Jul. 15, 2025 10:36 PM ETFirst Trust Water ETF (FIW)PHO, CGW, FIWBen Holden-Crowther291 FollowersSummaryFIW is the top-performing water-themed ETF over the past decade, even rivaling the S&P 500 from the perspective of long-term returns.While water as an ETF theme is imperfect, FIW offers the purest economic exposure to the water sector available to investors.I rate FIW a hold, due to intrinsic challenges in capturing true water exposure, some poorly calibrated holdings, and more attractive long-term opportunities in other market sectors.Gary YeowellInvestment ThesisFirst Trust Water (NYSEARCA:FIW) has been the best performing water-themed ETF over the past decade and has offered competitive long-term performance even when compared with the fantastic record of the S&P 500. While I amThis article was written byBen Holden-Crowther291 FollowersInternational analyst focused on finding great companies with durable competitive advantages and strong balance sheets, and aiming to buy their shares when they are being offered by the market at irrational prices.Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.CommentsRecommended For You