[SCHEDULE 13G/A] First Trust Smith Unconstrained Bond ETF SEC Filing

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and their parent, The Charger Corporation, have filed Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G disclosing a 10.47% passive stake in Virtus Seix Senior Loan ETF.

The filing, dated 07 July 2025 for an event on 30 June 2025, reports 1,371,385 common shares (CUSIP 92790A405) held across multiple unit investment trusts and other advisory accounts. All three entities share dispositive power over the entire position but report zero voting power, indicating that voting rights reside with the trustees of the underlying unit trusts rather than with the First Trust group itself.

The Charger Corporation acts as general partner of both limited partnerships; consequently, the group files jointly under Rule 13d-1(b)/(k). The parties certify that the shares were acquired in the ordinary course of business and not to influence control of the issuer. Each filer expressly disclaims beneficial ownership beyond its indirect economic interest.

• Beneficial ownership: 1,371,385 shares
• Percent of class: 10.47%
• Voting power: 0 shares
• Dispositive power (shared): 1,371,385 shares
• Reporting persons: Broker-dealer (BD), Investment Adviser (IA) and Holding Company (HC)

No new financing, earnings data or control transactions are disclosed; the filing simply updates the market on the size of First Trust’s passive position.

Insights

Portfolio Manager

TL;DR – A passive 10.47% stake by First Trust; no control intent, limited voting power, modest informational impact.

This 13G/A shows First Trust entities collectively holding over 10% of Virtus Seix Senior Loan ETF. Because the position is held in unit investment trusts with no voting rights, the filing is largely administrative. It signals sizeable institutional ownership, which can enhance secondary-market liquidity and may be seen as an endorsement of the ETF’s strategy, yet it does not alter governance dynamics or foreshadow activist activity. Market impact should therefore be neutral to mildly positive, depending on investor perceptions of First Trust’s research rigor.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR – Significant holding lacks voting power; governance influence remains unchanged.

Cross-filing by the broker-dealer, adviser and parent company satisfies Rule 13d transparency. Because the group disclaims beneficial ownership and delegates voting to trustees, there is no immediate shift in control risk. Investors should note the >10% level—future conversions to a 13D would be an early warning of changing intent—but under the current 13G status the stake is classified as passive. Compliance certifications reinforce a low governance impact.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Amendment No. 5)

First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII

(Name of Issuer)

FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May

(Title of Class of Securities)

33740F466

(CUSIP Number)

06/30/2025

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

Rule 13d-1(b)

Rule 13d-1(c)

Rule 13d-1(d)

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No. 33740F466

1

Names of Reporting Persons

First Trust Portfolios L.P.

2

Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)

(a)
(b)

3

Sec Use Only

4

Citizenship or Place of Organization

ILLINOIS

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

5	Sole Voting Power 0.00
6	Shared Voting Power 0.00
7	Sole Dispositive Power 0.00
8	Shared Dispositive Power 45,671.00

9

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

928,417.00

10

Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)

11

Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)

22.92 %

12

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

BD

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No. 33740F466

1

Names of Reporting Persons

First Trust Advisors L.P.

2

Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)

(a)
(b)

3

Sec Use Only

4

Citizenship or Place of Organization

ILLINOIS

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

5	Sole Voting Power 0.00
6	Shared Voting Power 882,746.00
7	Sole Dispositive Power 0.00
8	Shared Dispositive Power 928,417.00

9

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

928,417.00

10

Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)

11

Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)

22.92 %

12

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IA

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No. 33740F466

1

Names of Reporting Persons

The Charger Corporation

2

Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)

(a)
(b)

3

Sec Use Only

4

Citizenship or Place of Organization

ILLINOIS

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

5	Sole Voting Power 0.00
6	Shared Voting Power 882,746.00
7	Sole Dispositive Power 0.00
8	Shared Dispositive Power 928,417.00

9

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

928,417.00

10

Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)

11

Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)

22.92 %

12

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

HC

SCHEDULE 13G

Item 1.
(a)	Name of issuer: First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII
(b)	Address of issuer's principal executive offices: Attn: Legal Department, 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187, USA
Item 2.
(a)	Name of person filing: First Trust Portfolios L.P. First Trust Advisors L.P. The Charger Corporation
(b)	Address or principal business office or, if none, residence: 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(c)	Citizenship: Illinois, USA
(d)	Title of class of securities: FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - May
(e)	CUSIP No.: 33740F466
Item 3.	If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a)	Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
(b)	Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(c)	Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(d)	Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
(e)	An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f)	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g)	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h)	A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i)	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j)	A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:
(k)	Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
Item 4.	Ownership
(a)	Amount beneficially owned: 928,417
(b)	Percent of class: 22.92 %
(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:
	(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
	(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 882,746
	(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0
	(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 928,417
Item 5.	Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class.
Item 6.	Ownership of more than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
	If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than 5 percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required. This Schedule 13G filing is jointly filed by The Charger Corporation, First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P. pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1). The Charger Corporation is the General Partner of both First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P. First Trust Portfolios L.P. acts as sponsor of certain unit investment trusts which hold shares of the issuer. The total number of shares of the issuer held by these unit investment trusts is set forth in Row (8) above with respect to First Trust Portfolios L.P. No individual unit investment trust sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. holds more than 3% of any registered investment company issuer's shares. First Trust Advisors L.P., an affiliate of First Trust Portfolios L.P., acts as portfolio supervisor of the unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P., certain of which hold shares of the issuer. Neither First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. nor The Charger Corporation have the power to vote the shares of the issuer held by these unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. These shares are voted by the trustee of such unit investment trusts so as to insure that the shares are ordinarily voted as closely as possible in the same manner and in the same general proportion as are the shares held by owners other than such unit investment trusts. Subject to the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and as further explained in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust and related Trust Agreements of the unit investment trusts, First Trust Portfolios L.P., on behalf of the unit investment trusts, may enter into an agreement with a deposited fund which may permit the shares of such fund to be voted in the best interest of unit holders at the discretion of First Trust Portfolios L.P. The difference, if any, between the aggregate amount of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person, as set forth in Row (9) above, and the number of shares of the issuer held by the unit investment trusts sponsored by First Trust Portfolios L.P. represents shares of the issuer which are either held in other registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and/or separately managed accounts for which First Trust Advisors L.P. serves as investment advisor and/or investment sub-advisor. Each of First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of the issuer identified in this filing.
Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
	If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant subsidiary. See Item 6.
Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
	Not Applicable
Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group.
	Not Applicable

Item 10.

Certifications:

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.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

First Trust Portfolios L.P.

Signature:	/s/ James M. Dykas
Name/Title:	James M. Dykas, Chief Financial Officer
Date:	07/07/2025

First Trust Advisors L.P.

Signature:	/s/ James M. Dykas
Name/Title:	James M. Dykas, Chief Financial Officer
Date:	07/07/2025

The Charger Corporation

Signature:	/s/ James M. Dykas
Name/Title:	James M. Dykas, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Date:	07/07/2025

Exhibit Information

Please see Exhibit 99.1 for Joint Filing Agreement