Automation, Inc.   1,650,152
10,226   Schneider Electric SE (b)   1,703,182
        8,767,255
    Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components – 11.1%
   
20,612   Cognex Corp.   1,653,495
187,154   Delta Electronics, Inc. (b)   1,676,932
26,497   FARO Technologies, Inc. (a)   1,743,768
320,885   Hexagon AB, Class B (b)   4,963,447
2,900   Keyence Corp. (b)   1,730,926
43,681   National Instruments Corp.   1,713,606
19,400   Omron Corp. (b)   1,919,680
326,800   Topcon Corp. (b)   5,683,244
58,937   Trimble, Inc. (a)   4,847,568
116,600   Yokogawa Electric Corp. (b)   2,033,686
3,111   Zebra Technologies Corp., Class A (a)   1,603,472
        29,569,824
    Entertainment – 0.4%    
59,100   DeNA Co., Ltd. (b)   1,096,230
Shares   Description   Value
    Health Care Equipment &
Supplies – 3.8%
   
2,524,184   Asensus Surgical, Inc. (a) (c)   $4,669,740
450,000   CYBERDYNE, Inc. (a) (b) (c)   1,753,739
1,732   Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)   1,721,868
7,801   Medtronic PLC   977,855
3,760   Stryker Corp.   991,587
        10,114,789
    Health Care Technology – 0.7%    
6,705   Omnicell, Inc. (a)   995,223
7,209   Teladoc Health, Inc. (a)   914,173
        1,909,396
    Household Durables – 2.4%    
68,459   iRobot Corp. (a)   5,374,032
10,100   Sony Group Corp. (b)   1,121,289
        6,495,321
    Industrial Conglomerates – 0.4%    
6,265   Siemens AG (b)   1,024,647
    Interactive Media & Services – 1.1%    
362   Alphabet, Inc., Class A (a)   967,814
6,630   Baidu, Inc., ADR (a)   1,019,363
2,747   NAVER Corp. (b)   891,311
        2,878,488
    Internet & Direct Marketing
Retail – 1.1%
   
6,233   Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., ADR (a)   922,796
300   Amazon.com, Inc. (a)   985,512
13,256   JD.com, Inc., ADR (a)   957,613
        2,865,921
    IT Services – 5.3%    
9,194   Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a)   961,600
107,013   Atos SE (b)   5,684,728
7,777   Endava PLC, ADR (a)   1,056,505
7,418   International Business Machines Corp.   1,030,583
29,200   Obic Co., Ltd. (b)   5,552,613
        14,286,029
    Life Sciences Tools &
Services – 2.5%
   
12,145   Illumina, Inc. (a)   4,926,133
2,996   Tecan Group AG (b)   1,696,886
        6,623,019
    Machinery – 9.2%    
31,802   ANDRITZ AG (b)   1,742,932
 
Page 26
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
    Machinery (Continued)    
50,599   ATS Automation Tooling Systems, Inc. (a)   $1,605,138
32,924   Cargotec OYJ, Class B (b)   1,666,660
20,600   Daifuku Co., Ltd. (b)   1,931,988
2,757   Deere & Co.   923,788
37,126   Duerr AG (b)   1,592,503
8,400   FANUC Corp. (b)   1,841,800
29,700   Hirata Corp. (b)   1,816,992
12,520   John Bean Technologies Corp.   1,759,686
48,900   Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (b)   1,124,957
24,630   Proto Labs, Inc. (a)   1,640,358
54,588   SFA Engineering Corp. (b)   1,693,952
76,500   Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd. (b)   1,878,853
45,569   Valmet Oyj (b)   1,645,226
37,400   Yaskawa Electric Corp. (b)   1,795,894
        24,660,727
    Pharmaceuticals – 0.4%    
6,013   Johnson & Johnson   971,100
    Semiconductors &
Semiconductor Equipment – 8.5%
   
9,404   Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (a)   967,672
53,617   Ambarella, Inc. (a)   8,350,312
21,501   Brooks Automation, Inc.   2,200,627
19,262   Intel Corp.   1,026,279
5,375   KLA Corp.   1,797,991
8,162   NVIDIA Corp.   1,690,840
8,492   NXP Semiconductors N.V.   1,663,328
12,455   QUALCOMM, Inc.   1,606,446
15,347   Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., ADR   1,713,492
15,040   Teradyne, Inc.   1,641,917
        22,658,904
    Software – 34.1%    
15,199   ANSYS, Inc. (a)   5,174,500
51,802   Appian Corp. (a)   4,792,203
3,360   Autodesk, Inc. (a)   958,171
5,795   Avalara, Inc. (a)   1,012,792
97,561   AVEVA Group PLC (b)   4,715,236
486,696   BlackBerry Ltd. (a) (c)   4,735,552
366,819   Blue Prism Group PLC (a) (b)   5,658,773
5,100,887   BrainChip Holdings Ltd. (a) (b) (c)   1,436,077
33,970   Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (a)   5,144,417
97,388   Dassault Systemes SE (b)   5,125,094
80,798   Dynatrace, Inc. (a)   5,734,234
3,447   Microsoft Corp.   971,778
8,070   Netcompany Group A.S. (b) (d) (e)   930,831
Shares   Description   Value
    Software (Continued)    
19,103   Nice Ltd., ADR (a)   $5,426,016
12,043   Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (a)   5,768,597
40,346   Pegasystems, Inc.   5,127,977
325,800   PKSHA Technology, Inc. (a) (b) (c)   5,547,074
128,426   PROS Holdings, Inc. (a)   4,556,555
7,908   PTC, Inc. (a)   947,299
8,626   ServiceNow, Inc. (a)   5,367,701
16,714   Synopsys, Inc. (a)   5,004,339
87,869   UiPath, Inc., Class A (a)   4,622,788
87,527   Veritone, Inc. (a)   2,091,020
        90,849,024
    Technology Hardware,
Storage & Peripherals – 1.4%
   
60,010   3D Systems Corp. (a)   1,654,476
15,738   Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (b)   975,671
56,000   Seiko Epson Corp. (b)   1,130,639
        3,760,786
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services – 0.4%
   
18,600   SoftBank Group Corp. (b)   1,074,806
    Total Common Stocks   263,764,998
    (Cost $231,512,257)    
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS – 0.4%
    Equity Real Estate Investment
Trusts – 0.4%
   
1,233   Equinix, Inc.   974,230
    (Cost $876,295)    
MONEY MARKET FUNDS – 2.0%
5,416,876   Goldman Sachs Financial Square Treasury Obligations Fund - Institutional Class - 0.01% (f) (g)   5,416,876
    (Cost $5,416,876)    
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 27

Table of Contents
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Principal
Value
  Description   Value
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS – 2.1%
$5,620,352   BNP Paribas S.A., 0.03% (f), dated 9/30/21, due 10/1/21, with a maturity value of $5,620,357. Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Note, interest rates of 0.375% to 0.750%, due 4/15/24 to 1/31/28. The value of the collateral including accrued interest is $5,763,116 (g)   $5,620,352
    (Cost $5,620,352)    
    Total Investments – 103.5%   275,776,456
    (Cost $243,425,780) (h)    
    Net Other Assets and Liabilities – (3.5)%   (9,284,435)
    Net Assets – 100.0%   $266,492,021
    

(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) This security is fair valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and in accordance with provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. At September 30, 2021, securities noted as such are valued at $101,731,955 or 38.2% of net assets. Certain of these securities are fair valued using a factor provided by a third-party pricing service due to the change in value between the foreign markets’ close and the New York Stock Exchange close exceeding a certain threshold. On days when this threshold is not exceeded, these securities are typically valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded.
(c) All or a portion of this security is on loan. The remaining contractual maturity of all of the securities lending transactions is overnight and continuous. The aggregate value of such securities is $10,518,979 and the total value of the collateral held by the Fund is $11,037,228.
(d) This security may be resold to qualified foreign investors and foreign institutional buyers under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).
(e) This security is exempt from registration upon resale under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act and may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. This security is not restricted on the foreign exchange where it trades freely without any additional registration. As such, it does not require the additional disclosure required of restricted securities.
(f) Rate shown reflects yield as of September 30, 2021.
(g) This security serves as collateral for securities on loan.
(h) Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was $247,762,304. As of September 30, 2021, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $43,996,956 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $15,982,804. The net unrealized appreciation was $28,014,152.
    
ADR American Depositary Receipt
 
Page 28
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021

Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2021 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
  Total
Value at
9/30/2021
Level 1
Quoted
Prices
Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Common Stocks:        
Aerospace & Defense $16,275,232 $5,702,430 $10,572,802 $
Auto Components 10,851,830 8,035,248 2,816,582
Electrical Equipment 8,767,255 2,580,000 6,187,255
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 29,569,824 11,561,909 18,007,915
Entertainment 1,096,230 1,096,230
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 10,114,789 8,361,050 1,753,739
Household Durables 6,495,321 5,374,032 1,121,289
Industrial Conglomerates 1,024,647 1,024,647
Interactive Media & Services 2,878,488 1,987,177 891,311
IT Services 14,286,029 3,048,688 11,237,341
Life Sciences Tools & Services 6,623,019 4,926,133 1,696,886
Machinery 24,660,727 5,928,970 18,731,757
Software 90,849,024 67,435,939 23,413,085
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 3,760,786 1,654,476 2,106,310
Wireless Telecommunication Services 1,074,806 1,074,806
Other industry categories* 35,436,991 35,436,991
Real Estate Investment Trusts* 974,230 974,230
Money Market Funds 5,416,876 5,416,876
Repurchase Agreements 5,620,352 5,620,352
Total Investments $275,776,456 $168,424,149 $107,352,307 $
    
* See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

Offsetting assets and liabilities requires entities to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset, and to disclose instruments and transactions subject to master netting or similar agreements (see Note 2D – Offsetting on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities in the Notes to Financial Statements).
The Fund’s loaned securities were all subject to an enforceable Securities Lending Agency Agreement. Securities lent in accordance with the Securities Lending Agency Agreement on a gross basis were as follows:
Security Lending Agency Agreement  
Total gross amount presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities (1) $10,518,979
Non-cash Collateral (2) (10,518,979)
Net Amount $
    
(1) The amount presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, which is included in “Investments, at value,” is not offset and is shown on a gross basis.
(2) At September 30, 2021, the value of the collateral received from each borrower exceeded the value of the related securities loaned. This amount is disclosed on the Portfolio of Investments.
    
Repurchase Agreements  
Total gross amount presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities (3) $5,620,352
Non-cash Collateral (4) (5,620,352)
Net Amount $
    
(3) The amount is included in “Investments, at value” on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
(4) At September 30, 2021, the value of the collateral received from each seller exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements.
    
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 29

Table of Contents
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Currency Exposure
Diversification
% of Total
Investments
United States Dollar 62.5%
Japanese Yen 15.5
Euro 8.0
British Pound Sterling 5.6
Israeli Shekel 2.0
Swedish Krona 1.8
South Korean Won 1.3
Swiss Franc 1.2
New Taiwan Dollar 0.6
Canadian Dollar 0.6
Australian Dollar 0.5
Danish Krone 0.4
Total 100.0%
Page 30
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS – 98.9%
    Automobiles – 4.9%    
42,847   Ford Motor Co. (a)   $606,713
12,576   General Motors Co. (a)   662,881
        1,269,594
    Banks – 11.1%    
11,901   Citizens Financial Group, Inc.   559,109
5,235   Comerica, Inc.   421,417
8,074   Fifth Third Bancorp   342,661
30,977   First Horizon Corp.   504,615
9,512   Popular, Inc.   738,797
6,799   Wells Fargo & Co.   315,542
        2,882,141
    Building Products – 1.5%    
4,446   Owens Corning   380,133
    Capital Markets – 6.4%    
15,511   Franklin Resources, Inc.   460,987
3,128   Morgan Stanley   304,386
3,310   Raymond James Financial, Inc.   305,447
8,510   Stifel Financial Corp.   578,339
        1,649,159
    Chemicals – 3.3%    
3,315   Eastman Chemical Co.   333,953
5,637   LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Class A   529,033
        862,986
    Consumer Finance – 8.4%    
13,581   Ally Financial, Inc.   693,310
4,289   Capital One Financial Corp.   694,689
7,923   OneMain Holdings, Inc.   438,380
7,034   Synchrony Financial   343,822
        2,170,201
    Distributors – 1.2%    
6,088   LKQ Corp. (a)   306,348
    Food Products – 3.0%    
9,392   Bunge Ltd.   763,757
    Health Care Providers &
Services – 3.2%
   
2,030   HCA Healthcare, Inc.   492,721
1,220   Laboratory Corp of America Holdings (a)   343,357
        836,078
    Household Durables – 13.7%    
7,483   DR Horton, Inc.   628,347
7,083   Lennar Corp., Class A   663,535
14,864   Newell Brands, Inc.   329,089
13,318   PulteGroup, Inc.   611,563
12,662   Toll Brothers, Inc.   700,082
Shares   Description   Value
    Household
Durables (Continued)
   
3,007   Whirlpool Corp.   $613,007
        3,545,623
    Insurance – 10.6%    
2,705   American Financial Group, Inc.   340,370
12,408   Lincoln National Corp.   853,050
11,762   Principal Financial Group, Inc.   757,473
7,548   Prudential Financial, Inc.   794,050
        2,744,943
    IT Services – 2.2%    
17,114   DXC Technology Co. (a)   575,202
    Media – 6.7%    
16,868   DISH Network Corp., Series A (a)   733,083
7,853   Interpublic Group of (The) Cos., Inc.   287,970
4,744   Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Class A   720,898
        1,741,951
    Metals & Mining – 2.5%    
32,801   Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. (a)   649,788
    Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 5.3%    
15,525   APA Corp.   332,700
21,117   Occidental Petroleum Corp.   624,641
8,280   Targa Resources Corp.   407,459
        1,364,800
    Professional Services – 1.4%    
3,342   ManpowerGroup, Inc.   361,872
    Real Estate Management &
Development – 2.1%
   
2,132   Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. (a)   528,928
    Specialty Retail – 7.1%    
6,908   AutoNation, Inc. (a)   841,118
8,662   Bath & Body Works, Inc.   545,966
9,546   Foot Locker, Inc.   435,870
        1,822,954
    Technology Hardware,
Storage & Peripherals – 3.4%
   
23,968   HP, Inc.   655,764
3,949   Western Digital Corp. (a)   222,882
        878,646
    Textiles, Apparel & Luxury
Goods – 0.9%
   
6,344   Tapestry, Inc.   234,855
    Total Common Stocks   25,569,959
    (Cost $25,975,363)    
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 31

Table of Contents
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS – 1.0%
    Equity Real Estate Investment
Trusts – 1.0%
   
7,473   Weyerhaeuser Co.   $265,815
    (Cost $254,322)    
    Total Investments – 99.9%   25,835,774
    (Cost $26,229,685) (b)    
    Net Other Assets and Liabilities – 0.1%   28,464
    Net Assets – 100.0%   $25,864,238
    

(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was $26,239,377. As of September 30, 2021, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $921,630 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $1,325,233. The net unrealized depreciation was $403,603.

Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2021 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
  Total
Value at
9/30/2021
Level 1
Quoted
Prices
Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Common Stocks* $25,569,959 $25,569,959 $ $
Real Estate Investment Trusts* 265,815 265,815
Total Investments $25,835,774 $25,835,774 $ $
    
* See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.
Page 32
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS – 94.0%
    Banks – 1.0%    
6,537   First Republic Bank   $1,260,856
    Building Products – 4.9%    
8,017   Carlisle Cos., Inc.   1,593,699
39,544   Johnson Controls International PLC   2,692,156
9,238   Trane Technologies PLC   1,594,941
        5,880,796
    Capital Markets – 16.6%    
28,816   Ares Management Corp., Class A   2,127,485
3,580   BlackRock, Inc.   3,002,403
31,992   Blackstone, Inc.   3,721,949
41,781   Carlyle Group (The), Inc.   1,975,406
25,014   KKR & Co., Inc.   1,522,853
5,905   Morningstar, Inc.   1,529,572
19,395   Nasdaq, Inc.   3,743,623
12,666   T Rowe Price Group, Inc.   2,491,402
        20,114,693
    Chemicals – 2.9%    
12,597   Sherwin-Williams (The) Co.   3,523,759
    Commercial Services &
Supplies – 1.9%
   
16,074   MSA Safety, Inc.   2,341,982
    Containers & Packaging – 1.0%    
12,494   Crown Holdings, Inc.   1,259,145
    Diversified Consumer
Services – 1.5%
   
29,792   Service Corp. International   1,795,266
    Electrical Equipment – 4.4%    
24,585   AMETEK, Inc.   3,048,786
7,594   Rockwell Automation, Inc.   2,232,940
        5,281,726
    Electronic Equipment,
Instruments & Components – 4.7%
   
46,845   Amphenol Corp., Class A   3,430,459
13,673   Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a)   2,246,337
        5,676,796
    Entertainment – 1.1%    
28,875   Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Formula One, Class A (a)   1,358,569
    Health Care Equipment &
Supplies – 1.5%
   
4,235   West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.   1,797,927
Shares   Description   Value
    Health Care Providers &
Services – 2.5%
   
10,630   Laboratory Corp of America Holdings (a)   $2,991,707
    Hotels, Restaurants &
Leisure – 8.2%
   
6,656   Domino’s Pizza, Inc.   3,174,646
27,052   Starbucks Corp.   2,984,106
30,976   Yum! Brands, Inc.   3,788,674
        9,947,426
    Household Durables – 3.0%    
23,358   Garmin Ltd.   3,631,235
    Industrial Conglomerates – 2.5%    
14,233   Honeywell International, Inc.   3,021,381
    Insurance – 3.3%    
27,132   Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.   4,033,172
    Interactive Media & Services – 1.0%    
467   Alphabet, Inc., Class A (a)   1,248,534
    IT Services – 5.5%    
10,760   Accenture PLC, Class A   3,442,339
15,864   Automatic Data Processing, Inc.   3,171,531
        6,613,870
    Life Sciences Tools &
Services – 4.6%
   
22,825   Agilent Technologies, Inc.   3,595,622
8,185   IQVIA Holdings, Inc. (a)   1,960,635
        5,556,257
    Machinery – 9.6%    
43,989   Graco, Inc.   3,077,910
14,619   IDEX Corp.   3,025,402
31,275   Toro (The) Co.   3,046,498
20,415   Xylem, Inc.   2,524,927
        11,674,737
    Multiline Retail – 1.4%    
7,180   Target Corp.   1,642,569
    Personal Products – 1.0%    
4,073   Estee Lauder (The) Cos., Inc., Class A   1,221,615
    Professional Services – 1.1%    
10,403   Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.   1,378,710
    Road & Rail – 5.0%    
8,705   JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc.   1,455,650
11,161   Norfolk Southern Corp.   2,670,269
6,540   Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.   1,870,309
        5,996,228
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 33

Table of Contents
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
    Software – 1.1%    
4,835   Microsoft Corp.   $1,363,083
    Specialty Retail – 1.0%    
6,182   Lowe’s Cos., Inc.   1,254,080
    Wireless Telecommunication
Services – 1.7%
   
15,972   T-Mobile US, Inc. (a)   2,040,583
    Total Common Stocks   113,906,702
    (Cost $104,658,077)    
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS – 5.9%
    Equity Real Estate Investment
Trusts – 5.9%
   
13,428   EastGroup Properties, Inc.   2,237,508
2,299   Equinix, Inc.   1,816,509
18,082   Extra Space Storage, Inc.   3,037,595
    Total Real Estate Investment Trusts   7,091,612
    (Cost $6,872,417)    
    Total Investments – 99.9%   120,998,314
    (Cost $111,530,494) (b)    
    Net Other Assets and Liabilities – 0.1%   116,048
    Net Assets – 100.0%   $121,114,362
    

(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was $111,608,887. As of September 30, 2021, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $11,456,165 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $2,066,738. The net unrealized appreciation was $9,389,427.

Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2021 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
  Total
Value at
9/30/2021
Level 1
Quoted
Prices
Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Common Stocks* $113,906,702 $113,906,702 $ $
Real Estate Investment Trusts* 7,091,612 7,091,612
Total Investments $120,998,314 $120,998,314 $ $
    
* See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.
Page 34
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS – 100.0%
    Air Freight & Logistics – 2.1%    
3,390   Deutsche Post AG (a)   $212,586
    Banks – 2.0%    
11,483   FinecoBank Banca Fineco S.p.A. (a)   207,404
    Beverages – 2.1%    
4,441   Diageo PLC (a)   215,011
    Biotechnology – 1.9%    
948   CSL Ltd. (a)   198,067
    Building Products – 2.1%    
295   Geberit AG (a)   216,590
    Capital Markets – 5.8%    
1,118   Deutsche Boerse AG (a)   181,414
7,782   Japan Exchange Group, Inc. (a)   192,994
138   Partners Group Holding AG (a)   215,368
        589,776
    Chemicals – 2.1%    
668   Sika AG (a)   211,204
    Commercial Services &
Supplies – 3.9%
   
24,146   Brambles Ltd. (a)   185,669
27,433   Rentokil Initial PLC (a)   215,426
        401,095
    Communications Equipment – 1.6%    
14,106   Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B (a)   159,213
    Construction & Engineering – 1.8%    
7,176   Skanska AB, Class B (a)   180,029
    Diversified Financial Services – 2.0%    
5,815   Kinnevik AB, Class B (a) (b)   204,422
    Entertainment – 1.9%    
404   Nintendo Co., Ltd. (a)   193,065
    Food & Staples Retailing – 2.2%    
5,963   Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., Class B   228,144
    Food Products – 2.0%    
1,668   Nestle S.A. (a)   200,977
    Health Care Equipment &
Supplies – 5.0%
   
1,602   Hoya Corp. (a)   249,942
684   Sonova Holding AG (a)   258,489
        508,431
Shares   Description   Value
    Health Care Providers &
Services – 2.0%
   
7,123   Sonic Healthcare Ltd. (a)   $205,849
    Household Durables – 2.0%    
1,808   Sony Group Corp. (a)   200,722
    Household Products – 1.8%    
5,983   Essity AB, Class B (a)   185,557
    IT Services – 4.2%    
2,274   CGI, Inc. (b)   193,163
6,370   Nomura Research Institute Ltd. (a)   234,140
        427,303
    Life Sciences Tools &
Services – 2.3%
   
1,867   Eurofins Scientific SE (a)   239,211
    Machinery – 6.7%    
2,984   Atlas Copco AB, Class A (a)   180,191
8,209   Epiroc AB, Class A (a)   170,188
2,305   Kone Oyj, Class B (a)   161,923
637   Schindler Holding AG (a)   171,015
        683,317
    Marine – 2.1%    
638   Kuehne + Nagel International AG (a)   217,814
    Multiline Retail – 3.7%    
1,752   Next PLC (a)   192,722
4,584   Wesfarmers Ltd. (a)   182,321
        375,043
    Personal Products – 1.8%    
3,438   Unilever PLC (a)   186,128
    Pharmaceuticals – 13.0%    
1,933   AstraZeneca PLC (a)   232,961
4,924   Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (a)   180,188
2,725   Novo Nordisk A.S., Class B (a)   262,662
588   Roche Holding AG (a)   214,602
1,950   Sanofi (a)   187,715
3,694   Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (a)   252,778
        1,330,906
    Professional Services – 4.1%    
67   SGS S.A. (a)   195,026
2,142   Wolters Kluwer N.V. (a)   227,045
        422,071
    Road & Rail – 1.9%    
1,669   Canadian National Railway Co.   193,412
    Software – 4.0%    
131   Constellation Software, Inc.   214,612
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 35

Table of Contents
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
Shares   Description   Value
COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
    Software (Continued)    
1,422   SAP SE (a)   $192,296
        406,908
    Specialty Retail – 2.1%    
1,100   Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd. (a)   216,779
    Textiles, Apparel & Luxury
Goods – 5.9%
   
161   Hermes International (a)   222,137
259   Kering S.A. (a)   183,958
3,199   Moncler S.p.A. (a)   195,109
        601,204
    Trading Companies &
Distributors – 3.9%
   
5,693   Bunzl PLC (a)   187,838
1,526   Ferguson PLC (a)   211,842
        399,680
    Total Investments – 100.0%   10,217,918
    (Cost $10,230,946) (c)    
    Net Other Assets and Liabilities – (0.0)%   (4,895)
    Net Assets – 100.0%   $10,213,023
    

(a) This security is fair valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and in accordance with provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. At September 30, 2021, securities noted as such are valued at $9,388,587 or 91.9% of net assets. Certain of these securities are fair valued using a factor provided by a third-party pricing service due to the change in value between the foreign markets’ close and the New York Stock Exchange close exceeding a certain threshold. On days when this threshold is not exceeded, these securities are typically valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes was $10,252,450. As of September 30, 2021, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost was $266,306 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over value was $300,838. The net unrealized depreciation was $34,532.

Valuation Inputs
A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2021 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):
  Total
Value at
9/30/2021
Level 1
Quoted
Prices
Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
Common Stocks:        
Food & Staples Retailing $228,144 $228,144 $ $
IT Services 427,303 193,163 234,140
Road & Rail 193,412 193,412
Software 406,908 214,612 192,296
Other industry categories* 8,962,151 8,962,151
Total Investments $10,217,918 $829,331 $9,388,587 $
    
* See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.
    
Currency Exposure
Diversification
% of Total
Investments
Euro 21.6%
Swiss Franc 18.6
Japanese Yen 16.8
British Pound Sterling 14.1
Swedish Krona 10.6
Canadian Dollar 8.1
Australian Dollar 7.6
Danish Krone 2.6
Total 100.0%
 
Page 36
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
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Page 37

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
September 30, 2021
  First Trust
SMID
Cap Rising
Dividend
Achievers
ETF
(SDVY)
  First Trust
Indxx
Innovative
Transaction &
Process
ETF
(LEGR)
  First Trust
Nasdaq
Artificial
Intelligence
and
Robotics
ETF
(ROBT)
ASSETS:          
Investments, at value

$ 210,358,448   $ 137,692,285   $ 275,776,456
Cash

219,939   1,872,350   1,514,023
Foreign currency

  116,867   50,186
Due from authorized participant

  2,167,549  
Receivables:          
Dividends

189,589   76,440   188,124
Fund shares sold

2,883,283     8,209,521
Dividend reclaims

87   75,044   55,065
Securities lending income

  2,667   21,199
Investment securities sold

  27  
Miscellaneous

    91
Total Assets

213,651,346   142,003,229   285,814,665
LIABILITIES:          
Due to authorized participant

   
Payables:          
Collateral for securities on loan

  5,345,838   11,037,228
Investment advisory fees

96,758   67,931   143,190
Investment securities purchased

2,881,477   3,988,757   8,142,155
Deferred foreign capital gains tax

  88,653  
Other liabilities

    71
Total Liabilities

2,978,235   9,491,179   19,322,644
NET ASSETS

$210,673,111   $132,512,050   $266,492,021
NET ASSETS consist of:          
Paid-in capital

$ 216,913,785   $ 119,875,816   $ 243,278,910
Par value

74,500   31,500   50,000
Accumulated distributable earnings (loss)

(6,315,174)   12,604,734   23,163,111
NET ASSETS

$210,673,111   $132,512,050   $266,492,021
NET ASSET VALUE, per share

$28.28   $42.07   $53.30
Number of shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, par value $0.01 per share)

7,450,002   3,150,002   5,000,002
Investments, at cost

$214,914,283   $122,312,861   $243,425,780
Foreign currency, at cost (proceeds)

$   $116,887   $50,186
Securities on loan, at value

$   $5,104,400   $10,518,979
Page 38
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust
Dorsey Wright
Momentum &
Value ETF
(DVLU)
  First Trust
Dorsey Wright
Momentum &
Low Volatility ETF
(DVOL)
  First Trust
International
Developed
Capital
Strength
ETF
(FICS)
         
$ 25,835,774   $ 120,998,314   $ 10,217,918
1,909   134,967   4,297
    1,747
    1,859,922
         
39,535   41,639   14,274
   
  2,669   3,898
   
    127,495
   
25,877,218   121,177,589   12,229,551
         
    127,495
         
   
12,980   63,227   5,175
    1,883,858
   
   
12,980   63,227   2,016,528
$ 25,864,238   $ 121,114,362   $ 10,213,023
         
$ 36,061,652   $ 126,546,929   $ 10,235,212
11,000   44,000   3,000
(10,208,414)   (5,476,567)   (25,189)
$ 25,864,238   $ 121,114,362   $ 10,213,023
$23.51   $27.53   $34.04
1,100,002   4,400,002   300,002
$26,229,685   $111,530,494   $10,230,946
$   $   $1,744
$   $   $
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 39

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Statements of Operations
For the Period Ended September 30, 2021
  First Trust
SMID
Cap Rising
Dividend
Achievers
ETF
(SDVY)
  First Trust
Indxx
Innovative
Transaction &
Process
ETF
(LEGR)
  First Trust
Nasdaq
Artificial
Intelligence
and
Robotics
ETF
(ROBT)
INVESTMENT INCOME:          
Dividends

$ 1,630,321   $ 2,249,942   $ 1,591,552
Interest

 6    26    30
Securities lending income (net of fees)

   14,156    162,615
Foreign withholding tax

(1,922)   (195,553)   (133,088)
Other

 40      13
Total investment income

1,628,445   2,068,571   1,621,122
EXPENSES:          
Investment advisory fees

 413,026    540,242    1,395,887
Total expenses

413,026   540,242   1,395,887
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)

1,215,419   1,528,329   225,235
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):          
Net realized gain (loss) on:          
Investments

(950,706)   2,484,227   (3,870,404)
In-kind redemptions

5,350,199     37,061,096
Foreign currency transactions

  (14,820)   (416)
Foreign capital gains tax

  (21,840)  
Net realized gain (loss)

 4,399,493    2,447,567    33,190,276
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:          
Investments

(4,309,095)   13,827,643   14,737,529
Foreign currency translation

  (228)   (2)
Deferred foreign capital gains tax

  (88,653)  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

(4,309,095)    13,738,762    14,737,527
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)

90,398   16,186,329   47,927,803
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS

$ 1,305,817   $ 17,714,658   $ 48,153,038
    
(a) Inception date is December 15, 2020, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.
Page 40
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
  First Trust
Dorsey Wright
Momentum &
Value ETF
(DVLU)
  First Trust
Dorsey Wright
Momentum &
Low Volatility ETF
(DVOL)
  First Trust
International
Developed
Capital
Strength
ETF
(FICS) (a)
           
  $548,865   $1,170,860   $74,542
  2   7  
     
  (1,028)     (6,914)
  57   19  
  547,896   1,170,886   67,628
           
  144,015   734,749   23,846
  144,015   734,749   23,846
  403,881   436,137   43,782
           
           
  (1,359,756)   (2,094,082)   (17,168)
  8,849,464   26,336,030   194,438
      (197)
     
  7,489,708   24,241,948   177,073
           
  (1,439,711)   750,009   (13,028)
      (193)
     
  (1,439,711)   750,009   (13,221)
  6,049,997   24,991,957   163,852
  $6,453,878   $25,428,094   $207,634
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 41

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  First Trust
SMID
Cap Rising
Dividend Achievers
ETF
(SDVY)
  First Trust
Indxx Innovative
Transaction
& Process
ETF
(LEGR)
  Year
Ended
9/30/2021
  Year
Ended
9/30/2020
  Year
Ended
9/30/2021
  Year
Ended
9/30/2020
OPERATIONS:              
Net investment income (loss)

$ 1,215,419   $ 162,281   $ 1,528,329   $ 453,430
Net realized gain (loss)

 4,399,493    (1,190,794)    2,447,567    37,362
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

 (4,309,095)    (179,227)    13,738,762    2,606,926
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

1,305,817   (1,207,740)   17,714,658   3,097,718
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:              
Investment operations

 (1,005,851)    (168,006)    (1,414,166)    (485,781)
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTIONS:              
Proceeds from shares sold

 225,198,706    5,819,163    73,931,252    7,989,565
Cost of shares redeemed

 (24,875,461)    (1,521,463)    —    (9,369,188)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from shareholder transactions

200,323,245   4,297,700   73,931,252   (1,379,623)
Total increase (decrease) in net assets

 200,623,211    2,921,954    90,231,744    1,232,314
NET ASSETS:              
Beginning of period

 10,049,900    7,127,946    42,280,306    41,047,992
End of period

$210,673,111   $10,049,900   $132,512,050   $42,280,306
CHANGES IN SHARES OUTSTANDING:              
Shares outstanding, beginning of period

 550,002    350,002    1,350,002    1,400,002
Shares sold

 7,800,000    300,000    1,800,000    250,000
Shares redeemed

 (900,000)    (100,000)    —    (300,000)
Shares outstanding, end of period

7,450,002   550,002   3,150,002   1,350,002
    
(a) Inception date is December 15, 2020, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.
Page 42
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust
Nasdaq
Artificial
Intelligence
and Robotics
ETF
(ROBT)
  First Trust
Dorsey Wright
Momentum &
Value ETF
(DVLU)
  First Trust
Dorsey Wright
Momentum &
Low Volatility
ETF (DVOL)
  First Trust
International
Developed
Capital Strength
ETF
(FICS)
Year
Ended
9/30/2021
  Year
Ended
9/30/2020
  Year
Ended
9/30/2021
  Year
Ended
9/30/2020
  Year
Ended
9/30/2021
  Year
Ended
9/30/2020
  Period
Ended
9/30/2021 (a)
                         
$ 225,235   $ 133,687   $ 403,881   $ 263,118   $ 436,137   $ 1,270,511   $ 43,782
33,190,276    284,158    7,489,708    (4,306,138)    24,241,948    (7,723,375)    177,073
14,737,527    19,323,739    (1,439,711)    442,804    750,009    1,459,243    (13,221)
48,153,038   19,741,584   6,453,878   (3,600,216)   25,428,094   (4,993,621)   207,634
                         
(333,100)    (123,270)    (376,450)    (275,921)    (398,380)    (1,537,266)    (39,101)
                         
178,221,700    52,562,180    63,958,085    13,377,808    173,667,860    161,964,199    11,708,531
(80,098,259)    (13,075,070)    (58,491,461)    (14,632,747)    (202,257,238)    (161,928,165)    (1,664,041)
98,123,441   39,487,110   5,466,624   (1,254,939)   (28,589,378)   36,034   10,044,490
145,943,379    59,105,424    11,544,052    (5,131,076)    (3,559,664)    (6,494,853)    10,213,023
                         
120,548,642    61,443,218    14,320,186    19,451,262    124,674,026    131,168,879    —
$266,492,021   $ 120,548,642   $ 25,864,238   $ 14,320,186   $ 121,114,362   $ 124,674,026   $ 10,213,023
                         
3,100,002    1,950,002    950,002    1,050,002    5,550,002    5,750,002    —
3,400,000    1,550,000    2,900,000    800,000    6,800,000    7,450,000    350,002
(1,500,000)    (400,000)    (2,750,000)    (900,000)    (7,950,000)    (7,650,000)    (50,000)
5,000,002   3,100,002   1,100,002   950,002   4,400,002   5,550,002   300,002
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 43

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Financial Highlights
For a share outstanding throughout each period
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)  
  Year Ended September 30,   Period
Ended
9/30/2018 (a)
2021   2020   2019  
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 18.27   $ 20.37   $ 21.28   $ 19.94
Income from investment operations:              
Net investment income (loss)

0.36   0.33   0.35   0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

9.99   (2.08)   (0.92)   1.31
Total from investment operations

10.35   (1.75)   (0.57)   1.57
Distributions paid to shareholders from:              
Net investment income

(0.34)   (0.35)   (0.34)   (0.23)
Net asset value, end of period

$28.28   $18.27   $20.37   $21.28
Total return (b)

56.77%   (8.56)%   (2.59)%   7.92%
Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:              
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)

$ 210,673   $ 10,050   $ 7,128   $ 4,257
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

0.60%   0.60%   0.60%   0.60%(c)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

1.77%   1.83%   1.95%   1.49%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate (d)

36%   76%   78%   72%
    
(a) Inception date is November 1, 2017, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions and in-kind transactions.
Page 44
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Financial Highlights (Continued)
For a share outstanding throughout each period
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)  
  Year Ended September 30,   Period
Ended
9/30/2018 (a)
2021   2020   2019  
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 31.32   $ 29.32   $ 30.31   $ 29.99
Income from investment operations:              
Net investment income (loss)

0.61   0.35   0.59   0.26
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

10.70   2.02   (0.93)   0.29
Total from investment operations

11.31   2.37   (0.34)   0.55
Distributions paid to shareholders from:              
Net investment income

(0.56)   (0.37)   (0.65)   (0.23)
Net asset value, end of period

$42.07   $31.32   $29.32   $30.31
Total return (b)

36.13%   8.13%   (1.08)%   1.87%
Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:              
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)

$ 132,512   $ 42,280   $ 41,048   $ 50,017
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

0.65%   0.65%   0.65%   0.65%(c)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

1.84%   1.12%   1.95%   1.63%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate (d)

46%   25%   35%   53%
    
(a) Inception date is January 24, 2018, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions and in-kind transactions.
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 45

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Financial Highlights (Continued)
For a share outstanding throughout each period
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)  
  Year Ended September 30,   Period
Ended
9/30/2018 (a)
2021   2020   2019  
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 38.89   $ 31.51   $ 32.23   $ 29.91
Income from investment operations:              
Net investment income (loss)

0.05   0.04   0.17   0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

14.44   7.39   (0.75)   2.31
Total from investment operations

14.49   7.43   (0.58)   2.43
Distributions paid to shareholders from:              
Net investment income

(0.08)   (0.05)   (0.14)   (0.11)
Net asset value, end of period

$53.30   $38.89   $31.51   $32.23
Total return (b)

37.27%   23.60%   (1.81)%   8.15%
Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:              
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)

$ 266,492   $ 120,549   $ 61,443   $ 32,226
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

0.65%   0.65%   0.65%   0.65%(c)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

0.10%   0.15%   0.68%   0.62%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate (d)

31%   34%   43%   67%
    
(a) Inception date is February 21, 2018, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions and in-kind transactions.
Page 46
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Financial Highlights (Continued)
For a share outstanding throughout each period
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)  
  Year Ended September 30,   Period
Ended
9/30/2018 (a)
2021   2020   2019  
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 15.07   $ 18.52   $ 19.46   $ 19.98
Income from investment operations:              
Net investment income (loss)

0.29   0.25   0.33   0.02
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

8.42   (3.44)   (0.94)   (0.54)
Total from investment operations

8.71   (3.19)   (0.61)   (0.52)
Distributions paid to shareholders from:              
Net investment income

(0.27)   (0.26)   (0.33)  
Net asset value, end of period

$23.51   $15.07   $18.52   $19.46
Total return (b)

57.98%   (17.19)%   (3.04)%   (2.60)%
Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:              
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)

$ 25,864   $ 14,320   $ 19,451   $ 13,625
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

0.60%   0.60%   0.60%   0.60%(c)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

1.68%   1.56%   2.01%   3.61%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate (d)

195%   205%   152%   0%
    
(a) Inception date is September 5, 2018, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions and in-kind transactions.
See Notes to Financial Statements
Page 47

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Financial Highlights (Continued)
For a share outstanding throughout each period
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)  
  Year Ended September 30,   Period
Ended
9/30/2018 (a)
2021   2020   2019  
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 22.46   $ 22.81   $ 19.94   $ 19.97
Income from investment operations:              
Net investment income (loss)

0.10   0.28   0.29   0.03
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

5.06   (0.30)   2.85   (0.06)
Total from investment operations

5.16   (0.02)   3.14   (0.03)
Distributions paid to shareholders from:              
Net investment income

(0.09)   (0.33)   (0.27)  
Net asset value, end of period

$27.53   $22.46   $22.81   $19.94
Total return (b)

22.98%   0.03%   15.93%   (0.15)%
Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:              
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)

$ 121,114   $ 124,674   $ 131,169   $ 13,960
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

0.60%   0.60%   0.60%   0.60%(c)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

0.36%   1.21%   2.37%   3.81%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate (d)

136%   187%   81%   0%
    
(a) Inception date is September 5, 2018, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The returns presented do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions and in-kind transactions.
Page 48
See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Financial Highlights (Continued)
For a share outstanding throughout the period
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)  
  Period
Ended
9/30/2021 (a)
Net asset value, beginning of period

$ 30.09
Income from investment operations:  
Net investment income (loss)

0.36
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

3.93
Total from investment operations

4.29
Distributions paid to shareholders from:  
Net investment income

(0.34)
Net asset value, end of period

$34.04
Total return (b)

14.25%
Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:  
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)

$ 10,213
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

0.70%(c)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

1.29%(c)
Portfolio turnover rate (d)

23%
    
(a) Inception date is December 15, 2020, which is consistent with the commencement of investment operations and is the date the initial creation units were established.
(b) Total return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption at net asset value on the last day of the period. The return presented does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption or sale of Fund shares. Total return is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year.
(c) Annualized.
(d) Portfolio turnover is calculated for the time period presented and is not annualized for periods of less than a year and does not include securities received or delivered from processing creations or redemptions and in-kind transactions.
See Notes to Financial Statements
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Notes to Financial Statements
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
1. Organization
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on June 4, 2012, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
The Trust currently consists of thirty-two exchange-traded funds that are offering shares. This report covers the six funds (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) listed below. The shares of each Fund are listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”).
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF – (ticker “SDVY”)
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF – (ticker “LEGR”)
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF – (ticker “ROBT”)
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF – (ticker “DVLU”)
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF – (ticker “DVOL”)
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF – (ticker “FICS”)(1)
(1) Commenced investment operations on December 15, 2020.
Each of DVLU, DVOL and FICS operates as a non-diversified series of the Trust. By operation of law, each of SDVY, LEGR and ROBT now operates as a diversified open-end management investment company as defined in Section 5(b) of the 1940 Act. Each Fund represents a separate series of shares of beneficial interest in the Trust. Unlike conventional mutual funds, each Fund issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” The investment objective of each Fund is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the Fund’s fees and expenses) of the following indices:
Fund Index
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF Nasdaq US Small Mid Cap Rising Dividend AchieversTM Index
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF Indxx Blockchain Index
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF Nasdaq CTA Artificial Intelligence and Robotics IndexSM
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus ValueTM Index
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Low VolatilityTM Index
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF The International Developed Capital Strength IndexSM
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The Funds are each considered an investment company and follow accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of the financial statements. The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Portfolio Valuation
Each Fund’s NAV is determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading. If the NYSE closes early on a valuation day, the NAV is determined as of that time. Foreign securities are priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Each Fund’s NAV is calculated by dividing the value of all assets of each Fund (including accrued interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends declared but unpaid), by the total number of shares outstanding.
Each Fund’s investments are valued daily at market value or, in the absence of market value with respect to any portfolio securities, at fair value. Market value prices represent last sale or official closing prices from a national or foreign exchange (i.e., a regulated market) and are primarily obtained from third-party pricing services. Fair value prices represent any prices not considered market value prices and are either obtained from a third-party pricing service or are determined by the Pricing Committee of the Funds’ investment advisor, First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”), in accordance with valuation procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, and in accordance with provisions of the 1940 Act. Investments valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, if any, are footnoted as such in the footnotes to the Portfolio of Investments. Each Fund’s investments are valued as follows:
Common stocks, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), and other equity securities listed on any national or foreign exchange (excluding Nasdaq and the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”)) are valued at the last sale price on
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
the exchange on which they are principally traded or, for Nasdaq and AIM securities, the official closing price. Securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price or official closing price, as applicable, at the close of the securities exchange representing the principal market for such securities.
Securities trading on foreign exchanges or over-the-counter markets that close prior to the NYSE close may be valued using a systematic fair valuation model provided by a third-party pricing service. If these foreign securities meet certain criteria in relation to the valuation model, their valuation is systematically adjusted to reflect the impact of movement in the U.S. market after the close of the foreign markets.
Shares of open-end funds are valued at fair value which is based on NAV per share.
Securities traded in an over-the-counter market are fair valued at the mean of their most recent bid and asked price, if available, and otherwise at their closing bid price.
Overnight repurchase agreements are valued at amortized cost when it represents the best estimate of fair value.
Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by the Trust’s Board of Trustees or its delegate, the Advisor’s Pricing Committee, at fair value. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) for which a third-party pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; a security whose market or fair value price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of a Fund’s NAV or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the third-party pricing service, does not reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security would appear to be the amount which the owner might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale. When fair value prices are used, generally they will differ from market quotations or official closing prices on the applicable exchanges. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities, including, but not limited to, the following:
1) the type of security;
2) the size of the holding;
3) the initial cost of the security;
4) transactions in comparable securities;
5) price quotes from dealers and/or third-party pricing services;
6) relationships among various securities;
7) information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, or the appropriate stock exchange;
8) an analysis of the issuer’s financial statements; and
9) the existence of merger proposals or tender offers that might affect the value of the security.
If the securities in question are foreign securities, the following additional information may be considered:
1) the value of similar foreign securities traded on other foreign markets;
2) ADR trading of similar securities;
3) closed-end fund or exchange-traded fund trading of similar securities;
4) foreign currency exchange activity;
5) the trading prices of financial products that are tied to baskets of foreign securities;
6) factors relating to the event that precipitated the pricing problem;
7) whether the event is likely to recur; and
8) whether the effects of the event are isolated or whether they affect entire markets, countries or regions.
In addition, differences between the prices used to calculate a Fund’s NAV and the prices used by such Fund’s corresponding index could result in a difference between a Fund’s performance and the performance of its underlying index.
Because foreign markets may be open on different days than the days during which investors may transact in the shares of a Fund, the value of the Fund’s securities may change on the days when investors are not able to transact in the shares of the Fund. The value of securities denominated in foreign currencies is converted into U.S. dollars using exchange rates determined daily as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Any use of a different rate from the rates used by a relevant index may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to track the index.
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
The Funds are subject to fair value accounting standards that define fair value, establish the framework for measuring fair value and provide a three-level hierarchy for fair valuation based upon the inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 – Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. An active market is a market in which transactions for the investment occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2 – Level 2 inputs are observable inputs, either directly or indirectly, and include the following:
o Quoted prices for similar investments in active markets.
o Quoted prices for identical or similar investments in markets that are non-active. A non-active market is a market where there are few transactions for the investment, the prices are not current, or price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers, or in which little information is released publicly.
o Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the investment (for example, interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates).
o Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
Level 3 – Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs may reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the investment.
The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments. A summary of the inputs used to value each Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2021, is included with each Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.
B. Securities Transactions and Investment Income
Securities transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as soon as the information becomes available after the ex-dividend date. Interest income, if any, is recorded daily on the accrual basis.
Withholding taxes and tax reclaims on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with each Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.
Distributions received from a Fund’s investments in REITs may be comprised of return of capital, capital gains, and income. The actual character of the amounts received during the year are not known until after the REITs’ fiscal year end. A Fund records the character of distributions received from the REITs during the year based on estimates available. The characterization of distributions received by a Fund may be subsequently revised based on information received from the REITs after their tax reporting periods conclude.
C. Foreign Currency
The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investments and items of income and expense are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses on assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, which result from changes in foreign currency exchange rates have been included in “Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency translation” on the Statements of Operations. Unrealized gains and losses on investments in securities which result from changes in foreign exchange rates are included with fluctuations arising from changes in market price and are included in “Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments” on the Statements of Operations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses include the effect of changes in exchange rates between trade date and settlement date on investment security transactions, foreign currency transactions and interest and dividends received and are included in “Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions” on the Statements of Operations. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuations in exchange rates between the initial purchase settlement date and subsequent sale trade date is included in “Net realized gain (loss) on investments” on the Statements of Operations.
D. Offsetting on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities
Offsetting assets and liabilities requires entities to disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, and disclose instruments and transactions subject to master netting or similar agreements. These disclosure requirements are intended to help investors and other financial statement users better assess the effect or
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
potential effect of offsetting arrangements on a Fund’s financial position. The transactions subject to offsetting disclosures are derivative instruments, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions.
This disclosure, if applicable, is included within each Fund’s Portfolio of Investments under the heading “Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to master netting arrangements (“MNAs”) or similar agreements on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. MNAs provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy and insolvency), for the non-defaulting counterparty to liquidate the collateral and calculate the net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral.
E. Securities Lending
The Funds may lend securities representing up to 33 1/3% of the value of their total assets to broker-dealers, banks and other institutions to generate additional income. When a Fund loans its portfolio securities, it will receive, at the inception of each loan, collateral equal to at least 102% (for domestic securities) or 105% (for international securities) of the market value of the loaned securities. The collateral amount is valued at the beginning of each business day and is compared to the market value of the loaned securities from the prior business day to determine if additional collateral is required. If additional collateral is required, a request is sent to the borrower. Securities lending involves the risk that the Fund may lose money because the borrower of the Fund’s loaned securities fails to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund could also lose money in the event of (i) a decline in the value of the collateral provided for the loaned securities, (ii) a decline in the value of any investments made with cash collateral or (iii) an increase in the value of the loaned securities if the borrower does not increase the collateral accordingly and the borrower fails to return the securities. These events could also trigger adverse tax consequences for the Funds.
Under the Funds’ Securities Lending Agency Agreement, the securities lending agent will generally bear the risk that a borrower may default on its obligation to return loaned securities. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”) acts as the Funds’ securities lending agent and is responsible for executing the lending of the portfolio securities to creditworthy borrowers. The Funds, however, will be responsible for the risks associated with the investment of cash collateral. A Fund may lose money on its investment of cash collateral, which may affect its ability to repay the collateral to the borrower without the use of other Fund assets. Each Fund that engages in securities lending receives compensation (net of any rebate and securities lending agent fees) for lending its securities. Compensation can be in the form of fees received from the securities lending agent or dividends or interest earned from the investment of cash collateral. The fees received from the securities lending agent are accrued daily. The dividend and interest earned on the securities loaned is accounted for in the same manner as other dividend and interest income. As of September 30, 2021, LEGR and ROBT had securities in the securities lending program.
In the event of a default by a borrower with respect to any loan, BBH will exercise any and all remedies provided under the applicable borrower agreement to make the Funds whole. These remedies include purchasing replacement securities by applying the collateral held from the defaulting broker against the purchase cost of the replacement securities. If, despite such efforts by BBH to exercise these remedies, a Fund sustains losses as a result of a borrower’s default, BBH will indemnify the Fund by purchasing replacement securities at its own expense, or paying the Funds an amount equal to the market value of the replacement securities, subject to certain limitations which are set forth in detail in the Securities Lending Agency Agreement between the Trust on behalf of the Funds and BBH.
F. Repurchase Agreements
Repurchase agreements involve the purchase of securities subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase the securities at a mutually agreed upon date and price, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”). During the term of a repurchase agreement, the value of the underlying securities held as collateral on behalf of a Fund, including accrued interest, is required to exceed the value of the repurchase agreement, including accrued interest. The underlying securities for all repurchase agreements are held at the Funds’ custodian or designated sub-custodians under tri-party repurchase agreements.
MRAs govern transactions between a Fund and select counterparties. The MRAs maintain provisions for, among other things, initiation, income payments, events of default, and maintenance of collateral for repurchase agreements.
Repurchase agreements received for lending securities are collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. The U.S. Treasury securities are held in a joint custody account at BBH on behalf of the Funds participating in the securities lending program. In the event the counterparty defaults on the repurchase agreement, the U.S. Treasury securities can either be maintained as part of a Fund’s portfolio or sold for cash. A Fund could suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from the sale of the underlying collateral held by the Fund are less than the repurchase price and the Fund’s costs associated with the delay and enforcement of the MRA.
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
While the Funds may invest in repurchase agreements, any repurchase agreements held by the Funds during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, were received as collateral for lending securities.
G. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly, or as the Board of Trustees may determine from time to time. Distributions of net realized capital gains earned by each Fund, if any, are distributed at least annually.
Distributions from net investment income and realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. Certain capital accounts in the financial statements are periodically adjusted for permanent differences in order to reflect their tax character. These permanent differences are primarily due to the varying treatment of income and gain/loss on portfolio securities held by the Funds and have no impact on net assets or NAV per share. Temporary differences, which arise from recognizing certain items of income, expense, and gain/loss in different periods for financial statement and tax purposes, will reverse at some time in the future.
The tax character of distributions paid by each Fund during the fiscal period ended September 30, 2021, was as follows:
  Distributions
paid from
Ordinary
Income
  Distributions
paid from
Capital
Gains
  Distributions
paid from
Return of
Capital
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF

$ 1,005,851   $ —   $ —
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF

 1,414,166    —    —
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF

 333,100    —    —
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF

 376,450    —    —
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF

 398,380    —    —
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF

 39,101    —    —
The tax character of distributions paid by each Fund during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, was as follows:
  Distributions
paid from
Ordinary
Income
  Distributions
paid from
Capital
Gains
  Distributions
paid from
Return of
Capital
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF

$ 168,006   $ —   $ —
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF

 485,781    —    —
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF

 123,270    —    —
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF

 275,921    —    —
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF

 1,537,266    —    —
As of September 30, 2021, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis for each Fund were as follows:
  Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
  Accumulated
Capital and
Other
Gain (Loss)
  Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF

$ 190,695   $ (1,024,748)   $ (5,481,121)
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF

 105,039    (1,444,987)    13,944,682
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF

 60,015    (4,911,664)    28,014,760
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF

 42,373    (9,847,184)    (403,603)
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF

 76,645    (14,942,639)    9,389,427
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF

 12,421    (2,885)    (34,725)
H. Income Taxes
Each Fund intends to qualify or continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which includes distributing substantially all of its net investment
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
income and net realized gains to shareholders. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal and state income taxes. However, due to the timing and amount of distributions, each Fund may be subject to an excise tax of 4% of the amount by which approximately 98% of each Fund’s taxable income exceeds the distributions from such taxable income for the calendar year.
The Funds are subject to accounting standards that establish a minimum threshold for recognizing, and a system for measuring, the benefits of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Taxable years ended 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 remain open to federal and state audit for SDVY, LEGR, ROBT, DVLU and DVOL. Taxable year ended 2021 remains open to federal and state audit for FICS. As of September 30, 2021, management has evaluated the application of these standards to the Funds and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Funds’ financial statements for uncertain tax positions.
The Funds intend to utilize provisions of the federal income tax laws, which allow them to carry a realized capital loss forward indefinitely following the year of the loss and offset such loss against any future realized capital gains. The Funds are subject to certain limitations under U.S. tax rules on the use of capital loss carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses. These limitations apply when there has been a 50% change in ownership. At September 30, 2021, for federal income tax purposes, each applicable Fund had a capital loss carryforward available that is shown in the table below, to the extent provided by regulations, to offset future capital gains.
  Non-Expiring
Capital Loss
Carryforward
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF

$ 1,024,748
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF

 1,444,987
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF

 4,911,664
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF

 9,847,184
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF

 14,942,639
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF

 2,885
In order to present paid-in capital and accumulated distributable earnings (loss) (which consists of accumulated net investment income (loss), accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments) on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities that more closely represent their tax character, certain adjustments have been made to paid-in capital, accumulated net investment income (loss) and accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments. These adjustments are primarily due to the difference between book and tax treatments of income and gains on various investment securities held by the Funds and in-kind transactions. The results of operations and net assets were not affected by these adjustments. For the fiscal period ended September 30, 2021, the adjustments for each Fund were as follows:
  Accumulated
Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
  Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain (Loss)
on Investments
  Paid-in
Capital
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF

$ (12,156)   $ (4,954,377)   $ 4,966,533
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF

 (36,660)    36,660    —
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF

 19,803    (35,860,396)    35,840,593
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF

 —    (8,827,061)    8,827,061
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF

 38,618    (26,091,425)    26,052,807
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF

 5,083    (198,805)    193,722
I. Expenses
Expenses, other than the investment advisory fee and other excluded expenses, are paid by the Advisor (See Note 3).
First Trust has entered into licensing agreements with Nasdaq, Inc. and with Indxx, LLC (individually, the “Licensor” and collectively “Licensors”) for the Funds. The respective license agreements allow for the use by First Trust of each Fund’s respective index and of certain trademarks and trade names of the Licensors. The Funds are sub-licensees to the applicable license agreements.
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
3. Investment Advisory Fee, Affiliated Transactions and Other Fee Arrangements
First Trust, the investment advisor to the Funds, is a limited partnership with one limited partner, Grace Partners of DuPage L.P., and one general partner, The Charger Corporation. The Charger Corporation is an Illinois corporation controlled by James A. Bowen, Chief Executive Officer of First Trust. First Trust is responsible for the selection and ongoing monitoring of the securities in each Fund’s portfolio, managing the Funds’ business affairs and providing certain administrative services necessary for the management of the Funds.
First Trust is responsible for the expenses of each Fund including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit, licensing, and other services, but excluding fee payments under the Investment Management Agreement, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses (if any), brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees payable pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses which are paid by each respective Fund. SDVY, DVLU and DVOL have each agreed to pay First Trust an annual unitary management fee equal to 0.60% of their average daily net assets. LEGR and ROBT have each agreed to pay First Trust an annual unitary management fee equal to 0.65% of its average daily net assets. FICS has agreed to pay First Trust an annual unitary management fee equal to 0.70% of its average daily net assets. First Trust also provides fund reporting services to each Fund for a flat annual fee in the amount of $9,250, which is covered under the annual unitary management fee.
The Trust has multiple service agreements with BBH. Under the service agreements, BBH performs custodial, fund accounting, certain administrative services, and transfer agency services for each Fund. As custodian, BBH is responsible for custody of each Fund’s assets. As fund accountant and administrator, BBH is responsible for maintaining the books and records of each Fund’s securities and cash. As transfer agent, BBH is responsible for maintaining shareholder records for each Fund.
Each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of First Trust, any sub-advisor or any of their affiliates (“Independent Trustees”) is paid a fixed annual retainer that is allocated equally among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex. Each Independent Trustee is also paid an annual per fund fee that varies based on whether the fund is a closed-end or other actively managed fund, a defined-outcome fund or an index fund.
Additionally, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Chairmen of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Valuation Committee are paid annual fees to serve in such capacities, with such compensation allocated pro rata among each fund in the First Trust Fund Complex based on net assets. Independent Trustees are reimbursed for travel and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with all meetings. The Lead Independent Trustee and Committee Chairmen rotate every three years. The officers and “Interested” Trustee receive no compensation from the Trust for acting in such capacities.
4. Purchases and Sales of Securities
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities for each Fund, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:
  Purchases   Sales
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF $ 25,986,948   $ 25,815,414
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF  46,687,058    37,984,402
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF  73,486,528    65,497,664
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF  45,203,590    45,049,595
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF  164,998,956    165,055,059
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF  1,078,846    1,178,305
       
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, the cost of in-kind purchases and proceeds from in-kind sales for each Fund were as follows:
  Purchases   Sales
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF $ 224,880,238   $ 24,822,034
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF  65,335,683    —
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF  167,739,853    79,388,851
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF  63,842,387    58,499,150
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF  173,490,500    201,964,240
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF  11,810,388    1,657,253
5. Creations, Redemptions and Transaction Fees
Each Fund generally issues and redeems its shares in primary market transactions through a creation and redemption mechanism and does not sell or redeem individual shares. Instead, financial entities known as “Authorized Participants” have contractual arrangements with a Fund or one of the Fund’s service providers to purchase and redeem Fund shares directly with the Fund in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” Prior to the start of trading on every business day, a Fund publishes through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) the “basket” of securities, cash or other assets that it will accept in exchange for a Creation Unit of the Fund’s shares. An Authorized Participant that wishes to effectuate a creation of a Fund’s shares deposits with the Fund the “basket” of securities, cash or other assets identified by the Fund that day, and then receives the Creation Unit of the Fund’s shares in return for those assets. After purchasing a Creation Unit, the Authorized Participant may continue to hold the Fund’s shares or sell them in the secondary market. The redemption process is the reverse of the purchase process: the Authorized Participant redeems a Creation Unit of a Fund’s shares for a basket of securities, cash or other assets. The combination of the creation and redemption process with secondary market trading in a Fund’s shares and underlying securities provides arbitrage opportunities that are designed to help keep the market price of a Fund’s shares at or close to the NAV per share of the Fund.
Each Fund imposes fees in connection with the purchase of Creation Units. These fees may vary based upon various fact-based circumstances, including, but not limited to, the composition of the securities included in the Creation Unit or the countries in which the transactions are settled. The price for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per share of a Fund times the number of shares in a Creation Unit, plus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to the securities comprising the creation basket.
Each Fund also imposes fees in connection with the redemption of Creation Units. These fees may vary based upon various fact-based circumstances, including, but not limited to, the composition of the securities included in the Creation Unit or the countries in which the transactions are settled. The price received for each Creation Unit will equal the daily NAV per share of a Fund times the number of shares in a Creation Unit, minus the fees described above and, if applicable, any operational processing and brokerage costs, transfer fees, stamp taxes and part or all of the spread between the expected bid and offer side of the market related to the securities comprising the redemption basket. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary in addition to an Authorized Participant to effect a redemption of a Creation Unit may also be assessed an amount to cover the cost of such services. The redemption fee charged by a Fund will comply with Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act which limits redemption fees to no more than 2% of the value of the shares redeemed.
6. Distribution Plan
The Board of Trustees adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with the Rule 12b-1 plan, each Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets each year to reimburse First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”), the distributor of the Funds, for amounts expended to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units or to provide investor services. FTP may also use this amount to compensate securities dealers or other persons that are Authorized Participants for providing distribution assistance, including broker-dealer and shareholder support and educational and promotional services.
No 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Funds, and pursuant to a contractual arrangement, no 12b-1 fees will be paid any time before January 31, 2023.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021
7. Indemnification
The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Trust has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
8. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events to the Funds through the date the financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements that have not already been disclosed.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI:
Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF, First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF, First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF, First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF, First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF and First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (the “Funds”), each a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, including the portfolios of investments, as of September 30, 2021, the related statements of operations, the statement of changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for the periods indicated in the table below, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Funds as of September 30, 2021, and the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets, and the financial highlights for the periods listed in the table below in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Individual Funds Included in the Trust Statements of Operations Statements of Changes in Net Assets Financial Highlights
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF For the year ended September 30, 2021 For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 For the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, 2019 and the period from November 1, 2017 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2018
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF For the year ended September 30, 2021 For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 For the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, 2019 and the period from January 24, 2018 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2018
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF For the year ended September 30, 2021 For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 For the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, 2019 and the period from February 21, 2018 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2018
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF For the year ended September 30, 2021 For the years ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 For the years ended September 30, 2021, 2020, 2019 and the period from September 5, 2018 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2018
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF For the period from December 15, 2020 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2021
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
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Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2021, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Chicago, Illinois
November 23, 2021
We have served as the auditor of one or more First Trust investment companies since 2001.
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Additional Information
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies and information on how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 988-5891; (2) on each Fund’s website at www.ftportfolios.com; and (3) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at www.sec.gov.
Portfolio Holdings
Each Fund files portfolio holdings information for each month in a fiscal quarter within 60 days after the end of the relevant fiscal quarter on Form N-PORT. Portfolio holdings information for the third month of each fiscal quarter will be publicly available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Each Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year is included in the semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders, respectively, and is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR. The semi-annual and annual report for each Fund is available to investors within 60 days after the period to which it relates. Each Fund’s Forms N-PORT and Forms N-CSR are available on the SEC’s website listed above.
Federal Tax Information
For the taxable period ended September 30, 2021, the following percentages of income dividend paid by the Funds qualify for the dividends received deduction available to corporations:
  Dividends
Received Deduction
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF

100.00%
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF

25.62%
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF

100.00%
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF

100.00%
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF

100.00%
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF

0.00%
For the taxable period ended September 30, 2021, the following percentages of income dividend paid by the Funds are hereby designated as qualified dividend income:
  Qualified
Dividend Income
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF

100.00%
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF

100.00%
First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF

100.00%
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF

100.00%
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF

100.00%
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF

100.00%
A portion of the ordinary dividends (including short-term capital gains) that DVLU and DVOL paid to shareholders during the taxable year ended September 30, 2021, may be eligible for the Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, section 199A for the aggregate dividends the Funds received from the underlying Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) they invest in.
The following Funds met the requirements of Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and elect to pass through to its shareholders credit for foreign taxes paid. For the taxable period ended September 30, 2021, the total amount of income
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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
received by the Funds from sources within foreign countries and possessions of the United States and of taxes paid to such countries is as follows:
  Gross Foreign Income   Foreign Taxes Paid
  Amount   Per Share   Amount   Per Share
First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF

$ 1,565,178   $ 0.50   $ 172,454   $ 0.05
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF

 74,542    0.25    6,874    0.02
The foreign taxes paid will be reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV which will be sent to shareholders shortly after the calendar year end. Gross foreign income and foreign taxes paid will be posted on each Fund’s website and disclosed in the tax letter.
Risk Considerations
Risks are inherent in all investing. Certain general risks that may be applicable to a Fund are identified below, but not all of the material risks relevant to each Fund are included in this report and not all of the risks below apply to each Fund. The material risks of investing in each Fund are spelled out in its prospectus, statement of additional information and other regulatory filings. Before investing, you should consider each Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses, and read each Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information carefully. You can download each Fund’s prospectus at www.ftportfolios.com or contact First Trust Portfolios L.P. at (800) 621-1675 to request a prospectus, which contains this and other information about each Fund.
Concentration Risk. To the extent that a fund is able to invest a significant percentage of its assets in a single asset class or the securities of issuers within the same country, state, region, industry or sector, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value of the fund’s investments more than if the fund were more broadly diversified. A fund that tracks an index will be concentrated to the extent the fund’s corresponding index is concentrated. A concentration makes a fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the fund to greater market risk than a fund that is more broadly diversified.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability to make such payments.
Cyber Security Risk. The funds are susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause a fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause a fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. In addition, cyber security breaches of a fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, or issuers in which the fund invests, can also subject a fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches.
Defined Outcome Funds Risk. To the extent a fund’s investment strategy is designed to deliver returns tied to the price performance of an underlying ETF, an investor may not realize the returns the fund seeks to achieve if that investor does not hold shares for the entire target outcome period. In the event an investor purchases shares after the first day of the target outcome period or sells shares prior to the end of the target outcome period, the buffer that the fund seeks to provide against a decline in the value of the underlying ETF may not be available, the enhanced returns that the fund seeks to provide (if any) may not be available and the investor may not participate in a gain in the value of the underlying ETF up to the cap for the investor’s investment period. Additionally, the fund will not participate in gains of the underlying ETF above the cap and a shareholder may lose their entire investment. If the fund seeks enhanced returns, there are certain time periods when the value of the fund may fall faster than the value of the underlying ETF, and it is very unlikely that, on any given day during which the underlying ETF share price increases in value, the fund’s share price will increase at the same rate as the enhanced returns sought by the fund, which is designed for an entire target outcome period. Trading flexible exchange options involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities, such as less liquidity and correlation and valuation risks. A fund may experience substantial downside from specific flexible exchange option positions and certain positions may expire worthless.
Derivatives Risk. To the extent a fund uses derivative instruments such as futures contracts, options contracts and swaps, the fund may experience losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying asset, index or rate, which may be magnified by certain features of the derivative. These risks are heightened when a fund’s portfolio managers use derivatives to enhance the fund’s return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or offset) the risk of a position or security held by the fund.
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September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
Equity Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in equity securities, the value of the fund’s shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, such as market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur. In addition, common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market.
ETF Risk. The shares of an ETF trade like common stock and represent an interest in a portfolio of securities. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs. Shares of an ETF trade on an exchange at market prices rather than net asset value, which may cause the shares to trade at a price greater than net asset value (premium) or less than net asset value (discount). In times of market stress, decisions by market makers to reduce or step away from their role of providing a market for an ETF’s shares, or decisions by an ETF’s authorized participants that they are unable or unwilling to proceed with creation and/or redemption orders of an ETF’s shares, could result in shares of the ETF trading at a discount to net asset value and in greater than normal intraday bid-ask spreads.
Fixed Income Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in fixed income securities, the fund will be subject to credit risk, income risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk. Income risk is the risk that income from a fund’s fixed income investments could decline during periods of falling interest rates. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of a fund’s fixed income securities will decline because of rising interest rates. Liquidity risk is the risk that a security cannot be purchased or sold at the time desired, or cannot be purchased or sold without adversely affecting the price. Prepayment risk is the risk that the securities will be redeemed or prepaid by the issuer, resulting in lower interest payments received by the fund. In addition to these risks, high yield securities, or “junk” bonds, are subject to greater market fluctuations and risk of loss than securities with higher ratings, and the market for high yield securities is generally smaller and less liquid than that for investment grade securities.
Index or Model Constituent Risk. Certain funds may be a constituent of one or more indices or ETF models. As a result, such a fund may be included in one or more index-tracking exchange-traded funds or mutual funds. Being a component security of such a vehicle could greatly affect the trading activity involving a fund, the size of the fund and the market volatility of the fund. Inclusion in an index could increase demand for the fund and removal from an index could result in outsized selling activity in a relatively short period of time. As a result, a fund’s net asset value could be negatively impacted and the fund’s market price may be significantly below its net asset value during certain periods. In addition, index rebalances may potentially result in increased trading activity in a fund’s shares.
Index Provider Risk. To the extent a fund seeks to track an index, it is subject to Index Provider Risk. There is no assurance that the Index Provider will compile the Index accurately, or that the Index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated or disseminated accurately. To correct any such error, the Index Provider may carry out an unscheduled rebalance or other modification of the Index constituents or weightings, which may increase the fund’s costs. The Index Provider does not provide any representation or warranty in relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in the Index, and it does not guarantee that the Index will be calculated in accordance with its stated methodology. Losses or costs associated with any Index Provider errors generally will be borne by the fund and its shareholders.
Investment Companies Risk. To the extent a fund invests in the securities of other investment vehicles, the fund will incur additional fees and expenses that would not be present in a direct investment in those investment vehicles. Furthermore, the fund’s investment performance and risks are directly related to the investment performance and risks of the investment vehicles in which the fund invests.
LIBOR Risk. To the extent a fund invests in floating or variable rate obligations that use the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) as a reference interest rate, it is subject to LIBOR Risk. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, will cease making LIBOR available as a reference rate over a phase-out period that will begin immediately after December 31, 2021. The unavailability or replacement of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain fund investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades. Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on the fund or on certain instruments in which the fund invests can be difficult to ascertain, and they may vary depending on a variety of factors, and they could result in losses to the fund.
Management Risk. To the extent that a fund is actively managed, it is subject to management risk. In managing an actively-managed fund’s investment portfolio, the fund’s portfolio managers will apply investment techniques and risk analyses that may not have the desired result. There can be no guarantee that a fund will meet its investment objective.
Market Risk. Securities held by a fund, as well as shares of a fund itself, are subject to market fluctuations caused by factors such as general economic conditions, political events, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in
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September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
securities prices. Shares of a fund could decline in value or underperform other investments as a result of the risk of loss associated with these market fluctuations. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant negative impact on a fund and its investments. Such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. The outbreak of the respiratory disease designated as COVID-19 in December 2019 has caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. While the development of vaccines has slowed the spread of the virus and allowed for the resumption of “reasonably” normal business activity in the United States, many countries continue to impose lockdown measures in an attempt to slow the spread. Additionally, there is no guarantee that vaccines will be effective against emerging variants of the disease.
Non-U.S. Securities Risk. To the extent a fund invests in non-U.S. securities, it is subject to additional risks not associated with securities of domestic issuers. Non-U.S. securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to: possible adverse political, social or economic developments; restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities; capital controls; lack of liquidity; currency exchange rates; excessive taxation; government seizure of assets; the imposition of sanctions by foreign governments; different legal or accounting standards; and less government supervision and regulation of exchanges in foreign countries. Investments in non-U.S. securities may involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction and custody costs, as well as additional taxes imposed by non-U.S. governments. These risks may be heightened for securities of companies located, or with significant operations, in emerging market countries.
Operational Risk. Each fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of a fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. Each fund relies on third-parties for a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect a fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Although the funds and the funds’ investment advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
Passive Investment Risk. To the extent a fund seeks to track an index, the fund will invest in the securities included in, or representative of, the index regardless of their investment merit. A fund generally will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets.
NOT FDIC INSURED NOT BANK GUARANTEED MAY LOSE VALUE
Advisory Agreements
Board Considerations Regarding Approval of Continuation of Investment Management Agreements
The Board of Trustees of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI (the “Trust”), including the Independent Trustees, unanimously approved the continuation of the Investment Management Agreements (as applicable to a specific Fund, the “Agreement” and collectively, the “Agreements”) with First Trust Advisors L.P. (the “Advisor”) on behalf of the following five series of the Trust (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):
    First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)
    First Trust Indxx Innovative Transaction & Process ETF (LEGR)
    First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
    First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)
    First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
The Board approved the continuation of the Agreement for each Fund for a one-year period ending June 30, 2022 at a meeting held on June 6–7, 2021. The Board determined for each Fund that the continuation of the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided and such other matters as the Board considered to be relevant in the exercise of its business judgment.
To reach this determination for each Fund, the Board considered its duties under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as well as under the general principles of state law, in reviewing and approving advisory contracts; the requirements of the 1940 Act in such matters; the fiduciary duty of investment advisors with respect to advisory agreements and compensation; the standards used by courts in determining whether investment company boards have fulfilled their duties; and the factors to be considered by the Board in voting on such agreements. At meetings held on April 26, 2021 and June 6–7, 2021, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, reviewed materials provided by the Advisor responding to requests for information from counsel to the Independent Trustees, submitted on behalf of the Independent Trustees, that, among other things, outlined: the services provided by the
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September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
Advisor to each Fund (including the relevant personnel responsible for these services and their experience); the unitary fee rate payable by each Fund as compared to fees charged to a peer group of funds (the “Expense Group”) and a broad peer universe of funds (the “Expense Universe”), each assembled by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent source, and as compared to fees charged to other clients of the Advisor, including other exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) managed by the Advisor; the expense ratio of each Fund as compared to expense ratios of the funds in the Fund’s Expense Group and Expense Universe; performance information for each Fund, including comparisons of each Fund’s performance to that of one or more relevant benchmark indexes and to that of a performance group of funds and a broad performance universe of funds (the “Performance Universe”), each assembled by Broadridge; the nature of expenses incurred in providing services to each Fund and the potential for the Advisor to realize economies of scale, if any; profitability and other financial data for the Advisor; any fall-out benefits to the Advisor and its affiliate, First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”); and information on the Advisor’s compliance program. The Board reviewed initial materials with the Advisor at the meeting held on April 26, 2021, prior to which the Independent Trustees and their counsel met separately to discuss the information provided by the Advisor. Following the April meeting, counsel to the Independent Trustees, on behalf of the Independent Trustees, requested certain clarifications and supplements to the materials provided, and the information provided in response to those requests was considered at an executive session of the Independent Trustees and their counsel held prior to the June 6–7, 2021 meeting, as well as at the June meeting. The Board applied its business judgment to determine whether the arrangement between the Trust and the Advisor continues to be a reasonable business arrangement from each Fund’s perspective. The Board determined that, given the totality of the information provided with respect to the Agreements, the Board had received sufficient information to renew the Agreements. The Board considered that shareholders chose to invest or remain invested in a Fund knowing that the Advisor manages the Fund and knowing the Fund’s unitary fee.
In reviewing the Agreement for each Fund, the Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Advisor under the Agreement. The Board considered that the Advisor is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Trust and each Fund and reviewed all of the services provided by the Advisor to the Funds, as well as the background and experience of the persons responsible for such services. In reviewing the services provided, the Board noted the compliance program that had been developed by the Advisor and considered that it includes a robust program for monitoring the Advisor’s and each Fund’s compliance with the 1940 Act, as well as each Fund’s compliance with its investment objective, policies and restrictions. The Board also considered a report from the Advisor with respect to its risk management functions related to the operation of the Funds. Finally, as part of the Board’s consideration of the Advisor’s services, the Advisor, in its written materials and at the April 26, 2021 meeting, described to the Board the scope of its ongoing investment in additional personnel and infrastructure to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to the Funds and the other funds in the First Trust Fund Complex. In light of the information presented and the considerations made, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Trust and each Fund by the Advisor under the Agreements have been and are expected to remain satisfactory and that the Advisor has managed each Fund consistent with its investment objective, policies and restrictions.
The Board considered the unitary fee rate payable by each Fund under the applicable Agreement for the services provided. The Board considered that as part of the unitary fee the Advisor is responsible for each Fund’s expenses, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services and license fees, if any, but excluding the fee payment under the applicable Agreement and interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses, if any. The Board received and reviewed information showing the advisory or unitary fee rates and expense ratios of the peer funds in the Expense Groups, as well as advisory and unitary fee rates charged by the Advisor to other fund (including ETFs) and non-fund clients, as applicable. Because each Fund pays a unitary fee, the Board determined that expense ratios were the most relevant comparative data point. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that the unitary fee rate for LEGR was below the median total (net) expense ratio of the peer funds in its Expense Group and that the unitary fee rate for each other Fund was above the median total (net) expense ratio of the peer funds in its respective Expense Group. With respect to the Expense Groups, the Board, at the April 26, 2021 meeting, discussed with the Advisor limitations in creating peer groups for index ETFs, including differences in underlying indexes and index-tracking methodologies that can result in greater management complexities across seemingly comparable ETFs, and different business models that may affect the pricing of services among ETF sponsors. The Board took these limitations and differences into account in considering the peer data. With respect to fees charged to other non-ETF clients, the Board considered differences between the Funds and other non-ETF clients that limited their comparability. In considering the unitary fee rates overall, the Board also considered the Advisor’s statement that it seeks to meet investor needs through innovative and value-added investment solutions and the Advisor’s demonstrated long-term commitment to each Fund and the other funds in the First Trust Fund Complex.
The Board considered performance information for each Fund. The Board noted the process it has established for monitoring each Fund’s performance and portfolio risk on an ongoing basis, which includes quarterly performance reporting from the Advisor for the Funds. The Board determined that this process continues to be effective for reviewing each Fund’s performance. The Board received and reviewed information for SDVY for the one- and three-year periods ended December 31, 2020 and for each other Fund for the one-year period ended December 31, 2020 regarding the performance of each Fund’s underlying index, the correlation between each
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September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
Fund’s performance and that of its underlying index, each Fund’s tracking difference and each Fund’s excess return as compared to its benchmark index. Based on the information provided and its ongoing review of performance, the Board concluded that each Fund was correlated to its underlying index and that the tracking difference for each Fund was within a reasonable range. In addition, the Board reviewed data prepared by Broadridge comparing each Fund’s performance to that of its respective Performance Universe and to that of a broad-based benchmark index, but given each Fund’s objective of seeking investment results that correspond generally to the performance of its underlying index, the Board placed more emphasis on its review of correlation and tracking difference.
On the basis of all the information provided on the unitary fee and performance of each Fund and the ongoing oversight by the Board, the Board concluded that the unitary fee for each Fund continues to be reasonable and appropriate in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Advisor to each Fund under the Agreements.
The Board considered information and discussed with the Advisor whether there were any economies of scale in connection with providing advisory services to the Funds and noted the Advisor’s statement that it believes its expenses will likely increase during the next twelve months as the Advisor continues to hire personnel and build infrastructure, including technology, to improve the services to the Funds. The Board noted that any reduction in fixed costs associated with the management of the Funds would benefit the Advisor, but that the unitary fee structure provides a level of certainty in expenses for the Funds. The Board considered the revenues and allocated costs (including the allocation methodology) of the Advisor in serving as investment advisor to each Fund for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and the estimated profitability level for each Fund calculated by the Advisor based on such data, as well as complex-wide and product-line profitability data, for the same period. The Board noted the inherent limitations in the profitability analysis and concluded that, based on the information provided, the Advisor’s profitability level for each Fund was not unreasonable. In addition, the Board considered fall-out benefits described by the Advisor that may be realized from its relationship with the Funds. The Board considered that the Advisor had identified as a fall-out benefit to the Advisor and FTP their exposure to investors and brokers who, absent their exposure to the Funds, may have had no dealings with the Advisor or FTP, and noted that the Advisor does not utilize soft dollars in connection with the Funds. The Board also considered the Advisor’s compensation for fund reporting services provided to each Fund pursuant to a separate Fund Reporting Services Agreement, which is paid from the unitary fee. The Board concluded that the character and amount of potential fall-out benefits to the Advisor were not unreasonable.
Based on all of the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, unanimously determined that the terms of the Agreements continue to be fair and reasonable and that the continuation of the Agreements is in the best interests of each Fund. No single factor was determinative in the Board’s analysis.
Board Considerations Regarding Approval of Investment Management Agreement
First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (FICS)
The Board of Trustees of First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI (the “Trust”), including the Independent Trustees, approved the Investment Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) with First Trust Advisors L.P. (the “Advisor”), on behalf of First Trust International Developed Capital Strength ETF (the “Fund”), for an initial two-year term at a meeting held on December 7, 2020. The Board determined that the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services expected to be provided and such other matters as the Board considered to be relevant in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment.
To reach this determination, the Board considered its duties under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as well as under the general principles of state law, in reviewing and approving advisory contracts; the requirements of the 1940 Act in such matters; the fiduciary duty of investment advisors with respect to advisory agreements and compensation; the standards used by courts in determining whether investment company boards have fulfilled their duties; and the factors to be considered by the Board in voting on such agreements. To assist the Board in its evaluation of the Agreement for the Fund, the Independent Trustees received a report from the Advisor in advance of the Board meeting responding to a request for information from counsel to the Independent Trustees, submitted on behalf of the Independent Trustees, that, among other things, outlined: the services to be provided by the Advisor to the Fund (including the relevant personnel responsible for these services and their experience); the proposed unitary fee rate payable by the Fund as compared to fees charged to a peer group of funds (the “Expense Group”) and a broad peer universe of funds (the “Expense Universe”), each assembled by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent source, and as compared to fees charged to other exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) managed by the Advisor; the estimated expense ratio of the Fund as compared to expense ratios of the funds in the Fund’s Expense Group and Expense Universe; the nature of expenses to be incurred in providing services to the Fund and the potential for the Advisor to realize economies of scale, if any; profitability and other financial data for the Advisor; any fall-out benefits to the Advisor and its affiliate, First Trust Portfolios L.P. (“FTP”); and information on the Advisor’s compliance program. The Independent Trustees and their counsel also met separately to discuss the information provided by the Advisor. The Board applied its business judgment to determine whether the arrangement between the Trust and the Advisor is a reasonable business arrangement from the Fund’s perspective.
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Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
In evaluating whether to approve the Agreement for the Fund, the Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided by the Advisor under the Agreement and considered that employees of the Advisor provide management services to other ETFs and to other funds in the First Trust Fund Complex with diligence and care. The Board considered that the Advisor will be responsible for the overall management and administration of the Fund and reviewed all of the services to be provided by the Advisor to the Fund. The Board also considered the background and experience of the persons who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s investments. In reviewing the services to be provided, the Board noted the compliance program that had been developed by the Advisor and considered that it includes a robust program for monitoring the Advisor’s and the Fund’s compliance with the 1940 Act, as well as the Fund’s compliance with its investment objective, policies and restrictions. Because the Fund had yet to commence investment operations, the Board could not consider the historical investment performance of the Fund. Because the Fund is an index ETF that is designed to track the performance of an underlying index, the Board considered reports it receives on a quarterly basis showing the correlation and tracking error between other ETFs for which the Advisor serves as investment advisor and their applicable underlying indexes. In light of the information presented and the considerations made, the Board concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided to the Fund by the Advisor under the Agreement are expected to be satisfactory.
The Board considered the proposed unitary fee rate payable by the Fund under the Agreement for the services to be provided. The Board noted that, under the unitary fee arrangement, the Fund would pay the Advisor a unitary fee equal to an annual rate of 0.70% of its average daily net assets. The Board noted that the Advisor would be responsible for the Fund’s expenses, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit and other services and license fees, if any, but excluding the fee payment under the Agreement and interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, if any, brokerage commissions and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio transactions, distribution and service fees pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses, if any. The Board received and reviewed information showing the advisory or unitary fee rates and expense ratios of the peer funds in the Expense Group, as well as advisory and unitary fee rates charged by the Advisor to other ETF clients. Because the Fund will pay a unitary fee, the Board determined that expense ratios were the most relevant comparative data point. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that the unitary fee rate for the Fund was above the median total (net) expense ratio of the peer funds in the Expense Group. With respect to the Expense Group, the Board discussed with representatives of the Advisor how the Expense Group was assembled and how the Fund compared and differed from the peer funds. The Board took this information into account in considering the peer data. With respect to fees charged to other clients, the Board considered differences between the Fund and other clients that limited their comparability. The Board considered the Advisor’s statement that the Fund is most comparable to another index ETF that is managed by the Advisor that pays a unitary fee equal to an annual rate of 0.70% of its average daily net assets, due to their shared focus on targeted international exposures with robust selection methodologies. In light of the information considered and the nature, extent and quality of the services expected to be provided to the Fund under the Agreement, the Board determined that the proposed unitary fee for the Fund was fair and reasonable.
The Board noted that the proposed unitary fee for the Fund was not structured to pass on to shareholders the benefits of any economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow. The Board noted that any reduction in fixed costs associated with the management of the Fund would benefit the Advisor, but that the unitary fee structure provides a level of certainty in expenses for the Fund. The Board noted that the Advisor has continued to hire personnel and build infrastructure, including technology, to improve the services to the funds in the First Trust Fund Complex. The Board took into consideration the types of costs to be borne by the Advisor in connection with its services to be performed for the Fund under the Agreement. The Board considered the Advisor’s estimate of the asset level for the Fund at which the Advisor expects the Agreement to be profitable to the Advisor and the Advisor’s estimate of the profitability of the Agreement if the Fund’s assets reach $100 million. The Board noted the inherent limitations in the profitability analysis and concluded that, based on the information provided, the Advisor’s estimated profitability level for the Fund was not unreasonable. The Board considered fall-out benefits described by the Advisor that may be realized from its relationship with the Fund. The Board considered that the Advisor had identified as a fall-out benefit to the Advisor and FTP their exposure to investors and brokers who, absent their exposure to the Fund, may have had no dealings with the Advisor or FTP. The Board also considered the Advisor’s compensation for fund reporting services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to a separate Fund Reporting Services Agreement, which would be paid from the unitary fee. The Board also noted that the Advisor would not utilize soft dollars in connection with the Fund. The Board concluded that the character and amount of potential fall-out benefits to the Advisor were not unreasonable.
Based on all of the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, determined that the terms of the Agreement are fair and reasonable and that the approval of the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund. No single factor was determinative in the Board’s analysis.
Liquidity Risk Management Program
In accordance with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Funds and each other fund in the First Trust Fund Complex, other than the closed-end funds, have adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management
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Additional Information (Continued)
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
program (the “Program”) reasonably designed to assess and manage the funds’ liquidity risk, i.e., the risk that a fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the fund. The Board of Trustees of the First Trust Funds has appointed First Trust Advisors, L.P. (the “Advisor”) as the person designated to administer the Program, and in this capacity the Advisor performs its duties primarily through the activities and efforts of the First Trust Liquidity Committee (the “Liquidity Committee”).
Pursuant to the Program, the Liquidity Committee classifies the liquidity of each fund’s portfolio investments into one of the four liquidity categories specified by Rule 22e-4: highly liquid investments, moderately liquid investments, less liquid investments and illiquid investments. The Liquidity Committee determines certain of the inputs for this classification process, including reasonably anticipated trade sizes and significant investor dilution thresholds. The Liquidity Committee also determines and periodically reviews a highly liquid investment minimum for certain funds, monitors the funds’ holdings of assets classified as illiquid investments to seek to ensure they do not exceed 15% of a fund’s net assets and establishes policies and procedures regarding redemptions in kind.
At the April 26, 2021 meeting of the Board of Trustees, as required by Rule 22e-4 and the Program, the Advisor provided the Board with a written report prepared by the Advisor that addressed the operation of the Program during the period from March 20, 2020 through the Liquidity Committee’s annual meeting held on March 16, 2021 and assessed the Program’s adequacy and effectiveness of implementation during this period, including the operation of the highly liquid investment minimum for each fund that is required under the Program to have one, and any material changes to the Program. Note that because the Funds primarily hold assets that are highly liquid investments, the Funds have not adopted any highly liquid investment minimums.
As stated in the written report, during the review period, no fund breached the 15% limitation on illiquid investments, no fund with a highly liquid investment minimum breached that minimum and no fund filed a Form N-LIQUID. The Advisor concluded that each fund’s investment strategy is appropriate for an open-end fund; that the Program operated effectively in all material respects during the review period; and that the Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the liquidity risk of each fund and to maintain compliance with Rule 22e-4.
Board of Trustees
Effective November 1, 2021, Denise M. Keefe was appointed as a Trustee of the Trust. Ms. Keefe is Executive Vice President of Advocate Aurora Health and President of Advocate Aurora Continuing Health Division (together, “Advocate”), one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the U.S. serving Illinois and Wisconsin. Ms. Keefe has been employed by Advocate since 1993 and is responsible for the Continuing Health Division’s strategic direction, fiscal management, business development, revenue enhancement, operational efficiencies, and human resource management of 4,000 employees. Ms. Keefe also currently serves on the boards of several organizations within the Advocate Aurora Continuing Health Division and other health care organizations, including RML Long Term Acute Care Hospitals (since 2014) and Senior Helpers (since 2021). Prior thereto, Ms. Keefe was Corporate Vice President, Marketing and Business Development for the Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago (1989 – 1992) and a former Board Member of Sherman West Court Skilled Nursing Facility.
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Board of Trustees and Officers
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
The following tables identify the Trustees and Officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons is 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187.
The Trust’s statement of additional information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 988-5891.
Name, Year of Birth and Position with the Trust Term of Office and Year First Elected or Appointed Principal Occupations
During Past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios in the First Trust Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee Other Trusteeships or Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Richard E. Erickson, Trustee
(1951)
• Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
Physician; Officer, Wheaton Orthopedics; Limited Partner, Gundersen Real Estate Limited Partnership (June 1992 to December 2016) 213 None
Thomas R. Kadlec, Trustee
(1957)
• Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
President, ADM Investor Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant) 213 Director of ADM Investor Services, Inc., ADM Investor Services International, Futures Industry Association, and National Futures Association
Robert F. Keith, Trustee
(1956)
• Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial and Management Consulting) 213 Director of Trust Company of Illinois
Niel B. Nielson, Trustee
(1954)
• Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
Senior Advisor (August 2018 to Present), Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (January 2015 to August 2018), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services) 213 None
INTERESTED TRUSTEE
James A. Bowen(1), Trustee and Chairman of the Board
(1955)
• Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
Chief Executive Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chairman of the Board of Directors, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor) 213 None
    
(1) Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust due to his position as CEO of First Trust Advisors L.P., investment advisor of the Trust.
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Board of Trustees and Officers (Continued)
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
Name and Year of Birth Position and Offices with Trust Term of Office and Length of Service Principal Occupations
During Past 5 Years
OFFICERS(2)
James M. Dykas
(1966)
President and Chief Executive Officer • Indefinite Term

• Since January 2016
Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to Present), Controller (January 2011 to January 2016), Senior Vice President (April 2007 to January 2016), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chief Financial Officer (January 2016 to Present), BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)
Donald P. Swade
(1972)
Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer • Indefinite Term

• Since January 2016
Senior Vice President (July 2016 to Present), Vice President (April 2012 to July 2016), First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
W. Scott Jardine
(1960)
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer • Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Secretary and General Counsel, BondWave LLC; Secretary, Stonebridge Advisors LLC
Daniel J. Lindquist
(1970)
Vice President • Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
Managing Director, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Kristi A. Maher
(1966)
Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary • Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
Deputy General Counsel, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Roger F. Testin
(1966)
Vice President • Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.
Stan Ueland
(1970)
Vice President • Indefinite Term

• Since Inception
Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P
(2) The term “officer” means the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, controller or any other officer who performs a policy making function.
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Privacy Policy
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2021 (Unaudited)
Privacy Policy
First Trust values our relationship with you and considers your privacy an important priority in maintaining that relationship. We are committed to protecting the security and confidentiality of your personal information.
Sources of Information
We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:
Information we receive from you and your broker-dealer, investment professional or financial representative through interviews, applications, agreements or other forms;
Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates or others;
Information we receive from your inquiries by mail, e-mail or telephone; and
Information we collect on our website through the use of “cookies”. For example, we may identify the pages on our website that your browser requests or visits.
Information Collected
The type of data we collect may include your name, address, social security number, age, financial status, assets, income, tax information, retirement and estate plan information, transaction history, account balance, payment history, investment objectives, marital status, family relationships and other personal information.
Disclosure of Information
We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone, except as permitted by law. In addition to using this information to verify your identity (as required under law), the permitted uses may also include the disclosure of such information to unaffiliated companies for the following reasons:
In order to provide you with products and services and to effect transactions that you request or authorize, we may disclose your personal information as described above to unaffiliated financial service providers and other companies that perform administrative or other services on our behalf, such as transfer agents, custodians and trustees, or that assist us in the distribution of investor materials such as trustees, banks, financial representatives, proxy services, solicitors and printers.
We may release information we have about you if you direct us to do so, if we are compelled by law to do so, or in other legally limited circumstances (for example to protect your account from fraud).
In addition, in order to alert you to our other financial products and services, we may share your personal information within First Trust.
Use of Website Analytics
We currently use third party analytics tools, Google Analytics and AddThis, to gather information for purposes of improving First Trust’s website and marketing our products and services to you. These tools employ cookies, which are small pieces of text stored in a file by your web browser and sent to websites that you visit, to collect information, track website usage and viewing trends such as the number of hits, pages visited, videos and PDFs viewed and the length of user sessions in order to evaluate website performance and enhance navigation of the website. We may also collect other anonymous information, which is generally limited to technical and web navigation information such as the IP address of your device, internet browser type and operating system for purposes of analyzing the data to make First Trust’s website better and more useful to our users. The information collected does not include any personal identifiable information such as your name, address, phone number or email address unless you provide that information through the website for us to contact you in order to answer your questions or respond to your requests. To find out how to opt-out of these services click on: Google Analytics and AddThis.
Confidentiality and Security
With regard to our internal security procedures, First Trust restricts access to your nonpublic personal information to those First Trust employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your nonpublic personal information.
Policy Updates and Inquiries
As required by federal law, we will notify you of our privacy policy annually. We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time, however, if we do change it, we will tell you promptly. For questions about our policy, or for additional copies of this notice, please go to www.ftportfolios.com, or contact us at 1-800-621-1675 (First Trust Portfolios) or 1-800-222-6822 (First Trust Advisors).
March 2021
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Table of Contents
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN,
FUND ACCOUNTANT &
TRANSFER AGENT
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
50 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02110
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP
111 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
LEGAL COUNSEL
Chapman and Cutler LLP
111 W. Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603

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