EMDM Alternatives & Similar ETFs

First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ETF (EMDM) belongs to the Emerging Markets Equities 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 99 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.07%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.07%	16.81B	Mar 2007	EMDM vs SPEM
VEXC	Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	0.07%	258.70M	Sep 2025	EMDM vs VEXC
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	163.30B	Mar 2005	EMDM vs VWO
IEMG	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	0.09%	152.22B	Oct 2012	EMDM vs IEMG
BKEM	BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	89.24M	Apr 2020	EMDM vs BKEM

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to EMDM

EMDM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 89. There are 3 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, 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
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	90	—	Sep 2024	EMDM vs EVLU
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	90	366.05M	Jan 2025	EMDM vs GEME
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	86	123.28M	Oct 2023	EMDM vs FTHF
FRDM	Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF	85	2.93B	May 2019	EMDM vs FRDM

Top Performing EMDM Alternatives (YTD)

EMDM is at 28.39% YTD. There are 8 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 55.77%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	55.77%	658.42M	Sep 2024	EMDM vs EMEQ
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	35.77%	123.28M	Oct 2023	EMDM vs FTHF
EMSF	Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ...	32.23%	43.26M	Sep 2023	EMDM vs EMSF
STXE	Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	31.89%	139.63M	Jan 2023	EMDM vs STXE
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	30.26%	366.05M	Jan 2025	EMDM vs GEME

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to EMDM

EMDM has 27.91% 1-year volatility. There are 115 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.65%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
EJAN	Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar...	8.65%	144.99M	Jan 2020	EMDM vs EJAN
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	10.70%	—	Jun 2025	EMDM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	11.07%	10.25M	Dec 2024	EMDM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.68%	7.35M	Jan 2016	EMDM vs EMDV
RNEM	First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF	12.51%	17.22M	Jun 2017	EMDM vs RNEM

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to EMDM

EMDM has a 1-year max drawdown of -15.65%. There are 85 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.63%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
EJAN	Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar...	-6.63%	144.99M	Jan 2020	EMDM vs EJAN
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.35M	Jan 2016	EMDM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.87B	Jul 2007	EMDM vs DEM
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	-8.16%	10.25M	Dec 2024	EMDM vs TDEC
ECOW	Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF	-8.35%	217.49M	May 2019	EMDM vs ECOW

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 16 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $25B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Cybersecurity, Technology Equities	44	31.78%	14.31B	Jul 2015	EMDM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Infrastructure Equities, Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	53	19.50%	11.67B	Nov 2009	EMDM vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	63	22.38%	10.18B	Mar 2014	EMDM vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	9	-5.08%	118.19M	Feb 2012	EMDM vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	92	18.62%	7.77B	Mar 2006	EMDM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	23	-6.86%	514.13M	Mar 2021	EMDM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	91	68.79%	1.27B	Sep 2016	EMDM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	49	16.55%	4.18B	Aug 2012	EMDM vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	42	13.15%	586.61M	Feb 2007	EMDM vs QCLN
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Dividend, Large Cap Blend Equities	88	18.21%	24.89B	Jan 2014	EMDM vs RDVY

Often Compared With EMDM

Investors most often compare EMDM with VOO, EUFN, AIA. These 20 comparison targets span 10 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	78	11.72%	1.70T	Sep 2010	EMDM vs VOO
EUFN	iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF	Financials Equities	77	16.93%	4.20B	Jan 2010	EMDM vs EUFN
AIA	iShares Asia 50 ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	85	37.92%	4.70B	Nov 2007	EMDM vs AIA
EMM	Global X Emerging Markets ex-China ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	63	21.70%	54.76M	Sep 2010	EMDM vs EMM
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	80	14.05%	45.23M	Mar 2015	EMDM vs SDEM
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	78	11.70%	789.06B	Jan 1993	EMDM vs SPY
FEMR	Fidelity Enhanced Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	72	22.47%	—	Nov 2024	EMDM vs FEMR
FMQQ	FMQQ The Next Frontier Internet & Ecommerce ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	6	-8.31%	19.10M	Sep 2021	EMDM vs FMQQ
FDT	First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund	Foreign Large Cap Equities	68	15.42%	1.29B	Apr 2011	EMDM vs FDT
FCA	First Trust China AlphaDEX Fund	China Equities, Asia Pacific Equities	21	-2.52%	32.99M	Apr 2011	EMDM vs FCA
DFEM	Dimensional Emerging Markets Core Equity 2 ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	57	16.00%	8.96B	Apr 2022	EMDM vs DFEM
MEMX	Matthews Emerging Markets Ex China Active ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	73	21.74%	52.30M	Jan 2023	EMDM vs MEMX
DIEM	Franklin Emerging Market Core Dividend Tilt Index ...	Emerging Markets Equities	77	24.59%	74.91M	Jun 2016	EMDM vs DIEM
EPU	iShares MSCI Peru ETF	Latin America Equities	88	21.67%	531.85M	Jun 2009	EMDM vs EPU
VXUS	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF	Global Equities	72	13.32%	651.00B	Jan 2011	EMDM vs VXUS
FDD	First Trust STOXX European Select Dividend Index F...	Europe Equities, Dividend	91	19.28%	887.35M	Aug 2007	EMDM vs FDD
EEMS	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Small-Cap ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	31	5.91%	349.16M	Aug 2011	EMDM vs EEMS
PEMX	Putnam Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	72	27.40%	28.93M	May 2023	EMDM vs PEMX
AVEE	Avantis Emerging Markets Small Cap Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	25	4.32%	110.98M	Nov 2023	EMDM vs AVEE
DGS	WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund	Dividend, Emerging Markets Equities	41	9.26%	1.71B	Oct 2007	EMDM vs DGS

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