SCHEDULE: Truist Financial Discloses 6.3% Stake in First Trust ETF

Truist Financial Corporation, through its advisory services, reported a 6.3% beneficial ownership in First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund as of September 30, 2025.

Summary

• Truist Financial Corporation, acting as a Parent Holding Company for Truist Advisory Services, Inc., has filed a Schedule 13G.
• The filing discloses beneficial ownership of 886,905 shares in the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund.
• This ownership represents 6.3% of the class of securities, identified by CUSIP 33733E856.
• Truist Financial Corporation is a North Carolina Corporation, and Truist Advisory Services, Inc. is a Delaware Corporation.
• The securities were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of changing or influencing control of the issuer.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The filing is a neutral, factual disclosure of beneficial ownership, a standard compliance document with no inherent positive or negative sentiment regarding the issuer's performance or outlook.

Positives

• A significant institutional investor, Truist Financial Corporation, holds a 6.3% stake in the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, potentially signaling institutional confidence in the fund.

Negatives

• No specific negative information or adverse events are disclosed in this beneficial ownership report.

Risks

• The filing explicitly states that the securities were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer, mitigating potential control-related risks.

Future Outlook

This Schedule 13G filing is a disclosure of current beneficial ownership and does not contain any forward-looking statements or guidance regarding future performance or strategic plans.

Management Comments

• "By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under 240.14a-11."

Industry Context

This filing represents a routine disclosure by a large financial institution, Truist Financial Corporation, regarding its passive beneficial ownership in an Exchange Traded Fund. Such disclosures are common for investment advisers managing client assets and reflect standard compliance with SEC regulations for significant holdings.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The filing of a Schedule 13G for beneficial ownership exceeding 5% is a standard regulatory requirement for institutional investors like Truist Financial Corporation, aligning with global benchmarks for transparency in capital markets.
• The nature of the holding, explicitly stated as being in the ordinary course of business and not for control, is typical for investment advisory firms managing diversified portfolios, similar to practices observed at other major asset managers such as BlackRock or Vanguard when disclosing passive stakes in ETFs.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders of the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund may view the significant stake held by Truist Financial Corporation as a positive indicator of institutional interest and liquidity for the fund.

Next Steps

• Truist Financial Corporation will continue to monitor its beneficial ownership in the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund and file amendments to Schedule 13G as required by SEC regulations if its ownership percentage changes significantly.

Key Dates

Keywords

Truist Financial, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund, ETF, Schedule 13G, beneficial ownership, institutional investment, investment adviser