EMDM Alternatives & Similar ETFs

First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ETF (EMDM) belongs to the Emerging Markets Diversified category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with EMDM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to EMDM

EMDM charges 0.75% annually. There are 29 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Diversified category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.09%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
IEMG	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	0.09%	156.92B	Oct 2012	EMDM vs IEMG
BBEM	JPMorgan Betabuilders Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.15%	800.86M	May 2023	EMDM vs BBEM
XCNY	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ex-China ETF	0.15%	9.84M	Sep 2024	EMDM vs XCNY
DIEM	Franklin Emerging Market Core Dividend Tilt Index ...	0.19%	71.44M	Jun 2016	EMDM vs DIEM
STXE	Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	0.32%	151.08M	Jan 2023	EMDM vs STXE

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to EMDM

EMDM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 89. There is 1 ETF in the Emerging Markets Diversified category with a higher risk-adjusted rank, going as high as 92.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	92	658.42M	Sep 2024	EMDM vs EMEQ
FRDM	Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF	86	2.93B	May 2019	EMDM vs FRDM
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	83	127.61M	Oct 2023	EMDM vs FTHF
STXE	Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	82	151.08M	Jan 2023	EMDM vs STXE
HEEM	iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	82	282.49M	Sep 2014	EMDM vs HEEM

Top Performing EMDM Alternatives (YTD)

EMDM is at 29.59% YTD. There are 6 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Diversified category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 58.76%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	58.76%	658.42M	Sep 2024	EMDM vs EMEQ
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	37.22%	127.61M	Oct 2023	EMDM vs FTHF
EMSF	Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ...	36.62%	46.22M	Sep 2023	EMDM vs EMSF
STXE	Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	34.42%	151.08M	Jan 2023	EMDM vs STXE
PEMX	Putnam Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	30.56%	32.15M	May 2023	EMDM vs PEMX

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to EMDM

EMDM has 27.02% 1-year volatility. There are 35 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Diversified category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 14.84%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
XC	WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-China Fund	14.84%	79.89M	Sep 2022	EMDM vs XC
UEVM	VictoryShares Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETF	15.83%	243.04M	Oct 2017	EMDM vs UEVM
DGS	WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund	17.12%	1.78B	Oct 2007	EMDM vs DGS
XCNY	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ex-China ETF	18.48%	9.84M	Sep 2024	EMDM vs XCNY
AVEE	Avantis Emerging Markets Small Cap Equity ETF	18.61%	117.70M	Nov 2023	EMDM vs AVEE

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to EMDM

EMDM has a 1-year max drawdown of -15.65%. There are 35 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Diversified category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -9.79%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
UEVM	VictoryShares Emerging Markets Value Momentum ETF	-9.79%	243.04M	Oct 2017	EMDM vs UEVM
DGS	WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund	-10.06%	1.78B	Oct 2007	EMDM vs DGS
AVEE	Avantis Emerging Markets Small Cap Equity ETF	-10.65%	117.70M	Nov 2023	EMDM vs AVEE
HEEM	iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	-10.83%	282.49M	Sep 2014	EMDM vs HEEM
EEMS	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Small-Cap ETF	-10.87%	375.84M	Aug 2011	EMDM vs EEMS

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Cybersecurity, Technology Equities	34	28.87%	14.26B	Jul 2015	EMDM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	58	19.10%	11.74B	Nov 2009	EMDM vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	66	23.60%	10.80B	Mar 2014	EMDM vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	4	-7.65%	132.86M	Feb 2012	EMDM vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	76	15.23%	7.48B	Mar 2006	EMDM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	18	-7.95%	510.89M	Mar 2021	EMDM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	94	86.56%	2.46B	Sep 2016	EMDM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	44	17.47%	4.34B	Aug 2012	EMDM vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	54	20.15%	718.18M	Feb 2007	EMDM vs QCLN
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	34	8.48%	3.40B	Mar 2018	EMDM vs KNG

Often Compared With EMDM

Investors most often compare EMDM with VOO, AIA, EUFN. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	66	10.45%	1.70T	Sep 2010	EMDM vs VOO
AIA	iShares Asia 50 ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	85	37.27%	4.78B	Nov 2007	EMDM vs AIA
EUFN	iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF	Financials Equities	55	10.35%	3.79B	Jan 2010	EMDM vs EUFN
EMM	Global X Emerging Markets ex-China ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	65	23.11%	58.98M	Sep 2010	EMDM vs EMM
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	67	10.92%	44.20M	Mar 2015	EMDM vs SDEM
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	66	10.45%	783.21B	Jan 1993	EMDM vs SPY
FDT	First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund	Foreign Large Cap Equities	64	14.80%	1.29B	Apr 2011	EMDM vs FDT
FEMR	Fidelity Enhanced Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	71	23.56%	—	Nov 2024	EMDM vs FEMR
FMQQ	FMQQ The Next Frontier Internet & Ecommerce ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	4	-11.66%	19.10M	Sep 2021	EMDM vs FMQQ
DFEM	Dimensional Emerging Markets Core Equity 2 ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	60	17.64%	9.15B	Apr 2022	EMDM vs DFEM
VXUS	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF	Global Equities	56	11.67%	652.30B	Jan 2011	EMDM vs VXUS
MEMX	Matthews Emerging Markets Ex China Active ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	77	23.89%	48.52M	Jan 2023	EMDM vs MEMX
FCA	First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund	China Equities, Asia Pacific Equities	17	-6.22%	32.15M	Apr 2011	EMDM vs FCA
EPU	iShares MSCI Peru ETF	Mid Cap Blend Equities	83	19.72%	536.81M	Jun 2009	EMDM vs EPU
FDD	First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index F...	Europe Equities, Dividend	67	11.53%	835.32M	Aug 2007	EMDM vs FDD
VT	Vanguard Total World Stock ETF	Global Equities	63	11.12%	95.30B	Jun 2008	EMDM vs VT
DFEV	Dimensional Emerging Markets Value ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	73	21.55%	2.00B	Apr 2022	EMDM vs DFEV
DEHP	Dimensional Emerging Markets High Profitability ET...	Emerging Markets Diversified	72	24.36%	436.64M	Apr 2022	EMDM vs DEHP
OAEM	OneAscent Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	68	27.35%	125.98M	Sep 2022	EMDM vs OAEM
CGNG	Capital Group New Geography Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	46	11.71%	2.65B	Jun 2024	EMDM vs CGNG

Compare EMDM with Any Fund or Stock

Compare EMDM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

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Diversifiers

Pair EMDM with funds that move differently

First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to EMDM.

Explore EMDM Diversifiers

First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ETF (EMDM) Alternatives