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, as 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 webpage 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 its prospectus, statement of additional information, and other Fund regulatory filings.

Page 1

Shareholder Letter

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Annual Letter from the Chairman and CEO
September 30, 2023

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, 2023.

A famous financial industry quote came to mind as I was sizing up the current business climate:“Wall Street has a few prudent principles; the trouble is that they are always forgotten when they are most needed.” The past year has been a time when those who stuck with their principles were rewarded, in my opinion. The financial markets continue to battle a myriad of headwinds, from geopolitical uncertainty resulting from war (Israel and Hamas and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine), to slowing global economic growth and inflation. Inflation, for one, has remained persistently high. A common measure of inflation is the 12-month rate of change in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). The CPI stood at 3.7% on September 30, 2023, significantly lower than its most recent high of 9.1% set on June 30, 2022, but up from its most recent low of 3.0% on June 30, 2023. Considering this, as well as other better-than-expected economic data, the Federal Reserve recently noted that the Federal Funds target rate will need to remain elevated for a longer period than previously expected.

As many investors are likely aware, a higher Federal Funds target rate has deep implications for consumers. Perhaps the most obvious area impacted by higher rates is housing. The national average for a 30-year mortgage stood at 7.99% as of October 18, 2023, up from 3.22% on October 20, 2021. Higher mortgage rates, coupled with high home prices, are stretching U.S. home affordability. The monthly payment on a median-priced home ($407,100 in August 2023) with a 20% down payment, and a mortgage rate of 7.99%, comes in at $2,387. It is not just mortgage rates that are pressuring the budgets of U.S. households. Debt payments on car loans and credit cards are showing signs of weakness as well. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York revealed that the rate of new credit card and new auto loan delinquencies stood at 7.2% and 7.3%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2023 (most recent data), surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

While headwinds to the global economy exist, not all the news is bad. Driven by technological developments in artificial intelligence, the U.S. equity markets have had a phenomenal year. Year-to-date through September 30, 2023, the S&P 500® Index has enjoyed a total return of 13.07%. Additionally, the U.S. exported a record 20.4 billion cubic feet per day (“Bcf/d”) of natural gas and 11.6 Bcf/d of liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) over the first six months of the year, making the U.S. the world’s largest exporter of LNG during the period. It can be tempting to deviate from fundamentals when times get tough, but we continue to encourage investors to hold fast to their principles; they will serve you for years to come.

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.

Page 2

Market Overview

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Annual Report
September 30, 2023

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 latest global growth forecast from the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”) released in October 2023 sees real gross domestic product growth rising by 3.0% worldwide in 2023, up from its 2.9% projection in January 2023. The IMF is currently forecasting a 2.1% growth rate for the U.S., up from its January 2023 estimate of 1.4%. Emerging Market and Developing Economies are expected to grow by 4.0% this year, unchanged from the IMF’s 4.0% estimate in January 2023. The IMF notes that risks to their global outlook remain tilted to the downside, citing the real estate crisis in China, the potential for increased volatility among commodity prices, and uncomfortably high inflation, among other reasons, for their outlook.

In the U.S., inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”), stood at 3.7% on a trailing 12-month basis at the end of September 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While this is significantly lower than the most recent high of 9.1% in June 2022, the September 2023 CPI reading reflects a re-acceleration in the metric when compared to its most recent low of 3.0% set on June 30, 2023.

Performance of Global Stocks and Bonds

The major U.S. stock indices delivered positive results over the past 12 months. The S&P 500® (the “Index”), S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® Indices posted total returns of 21.62%, 15.51% and 10.08%, respectively, for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2023. Nine of the 11 major sectors that comprise the Index were positive on a total return basis. The top performer was the Information Technology sector, up 41.10%, while the worst showing came from the Utilities sector, down 7.02%.

A Bloomberg survey of twenty-two equity strategists found that their average 2023 year-end price target for the Index was 4,370 as of October 18, 2023, according to its own release. The highest and lowest estimates were 4,900 and 3,700, respectively. The Index closed trading on September 29, 2023, at 4,288.05. Bloomberg’s consensus year-over-year earnings growth rate estimates for the Index for the 2023 and 2024 calendar years stood at -2.83% and 11.89%, respectively, as of October 13, 2023.

The broader foreign stock indices experienced positive total returns over the past year. For the 12-month period ended September 30, 2023, the MSCI World ex USA and MSCI Emerging Markets equity indices posted total returns of 24.00% (USD) and 11.70% (USD), respectively, according to Bloomberg. The major foreign bond indices were also up over the same period. The Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index of higher quality debt posted a total return of 2.24% (USD), while the Bloomberg EM Hard Currency Aggregate Index of emerging markets debt rose by 8.57% (USD), according to Bloomberg. The U.S. dollar fell 5.30% over the past 12 months against a basket of major currencies, as measured by the U.S. Dollar Index. The decrease in the dollar provided a boost to the performance of both foreign stock and bond indices, in our opinion.

Results were also positive in the U.S. bond market over the period. The top performing major debt group we track was intermediate U.S. high yield bonds. The Bloomberg Intermediate U.S. High Yield Index posted a total return of 10.34% for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2023. The worst performing U.S. debt group that we track was the Ginnie Mae 30-Year Bond. The Bloomberg Ginnie Mae 30-Year Index posted a total return of 0.29%. The yield on the benchmark 10-Year Treasury Note (“T-Note”) rose by 74 basis points in the period to close at 4.57% on September 29, 2023, according to Bloomberg. For comparative purposes, the average yield on the 10-Year T-Note was 2.27% for the 10-year period ended September 30, 2023.

Page 3

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 AchieversTM 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 Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of 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 Nasdaq, Inc., under the ticker symbol “SDVY.”

Performance
		Average Annual Total Returns		Cumulative Total Returns
	1 Year Ended 9/30/23	5 Years Ended 9/30/23	Inception (11/1/17) to 9/30/23	5 Years Ended 9/30/23	Inception (11/1/17) to 9/30/23
Fund Performance
NAV	25.25%	7.80%	7.94%	45.55%	57.08%
Market Price	25.25%	7.80%	7.94%	45.55%	57.08%
Index Performance
Nasdaq US Small Mid Cap Rising Dividend AchieversTM Index	26.17%	8.44%	8.61%	49.98%	62.92%
S&P 1000® Index	13.86%	5.19%	6.71%	28.76%	46.82%

(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 10.)

Performance Review

The Fund generated a net asset value (“NAV”) return of 25.25% during the 12-month period covered by this report. During the same period, the S&P 1000® Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 13.86%. During the period covered by this report, the Financials sector carried the most weight in the Fund, with an allocation of 29.5%. Investments in this sector contributed 2.1% to the Fund’s return. The sector with the greatest contribution to the Fund’s return was the Industrials sector, which received an allocation of 23.5% and contributed 8.5% to the Fund’s return. The sector that caused the most drag on the Fund’s performance was the Consumer Staples sector, which had a -0.2% contribution to the Fund’s return, which was driven almost exclusively by the 0.9% allocation to Medifast, Inc.

Nasdaq® and Nasdaq US Small Mid Cap Rising Dividend AchieversTM 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 its 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 4

Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)

First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) (Continued)

Sector Allocation	% of Total Long-Term Investments
Financials	29.4%
Industrials	24.2
Consumer Discretionary	14.0
Information Technology	11.2
Energy	9.2
Materials	6.1
Consumer Staples	3.0
Communication Services	1.9
Real Estate	1.0
Total	100.0%

Top Ten Holdings	% of Total Long-Term Investments
Steel Dynamics, Inc.	1.1%
Watsco, Inc.	1.1
CONSOL Energy, Inc.	1.1
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.	1.1
Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc.	1.1
Teradyne, Inc.	1.1
Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc.	1.1
Matson, Inc.	1.1
Columbia Sportswear Co.	1.1
Boise Cascade Co.	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.

Page 5

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 ValueTM 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 CapTM 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 Index is owned and was developed by Nasdaq, Inc. The shares of the Fund are listed and traded on Nasdaq, Inc., under the ticker symbol “DVLU.”

Performance
		Average Annual Total Returns		Cumulative Total Returns
	1 Year Ended 9/30/23	5 Years Ended 9/30/23	Inception (9/5/18) to 9/30/23	5 Years Ended 9/30/23	Inception (9/5/18) to 9/30/23
Fund Performance
NAV	14.03%	5.01%	4.40%	27.72%	24.40%
Market Price	14.03%	5.00%	4.41%	27.64%	24.45%
Index Performance
Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus ValueTM Index	14.88%	5.68%	5.07%	31.85%	28.49%
S&P 500® Index	21.62%	9.92%	9.99%	60.44%	62.06%

(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 10.)

Performance Review

The Fund generated a NAV return of 14.03% during the 12-month period covered by this report. During the same period, the S&P 500® Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 21.62%. During the period covered by this report, the Fund’s investments were spread across several sectors. The sector with the greatest average weight in the Fund was the Financials sector. Investments in this sector received an allocation of 20.1% but contributed only 0.9% to the Fund’s overall return. The sector with the greatest return was the Industrials sector, with an allocation of 15.6% and a 6.9% contribution to the Fund’s return. Meanwhile, the most negatively contributing sector was the Consumer Discretionary sector which received an allocation of 12.3% and contributed -0.8% to the Fund’s return.

Nasdaq® and Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus ValueTM 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 its 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 6

Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)

First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU) (Continued)

Sector Allocation	% of Total Long-Term Investments
Consumer Discretionary	26.0%
Industrials	20.6
Information Technology	12.0
Financials	11.3
Materials	9.7
Health Care	5.8
Utilities	4.8
Consumer Staples	4.1
Energy	3.6
Communication Services	1.1
Real Estate	1.0
Total	100.0%

Top Ten Holdings	% of Total Long-Term Investments
Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C	4.1%
Old Republic International Corp.	3.3
Westlake Corp.	3.1
Lithia Motors, Inc.	3.0
Toll Brothers, Inc.	2.9
PulteGroup, Inc.	2.9
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B	2.8
Owens Corning	2.8
Capital One Financial Corp.	2.8
Textron, Inc.	2.8
Total	30.5%

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

Page 7

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 VolatilityTM 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 CapTM 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 Index is owned and was developed by Nasdaq, Inc. The shares of the Fund are listed and traded on Nasdaq, Inc., under the ticker symbol “DVOL.”

Performance
		Average Annual Total Returns		Cumulative Total Returns
	1 Year Ended 9/30/23	5 Years Ended 9/30/23	Inception (9/5/18) to 9/30/23	5 Years Ended 9/30/23	Inception (9/5/18) to 9/30/23
Fund Performance
NAV	5.64%	5.80%	5.68%	32.54%	32.34%
Market Price	5.59%	5.78%	5.69%	32.46%	32.39%
Index Performance
Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Low VolatilityTM Index	6.33%	6.47%	6.36%	36.84%	36.69%
S&P 500® Index	21.62%	9.92%	9.99%	60.44%	62.06%

(See Notes to Fund Performance Overview on page 10.)

Performance Review

The Fund generated a NAV return of 5.64% during the 12-month period covered by this report. During the same period, the S&P 500® Index (the “Benchmark”) generated a return of 21.62%. The two sectors with the greatest allocation in the Fund during the period covered by this report were the Financials and Industrials sector. The Industrials sector received the greatest allocation at 22.3% and contributed 1.7% to the Fund’s return. The greatest contribution came from the Financials sector, which carried an average weight in the Fund of 21.9% and contributed 2.7% to the Fund’s overall performance. The most significantly negative contributor to the Fund came from investments in the Information Technology sector, which had an allocation of 2.5% and had a -0.5% contribution to the Fund’s return.

Nasdaq® and Dorsey Wright Momentum Plus Low VolatilityTM 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 its 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 8

Fund Performance Overview (Unaudited) (Continued)

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

Sector Allocation	% of Total Long-Term Investments
Industrials	30.0%
Consumer Discretionary	18.4
Financials	15.9
Health Care	13.3
Consumer Staples	11.2
Information Technology	5.1
Utilities	3.5
Real Estate	2.6
Total	100.0%

Top Ten Holdings	% of Total Long-Term Investments
Procter & Gamble (The) Co.	3.2%
McDonald’s Corp.	3.2
Chemed Corp.	3.0
Republic Services, Inc.	3.0
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.	2.9
Waste Management, Inc.	2.9
Yum! Brands, Inc.	2.9
Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.	2.8
TJX (The) Cos., Inc.	2.8
Merck & Co., Inc.	2.8
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

Page 9

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 the Securities and Exchange Commission’s 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.

Page 10

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Understanding Your Fund Expenses
September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

As a shareholder of First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF, First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF, or First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility 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, 2023.

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, 2023	Ending Account Value September 30, 2023	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	$1,070.40	0.60%	$3.11
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)	$1,000.00	$1,022.06	0.60%	$3.04
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)
Actual	$1,000.00	$1,033.60	0.60%	$3.06
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	$981.10	0.60%	$2.98
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)	$1,000.00	$1,022.06	0.60%	$3.04

(a)	Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio as indicated in the table multiplied by the average account value over the period (April 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023), multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the six-month period).

Page 11

First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2023

Shares	Description	Value
COMMON STOCKS — 99.9%
	Automobiles — 1.0%
245,956	Winnebago Industries, Inc.	$14,622,084
	Banks — 14.8%
390,001	Bank OZK	14,457,337
695,844	Cadence Bank	14,765,810
402,095	Cathay General Bancorp	13,976,822
345,834	Comerica, Inc.	14,369,403
649,822	Eagle Bancorp, Inc.	13,938,682
274,606	East West Bancorp, Inc.	14,474,482
1,098,984	First BanCorp	14,792,325
342,963	International Bancshares Corp.	14,864,016
506,902	OFG Bancorp	15,136,094
668,884	Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.	14,554,916
235,224	Popular, Inc.	14,821,464
494,386	Synovus Financial Corp.	13,743,931
807,911	Veritex Holdings, Inc.	14,502,002
193,358	Wintrust Financial Corp.	14,598,529
405,934	Zions Bancorp N.A.	14,163,037
		217,158,850
	Building Products — 3.0%
124,821	Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.	14,208,375
109,469	Owens Corning	14,932,666
146,580	UFP Industries, Inc.	15,009,792
		44,150,833
	Capital Markets — 1.9%
103,386	Evercore, Inc., Class A	14,254,861
225,702	Stifel Financial Corp.	13,867,131
		28,121,992
	Chemicals — 1.0%
117,955	Westlake Corp.	14,705,450
	Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.0%
94,498	Tetra Tech, Inc.	14,366,531
	Communications Equipment — 1.0%
529,937	Juniper Networks, Inc.	14,726,949
	Construction & Engineering — 1.0%
178,484	AECOM	14,821,311
	Consumer Finance — 2.9%
513,964	Ally Financial, Inc.	13,712,559
1,052,267	SLM Corp.	14,331,877
456,824	Synchrony Financial	13,965,110
		42,009,546
	Electrical Equipment — 2.0%
46,950	Hubbell, Inc.	14,714,600
99,523	Regal Rexnord Corp.	14,219,846
		28,934,446

Shares	Description	Value

	Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 5.0%
143,476	Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.	$14,795,245
620,136	Benchmark Electronics, Inc.	15,044,499
262,957	Crane NXT Co.	14,612,521
59,485	Littelfuse, Inc.	14,711,830
599,965	Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.	14,831,135
		73,995,230
	Financial Services — 5.8%
509,452	Equitable Holdings, Inc.	14,463,342
304,604	Essent Group Ltd.	14,404,723
370,411	Jackson Financial, Inc., Class A	14,157,108
866,585	MGIC Investment Corp.	14,463,304
574,200	Radian Group, Inc.	14,418,162
182,936	Walker & Dunlop, Inc.	13,581,169
		85,487,808
	Food Products — 1.1%
326,102	Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.	15,789,859
	Ground Transportation — 3.0%
80,721	Landstar System, Inc.	14,282,774
732,822	Marten Transport Ltd.	14,443,922
530,111	Schneider National, Inc., Class B	14,678,773
		43,405,469
	Household Durables — 5.9%
215,073	Century Communities, Inc.	14,362,575
484,120	Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.	14,475,188
464,447	La-Z-Boy, Inc.	14,342,123
347,548	MDC Holdings, Inc.	14,329,404
197,695	PulteGroup, Inc.	14,639,315
192,362	Toll Brothers, Inc.	14,227,093
		86,375,698
	Insurance — 4.0%
132,292	American Financial Group, Inc.	14,773,048
349,714	Fidelity National Financial, Inc.	14,443,188
193,451	Principal Financial Group, Inc.	13,942,014
308,613	Unum Group	15,180,673
		58,338,923
	Leisure Products — 1.1%
296,997	Sturm Ruger & Co., Inc.	15,479,484
	Machinery — 7.0%
121,864	AGCO Corp.	14,414,074
199,889	Graco, Inc.	14,567,910
69,825	IDEX Corp.	14,524,997
150,333	ITT, Inc.	14,719,104
203,927	Mueller Industries, Inc.	15,327,153
57,274	Snap-on, Inc.	14,608,306
256,498	Terex Corp.	14,779,415
		102,940,959

See Notes to Financial Statements

Page 12

First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)
Portfolio of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2023

Shares	Description	Value
COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
	Marine Transportation — 1.0%
174,064	Matson, Inc.	$15,442,958
	Media — 1.9%
488,080	Interpublic Group of (The) Cos., Inc.	13,988,373
193,509	Omnicom Group, Inc.	14,412,550
		28,400,923
	Metals & Mining — 4.2%
60,757	Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc.	15,780,416
288,488	Commercial Metals Co.	14,254,192
57,362	Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.	15,042,037
150,753	Steel Dynamics, Inc.	16,163,737
		61,240,382
	Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 9.2%
261,465	California Resources Corp.	14,644,655
94,537	Chord Energy Corp.	15,321,612
178,949	Civitas Resources, Inc.	14,471,606
152,221	CONSOL Energy, Inc.	15,969,505
361,279	EQT Corp.	14,660,702
651,940	Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp., Class A	14,935,945
243,451	Matador Resources Co.	14,480,465
378,237	SM Energy Co.	14,997,097
8,351	Texas Pacific Land Corp.	15,228,549
		134,710,136
	Paper & Forest Products — 1.0%
255,406	Louisiana-Pacific Corp.	14,116,290
	Personal Care Products — 1.9%
108,117	Inter Parfums, Inc.	14,524,438
184,412	Medifast, Inc.	13,803,238
		28,327,676
	Professional Services — 4.0%
406,241	Genpact Ltd.	14,705,924
152,163	Insperity, Inc.	14,851,109
993,277	Resources Connection, Inc.	14,809,760
200,174	Robert Half, Inc.	14,668,751
		59,035,544
	Real Estate Management & Development — 0.9%
474,355	Marcus & Millichap, Inc.	13,917,576
	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 4.1%
671,678	Amkor Technology, Inc.	15,179,923
151,934	Skyworks Solutions, Inc.	14,979,173

Shares	Description	Value

	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (Continued)
156,765	Teradyne, Inc.	$15,748,612
95,127	Universal Display Corp.	14,933,987
		60,841,695
	Specialty Retail — 3.0%
205,937	Best Buy Co., Inc.	14,306,444
445,903	Buckle (The), Inc.	14,888,701
131,726	Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.	14,302,809
		43,497,954
	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 1.0%
192,534	NetApp, Inc.	14,609,480
	Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 3.1%
208,078	Columbia Sportswear Co.	15,418,580
559,672	Movado Group, Inc.	15,307,029
470,721	Steven Madden Ltd.	14,954,806
		45,680,415
	Trading Companies & Distributors — 2.1%
149,622	Boise Cascade Co.	15,417,051
42,622	Watsco, Inc.	16,099,182
		31,516,233


	Total Investments — 99.9%	1,466,768,684
	(Cost $1,439,886,177)
	Net Other Assets and Liabilities — 0.1%	2,183,824
	Net Assets — 100.0%	$1,468,952,508

Valuation Inputs

A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2023 is as follows (see Note 2A - Portfolio Valuation in the Notes to Financial Statements):

	Total Value at 9/30/2023	Level 1 Quoted Prices	Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs	Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs
Common Stocks*	$ 1,466,768,684	$ 1,466,768,684	$ —	$ —

*	See Portfolio of Investments for industry breakout.

See Notes to Financial Statements

Page 13

First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2023

Shares	Description	Value
COMMON STOCKS — 99.9%
	Aerospace & Defense — 2.8%
7,335	Textron, Inc.	$573,157
	Air Freight & Logistics — 1.1%
1,968	Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.	225,592
	Banks — 3.8%
315	First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Class A	434,732
2,371	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	343,842
		778,574
	Beverages — 2.8%
9,187	Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B	584,201
	Building Products — 5.1%
3,893	Builders FirstSource, Inc. (a)	484,639
4,204	Owens Corning	573,468
		1,058,107
	Chemicals — 4.4%
8,961	Chemours (The) Co.	251,356
5,166	Westlake Corp.	644,045
		895,401
	Construction & Engineering — 1.7%
13,087	API Group Corp. (a)	339,346
	Consumer Finance — 2.8%
5,907	Capital One Financial Corp.	573,274
	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail — 1.3%
6,513	US Foods Holding Corp. (a)	258,566
	Containers & Packaging — 2.7%
24,571	Graphic Packaging Holding Co.	547,442
	Distributors — 1.7%
7,209	LKQ Corp.	356,918
	Electric Utilities — 2.2%
27,553	PG&E Corp. (a)	444,430
	Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 5.5%
9,212	Coherent Corp. (a)	300,680
5,695	Crane NXT Co.	316,471
4,040	Jabil, Inc.	512,635
		1,129,786
	Energy Equipment & Services — 2.5%
5,986	Baker Hughes Co.	211,426
7,217	Halliburton Co.	292,288
		503,714

Shares	Description	Value

	Health Care Providers & Services — 5.8%
6,415	Cardinal Health, Inc.	$556,950
760	HCA Healthcare, Inc.	186,945
6,939	Tenet Healthcare Corp. (a)	457,211
		1,201,106
	Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 1.3%
4,375	Boyd Gaming Corp.	266,131
	Household Durables — 13.6%
5,085	D.R. Horton, Inc.	546,485
4,974	Lennar Corp., Class A	558,232
43	NVR, Inc. (a)	256,422
8,121	PulteGroup, Inc.	601,360
8,141	Toll Brothers, Inc.	602,109
952	TopBuild Corp. (a)	239,523
		2,804,131
	Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 2.6%
16,370	Vistra Corp.	543,157
	Insurance — 4.7%
3,675	Arch Capital Group Ltd. (a)	292,934
25,123	Old Republic International Corp.	676,814
		969,748
	Machinery — 1.9%
4,512	PACCAR, Inc.	383,610
	Media — 1.1%
7,636	Interpublic Group of (The) Cos., Inc.	218,848
	Metals & Mining — 2.7%
2,108	Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.	552,781
	Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 1.1%
19,607	Antero Midstream Corp.	234,892
	Passenger Airlines — 0.9%
5,109	Delta Air Lines, Inc.	189,033
	Professional Services — 2.3%
677	CACI International, Inc., Class A (a)	212,530
2,239	TriNet Group, Inc. (a)	260,799
		473,329
	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 2.3%
21,064	Amkor Technology, Inc.	476,046
	Specialized REITs — 1.0%
6,871	VICI Properties, Inc.	199,946
	Specialty Retail — 8.1%
3,336	AutoNation, Inc. (a)	505,070

See Notes to Financial Statements

Page 14

First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
Portfolio of Investments
September 30, 2023

Shares	Description	Value
COMMON STOCKS — 99.9%
	Aerospace & Defense — 0.9%
11,307	Howmet Aerospace, Inc.	$522,949
	Beverages — 3.8%
10,817	Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B	687,853
28,586	Monster Beverage Corp. (a)	1,513,629
		2,201,482
	Commercial Services & Supplies — 9.2%
2,647	Cintas Corp.	1,273,233
14,986	Copart, Inc. (a)	645,747
11,888	Republic Services, Inc.	1,694,159
10,847	Waste Management, Inc.	1,653,517
		5,266,656
	Communications Equipment — 1.6%
3,409	Motorola Solutions, Inc.	928,066
	Construction & Engineering — 1.7%
11,978	AECOM	994,653
	Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail — 1.8%
1,843	Costco Wholesale Corp.	1,041,221
	Distributors — 1.4%
16,269	LKQ Corp.	805,478
	Electric Utilities — 3.5%
33,914	PG&E Corp. (a)	547,033
22,698	Southern (The) Co.	1,469,014
		2,016,047
	Electrical Equipment — 2.2%
8,602	AMETEK, Inc.	1,271,031
	Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 1.5%
10,088	Amphenol Corp., Class A	847,291
	Financial Services — 4.7%
2,929	Mastercard, Inc., Class A	1,159,621
6,635	Visa, Inc., Class A	1,526,116
		2,685,737
	Food Products — 2.4%
14,608	Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.	1,350,656
	Ground Transportation — 2.4%
27,033	CSX Corp.	831,265
2,945	Landstar System, Inc.	521,088
		1,352,353
	Health Care Providers & Services — 8.7%
11,904	Cardinal Health, Inc.	1,033,505

Shares	Description	Value

	Health Care Providers & Services (Continued)
8,739	Cencora, Inc.	$1,572,758
3,301	Chemed Corp.	1,715,530
7,372	Ensign Group (The), Inc.	685,080
		5,006,873
	Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 8.9%
7,259	Darden Restaurants, Inc.	1,039,634
6,874	McDonald’s Corp.	1,810,886
6,288	Texas Roadhouse, Inc.	604,277
13,136	Yum! Brands, Inc.	1,641,212
		5,096,009
	Household Products — 3.2%
12,538	Procter & Gamble (The) Co.	1,828,793
	Insurance — 11.2%
4,730	Aon PLC, Class A	1,533,561
7,287	Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.	1,660,926
8,573	Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.	1,631,442
59,893	Old Republic International Corp.	1,613,517
		6,439,446
	IT Services — 1.0%
2,942	VeriSign, Inc. (a)	595,843
	Machinery — 8.8%
3,518	Illinois Tool Works, Inc.	810,231
4,188	Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.	761,337
14,358	Otis Worldwide Corp.	1,153,091
9,066	PACCAR, Inc.	770,791
3,721	Snap-on, Inc.	949,078
5,800	Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.	616,366
		5,060,894
	Pharmaceuticals — 4.5%
1,831	Eli Lilly & Co.	983,485
15,675	Merck & Co., Inc.	1,613,741
		2,597,226
	Professional Services — 4.8%
4,051	CACI International, Inc., Class A (a)	1,271,730
11,676	KBR, Inc.	688,184
3,247	Verisk Analytics, Inc.	767,071
		2,726,985
	Software — 1.0%
5,343	Oracle Corp.	565,931
	Specialized REITs — 2.6%
50,693	VICI Properties, Inc.	1,475,166
	Specialty Retail — 8.1%
574	AutoZone, Inc. (a)	1,457,954

See Notes to Financial Statements

Page 16

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
September 30, 2023

	First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
ASSETS:
Investments, at value	$1,466,768,684	$20,530,369	$57,323,563
Cash	979,817	18,050	56,722
Receivables:
Capital shares sold	4,243,393	—	—
Investment securities sold	2,817,781	—	—
Dividends	1,885,794	8,940	53,565
Prepaid expenses	9,820	—	—
Total Assets	1,476,705,289	20,557,359	57,433,850

LIABILITIES:
Payables:
Investment securities purchased	4,236,697	—	—
Capital shares purchased	2,822,148	—	—
Investment advisory fees	693,936	10,463	29,137
Total Liabilities	7,752,781	10,463	29,137
NET ASSETS	$1,468,952,508	$20,546,896	$57,404,713

NET ASSETS consist of:
Paid-in capital	$1,533,543,761	$32,160,093	$83,995,882
Par value	520,500	9,000	23,000
Accumulated distributable earnings (loss)	(65,111,753 )	(11,622,197 )	(26,614,169 )
NET ASSETS	$1,468,952,508	$20,546,896	$57,404,713
NET ASSET VALUE, per share	$28.22	$22.83	$24.96
Number of shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, par value $0.01 per share)	52,050,002	900,002	2,300,002
Investments, at cost	$1,439,886,177	$19,961,142	$58,309,929

See Notes to Financial Statements

Page 18

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
Statements of Changes in Net Assets

	First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)		First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)
	Year Ended 9/30/2023	Year Ended 9/30/2022	Year Ended 9/30/2023	Year Ended 9/30/2022
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income (loss)	$28,179,897	$15,508,578	$380,340	$401,682
Net realized gain (loss)	(39,629,203 )	(24,538,123 )	(48,956 )	(1,579,870 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)	213,773,113	(182,334,771 )	2,437,242	(1,474,104 )
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations	202,323,807	(191,364,316 )	2,768,626	(2,652,292 )

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:
Investment operations	(27,281,896 )	(14,025,016 )	(381,866 )	(416,941 )

SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTIONS:
Proceeds from shares sold	645,830,986	937,688,574	4,574,083	5,097,895
Cost of shares redeemed	(171,541,592 )	(123,351,150 )	(5,783,162 )	(8,523,685 )
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from shareholder transactions	474,289,394	814,337,424	(1,209,079 )	(3,425,790 )
Total increase (decrease) in net assets	649,331,305	608,948,092	1,177,681	(6,495,023 )

NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period	819,621,203	210,673,111	19,369,215	25,864,238
End of period	$1,468,952,508	$819,621,203	$20,546,896	$19,369,215

CHANGES IN SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Shares outstanding, beginning of period	35,500,002	7,450,002	950,002	1,100,002
Shares sold	22,900,000	32,800,000	200,000	200,000
Shares redeemed	(6,350,000 )	(4,750,000 )	(250,000 )	(350,000 )
Shares outstanding, end of period	52,050,002	35,500,002	900,002	950,002

See Notes to Financial Statements

Page 20

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,
	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
Net asset value, beginning of period	$23.09	$28.28	$18.27	$20.37	$21.28
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.70 (a)	0.51	0.36	0.33	0.35
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	5.10	(5.21 )	9.99	(2.08 )	(0.92 )
Total from investment operations	5.80	(4.70 )	10.35	(1.75 )	(0.57 )
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.67 )	(0.49 )	(0.34 )	(0.35 )	(0.34 )
Net asset value, end of period	$28.22	$23.09	$28.28	$18.27	$20.37
Total return (b)	25.25 %	(16.78 )%	56.77 %	(8.56 )%	(2.59 )%

Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$1,468,953	$819,621	$210,673	$10,050	$7,128
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	2.56 %	2.25 %	1.77 %	1.83 %	1.95 %
Portfolio turnover rate (c)	58 %	86 %	36 %	76 %	78 %

(a)	Based on average shares outstanding.
(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)	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 22

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,
	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
Net asset value, beginning of period	$20.39	$23.51	$15.07	$18.52	$19.46
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.40 (a)	0.40	0.29	0.25	0.33
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	2.45	(3.11 )	8.42	(3.44 )	(0.94 )
Total from investment operations	2.85	(2.71 )	8.71	(3.19 )	(0.61 )
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.41 )	(0.41 )	(0.27 )	(0.26 )	(0.33 )
Net asset value, end of period	$22.83	$20.39	$23.51	$15.07	$18.52
Total return (b)	14.03 %	(11.71 )%	57.98 %	(17.19 )%	(3.04 )%

Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$20,547	$19,369	$25,864	$14,320	$19,451
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	1.75 %	1.64 %	1.68 %	1.56 %	2.01 %
Portfolio turnover rate (c)	223 %	230 %	195 %	205 %	152 %

(a)	Based on average shares outstanding.
(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)	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 23

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,
	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
Net asset value, beginning of period	$23.96	$27.53	$22.46	$22.81	$19.94
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income (loss)	0.34 (a)	0.32	0.10	0.28	0.29
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	1.02	(3.60 )	5.06	(0.30 )	2.85
Total from investment operations	1.36	(3.28 )	5.16	(0.02 )	3.14
Distributions paid to shareholders from:
Net investment income	(0.36 )	(0.29 )	(0.09 )	(0.33 )	(0.27 )
Net asset value, end of period	$24.96	$23.96	$27.53	$22.46	$22.81
Total return (b)	5.64 %	(12.02 )%	22.98 %	0.03 %	15.93 %

Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)	$57,405	$81,454	$121,114	$124,674	$131,169
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %	0.60 %
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets	1.33 %	1.04 %	0.36 %	1.21 %	2.37 %
Portfolio turnover rate (c)	150 %	169 %	136 %	187 %	81 %

(a)	Based on average shares outstanding.
(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)	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 24

Notes to Financial Statements

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023

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 three funds (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) listed below, each a diversified series of the Trust. The shares of each Fund are listed and traded on Nasdaq, Inc. (“Nasdaq”).

First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF – (ticker “SDVY”)

First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF – (ticker “DVLU”)

First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF – (ticker “DVOL”)

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 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

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. 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 readily available market quotations such as 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 approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, and in accordance with provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder. 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 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 primary exchange for such securities.

Equity securities traded in an over-the-counter market are valued at the close price or the last trade price.

Page 25

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by pre-established pricing methods. Such securities may be valued by 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:

the last sale price on the exchange on which they are principally traded or, for Nasdaq and AIM securities, the official closing price;

the type of security;

the size of the holding;

the initial cost of the security;

transactions in comparable securities;

price quotes from dealers and/or third-party pricing services;

relationships among various securities;

information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, or the appropriate stock exchange;

an analysis of the issuer’s financial statements;

10)

the existence of merger proposals or tender offers that might affect the value of the security; and

11)

other relevant factors.

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.

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, 2023, 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. Interest income, if any, is recorded on the accrual basis.

Page 26

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023

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. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

Dividends from net investment income of each Fund, if any, are declared and paid quarterly, or as the Board of Trustees may determine from time to time. Distributions of net realized gains earned by each Fund, if any, are distributed at least annually. A Fund may also designate a portion of the amount paid to redeeming shareholders as a distribution for tax purposes.

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 significantly modified 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 year ended September 30, 2023 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	$27,281,896	$—	$—
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	381,866	—	—
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	908,946	—	—

The tax character of distributions paid by each Fund during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 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	$14,025,016	$—	$—
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	416,941	—	—
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	1,071,096	—	—

As of September 30, 2023, 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	$2,596,953	$(71,896,021 )	$4,187,315
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	25,588	(12,215,807 )	568,022
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	112,988	(25,739,492 )	(987,665 )

D. Income Taxes

Each Fund intends to 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 income and net realized gains to shareholders. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal and state income taxes. However, due to the

Page 27

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023

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. The taxable years ended 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 remain open to federal and state audit. As of September 30, 2023, 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.

Each Fund intends to utilize provisions of the federal income tax laws, which allow it to carry a realized capital loss forward indefinitely following the year of the loss and offset such loss against any future realized capital gains. Each Fund is 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, 2023, for federal income tax purposes, each applicable Fund had a capital loss carryforward available that is shown in the following table, to the extent provided by regulations, to offset future capital gains. To the extent that these loss carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains, it is probable that the capital gains so offset will not be distributed to each applicable Fund’s shareholders.

	Non-Expiring Capital Loss Carryforwards
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	$71,896,021
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	12,215,807
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	25,739,492

Certain losses realized during the current fiscal year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year for federal income tax purposes. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, the Funds had no net late year ordinary or capital losses.

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 year ended September 30, 2023, 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	$75,131	$(24,333,165 )	$24,258,034
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	—	(409,550 )	409,550
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	—	(1,174,102 )	1,174,102

As of September 30, 2023, the aggregate cost, gross unrealized appreciation, gross unrealized depreciation, and net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

	Tax Cost	Gross Unrealized Appreciation	Gross Unrealized (Depreciation)	Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	$1,462,581,369	$117,320,151	$(113,132,836 )	$4,187,315
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	19,962,347	1,920,298	(1,352,276 )	568,022
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	58,311,228	1,638,785	(2,626,450 )	(987,665 )

E. Expenses

Expenses, other than the investment advisory fee and other excluded expenses, are paid by the Advisor (see Note 3).

Page 28

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023

First Trust has entered into licensing agreements with Nasdaq, Inc. (“Licensor”) 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 Licensor. The Funds are sub-licensees to the applicable license agreements.

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, licensing fees, legal, audit and other services, but excluding fee payments under the Investment Management Agreement, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses associated with the execution of portfolio transactions, acquired fund fees and expenses, distribution and service fees pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 plan, if any, and extraordinary expenses, which are paid by each respective Fund. Prior to August 7, 2023, First Trust also provided fund reporting services to the Funds for a flat annual fee in the amount of $9,250 per Fund, which was covered under the annual unitary management fee. Effective November 1, 2022, the annual unitary management fee payable by each Fund to First Trust for these services will be reduced at certain levels of each Fund’s net assets (“breakpoints”) and calculated pursuant to the following schedule:

Breakpoints
Fund net assets up to and including $2.5 billion	0.600 %
Fund net assets greater than $2.5 billion up to and including $5 billion	0.585 %
Fund net assets greater than $5 billion up to and including $7.5 billion	0.570 %
Fund net assets greater than $7.5 billion up to and including $10 billion	0.555 %
Fund net assets greater than $10 billion up to and including $15 billion	0.540 %
Fund net assets greater than $15 billion	0.510 %

Prior to November 1, 2022, each Fund paid First Trust an annual unitary management fee equal to 0.60% of its average daily net assets.

Effective August 7, 2023, the Trust has multiple service agreements with The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”). Under the service agreements, BNYM performs custodial, fund accounting, certain administrative services, and transfer agency services for each Fund. As custodian, BNYM is responsible for custody of each Fund’s assets. As fund accountant and administrator, BNYM is responsible for maintaining the books and records of each Fund’s securities and cash. As transfer agent, BNYM is responsible for maintaining shareholder records for each Fund. BNYM is a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, a financial holding company.

Prior to August 7, 2023, the Trust had multiple service agreements with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”). Under the service agreements, BBH performed custodial, fund accounting, certain administrative services, and transfer agency services for each Fund. As custodian, BBH was responsible for custody of each Fund’s assets. As fund accountant and administrator, BBH was responsible for maintaining the books and records of each Fund’s securities and cash. As transfer agent, BBH was 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 target outcome fund or an index fund.

Additionally, the Lead Independent Trustee and the Chairs 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 Chairs rotate every three years. The officers and “Interested” Trustee receive no compensation from the Trust for acting in such capacities.

Page 29

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023

4. Purchases and Sales of Securities

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments for each Fund, excluding short-term investments and in-kind transactions, were as follows:

	Purchases	Sales
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	$644,027,492	$643,177,128
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	48,307,024	48,299,104
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	99,466,788	99,458,892

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, 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	$643,876,805	$170,238,725
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	4,568,732	5,749,006
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	11,600,946	39,862,669

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 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, the Funds are authorized to pay an amount up to 0.25% of their 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

Page 30

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and 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 Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF, and First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (the “Funds”), each a series of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, including the portfolios of investments, as of September 30, 2023, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, 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, 2023, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for the each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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.

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, 2023, 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.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Chicago, Illinois
November 22, 2023

We have served as the auditor of one or more First Trust investment companies since 2001.

Page 32

Additional Information

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023 (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 its 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 year ended September 30, 2023, 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 Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	100.00 %
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	100.00 %

For the taxable year ended September 30, 2023, 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 Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF	100.00 %
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF	100.00 %

A portion of each of the Funds’ 2023 ordinary dividends (including short-term capital gains) paid to its shareholders during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, may be eligible for the Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBI) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Section 199A for the aggregate dividends each Fund received from the underlying Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) these Funds invest in.

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.

Page 33

Additional Information (Continued)

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

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.

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

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“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, has ceased making LIBOR available as a reference rate over a phase-out period that began December 31, 2021. There is no assurance that any alternative reference rate, including the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) will be similar to or produce the same value or economic equivalence as LIBOR or that instruments using an alternative rate will have the same volume or liquidity. 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. Market risk is the risk that a particular security, or shares of a fund in general, may fall in value. 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 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. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine which has caused and could continue to cause significant market disruptions and volatility within the markets in Russia, Europe, and the United States. The hostilities and sanctions resulting from those hostilities could have a significant impact on certain fund investments as well as fund performance. The COVID-19 global pandemic and the ensuing policies enacted by governments and central banks have caused and may continue to cause significant volatility and uncertainty in global financial markets. While the U.S. has resumed “reasonably” normal business activity, many countries continue to impose lockdown measures. Additionally, there is no guarantee that vaccines will be effective against emerging variants of the disease. These events also adversely affect the prices and liquidity of a fund’s portfolio securities or other instruments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of a fund’s shares and result in increased market volatility. During any such events, a fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value and the bid/ask spread on a fund’s shares may widen.

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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.

Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities combine some of the characteristics of both common stocks and bonds. Preferred securities are typically subordinated to bonds and other debt securities in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income, subjecting them to greater credit risk than those debt securities. Generally, holders of preferred securities have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of periods, at which time the preferred security holders may obtain limited rights. In certain circumstances, an issuer of preferred securities may defer payment on the securities and, in some cases, redeem the securities prior to a specified date. Preferred securities may also be substantially less liquid than other securities, including common stock.

Valuation Risk. The valuation of certain securities may carry more risk than that of common stock. Uncertainties in the conditions of the financial markets, unreliable reference data, lack of transparency and inconsistency of valuation models and processes may lead to inaccurate asset pricing. A fund may hold investments in sizes smaller than institutionally sized round lot positions (sometimes referred to as odd lots). However, third-party pricing services generally provide evaluations on the basis of institutionally-sized round lots. If a fund sells certain of its investments in an odd lot transaction, the sale price may be less than the value at which such securities have been held by the fund. Odd lots often trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. There is no assurance that the fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the fund.

NOT FDIC INSURED NOT BANK GUARANTEED MAY LOSE VALUE

Advisory Agreements

Board Considerations Regarding Approval of the Continuation of the 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 series of the Trust (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):

First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)

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, 2024 at a meeting held on June 4–5, 2023. 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.

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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 17, 2023 and June 4–5, 2023, 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 Advisor to each Fund (including the relevant personnel responsible for these services and their experience); the unitary fee rate schedule 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 indirect 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 17, 2023, 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 4–5, 2023 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 17, 2023 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 schedule 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 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 total (net) expense ratio for each 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 17, 2023 meeting, discussed with Broadridge its methodology for assembling peer groups and 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

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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 rate schedules 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 periods ended December 31, 2022 regarding the performance of each Fund’s underlying index, the correlation between each 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. However, 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 at current asset levels and whether the Funds may benefit from any economies of scale. The Board noted that the unitary fee rate schedule for each Fund includes breakpoints pursuant to which the unitary fee rate will be reduced as assets of the Fund meet certain thresholds. The Board considered the Advisor’s statement that it believes that its expenses relating to providing advisory services to the Funds will increase during the next twelve months as the Advisor continues to build infrastructure and add new staff. The Board also noted that under the unitary fee structure, any reduction in expenses associated with the management and operations of the Funds would benefit the Advisor, but that the unitary fee structure provides a level of certainty in expenses for shareholders of the Funds. The Board concluded that the unitary fee rate schedule for each Fund reflects an appropriate level of sharing of any economies of scale that may be realized in the management of the Fund at current asset levels. 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, 2022 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 indirect benefits described by the Advisor that may be realized from its relationship with the Funds. The Board considered that the Advisor had identified as an indirect 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 indirect 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.

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 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

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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 17, 2023 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 17, 2022 through the Liquidity Committee’s annual meeting held on March 23, 2023 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, two funds breached the 15% limitation on illiquid investments for one day each, as a result of an unscheduled week-long closure of the stock exchange in Istanbul following devastating earthquakes in February, causing all Turkish equities to be re-classified as “illiquid” for one day. Each fund filed a Form N-RN on the day after the breach occurred, and one day later after the breach was cured. No fund with a highly liquid investment minimum breached that minimum during the reporting period. 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.

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Board of Trustees and Officers

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023 (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	Retired; Physician, Edward-Elmhurst Medical Group (2021 to September 2023); Physician and Officer, Wheaton Orthopedics (1990 to 2021)	246	None
Thomas R. Kadlec, Trustee (1957)	• Indefinite Term • Since Inception	Retired; President, ADM Investors Services, Inc. (Futures Commission Merchant) (2010 to July 2022)	246	Director, National Futures Association and ADMIS Singapore Ltd.; Formerly, Director of ADM Investor Services, Inc., ADM Investor Services International, ADMIS Hong Kong Ltd., and Futures Industry Association
Denise M. Keefe, Trustee (1964)	• Indefinite Term • Since 2021	Executive Vice President, Advocate Aurora Health and President, Advocate Aurora Continuing Health Division (Integrated Healthcare System)	246	Director and Board Chair of Advocate Home Health Services, Advocate Home Care Products and Advocate Hospice; Director and Board Chair of Aurora At Home (since 2018); Director of Advocate Physician Partners Accountable Care Organization; Director of RML Long Term Acute Care Hospitals; Director of Senior Helpers (since 2021); and Director of MobileHelp (since 2022)
Robert F. Keith, Trustee (1956)	• Indefinite Term • Since Inception	President, Hibs Enterprises (Financial and Management Consulting)	246	Formerly, Director of Trust Company of Illinois
Niel B. Nielson, Trustee (1954)	• Indefinite Term • Since Inception	Senior Advisor (2018 to Present), Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (2015 to 2018), Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation (Educational Products and Services)	246	None
Bronwyn Wright, Trustee (1971)	• Indefinite Term • Since 2023	Independent Director to a number of Irish collective investment funds (2009 to present); Various roles at international affiliates of Citibank (1994 to 2009), including Managing Director, Citibank Europe plc and Head of Securities and Fund Services, Citi Ireland (2007 to 2009)	221	None

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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
INTERESTED TRUSTEE
James A. Bowen(1), Trustee, 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)	246	None

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 Inception	Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P.; Chief Financial Officer, BondWave LLC (Software Development Company) and Stonebridge Advisors LLC (Investment Advisor)
Derek D. Maltbie (1972)	Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer	• Indefinite Term • Since 2023	Senior Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P., July 2021 to Present. Previously, Vice President, First Trust Advisors L.P. and First Trust Portfolios L.P., 2014 - 2021.
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 • Chief Compliance Officer Since January 2011 • Assistant Secretary 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.

(1)

Mr. Bowen is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P., investment advisor of the Trust.

(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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First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI
September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

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 2023

Page 42

Shares	Description	Value
COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
	Specialty Retail (Continued)
2,057	Lithia Motors, Inc.	$607,494
3,290	Penske Automotive Group, Inc.	549,628
		1,662,192
	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 4.1%
12,331	Dell Technologies, Inc., Class C	849,606
	Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.2%
8,448	Tapestry, Inc.	242,880
	Trading Companies & Distributors — 4.8%
7,426	Air Lease Corp.	292,659
466	United Rentals, Inc.	207,169
3,439	WESCO International, Inc.	494,597
		994,425


	Total Investments — 99.9%	20,530,369
	(Cost $19,961,142)
	Net Other Assets and Liabilities — 0.1%	16,527
	Net Assets — 100.0%	$20,546,896

	First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)	First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
INVESTMENT INCOME:
Dividends	$34,847,541	$510,215	$1,265,576
Interest	58,960	964	2,719
Foreign withholding tax	(114,011 )	(359 )	(2,088 )
Total investment income	34,792,490	510,820	1,266,207

EXPENSES:
Investment advisory fees	6,612,593	130,480	394,262
Total expenses	6,612,593	130,480	394,262
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)	28,179,897	380,340	871,945

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investments	(68,036,591 )	(464,284 )	(5,171,378 )
In-kind redemptions	28,407,388	415,328	1,207,254
Net realized gain (loss)	(39,629,203 )	(48,956 )	(3,964,124 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments	213,773,113	2,437,242	8,283,960
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)	174,143,910	2,388,286	4,319,836
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS	$202,323,807	$2,768,626	$5,191,781

First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)
Year Ended 9/30/2023	Year Ended 9/30/2022

$871,945	$1,144,440
(3,964,124 )	4,581,875
8,283,960	(18,738,146 )
5,191,781	(13,011,831 )


(908,946 )	(1,071,096 )


11,615,598	93,110,294
(39,947,281 )	(118,688,168 )
(28,331,683 )	(25,577,874 )
(24,048,848 )	(39,660,801 )


81,453,561	121,114,362
$57,404,713	$81,453,561


3,400,002	4,400,002
450,000	3,300,000
(1,550,000 )	(4,300,000 )
2,300,002	3,400,002

Shareholder Letter	2
Market Overview	3
Fund Performance Overview
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)	4
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)	6
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)	8
Notes to Fund Performance Overview	10
Understanding Your Fund Expenses	11
Portfolio of Investments
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY)	12
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU)	14
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Low Volatility ETF (DVOL)	16
Statements of Assets and Liabilities	18
Statements of Operations	19
Statements of Changes in Net Assets	20
Financial Highlights	22
Notes to Financial Statements	25
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	32
Additional Information	33
Board of Trustees and Officers	40
Privacy Policy	42