FDT Alternatives & Similar ETFs

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) belongs to the Foreign Large Cap Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with FDT. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to FDT

FDT charges 0.80% annually. There are 165 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.03%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
VEA	Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF	0.03%	304.30B	Jul 2007	FDT vs VEA
BKIE	BNY Mellon International Equity ETF	0.04%	1.24B	Apr 2020	FDT vs BKIE
SPDW	SPDR Portfolio World ex-US ETF	0.04%	40.50B	Apr 2007	FDT vs SPDW
VEU	Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF	0.04%	90.70B	Mar 2007	FDT vs VEU
IDEV	iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ...	0.05%	30.65B	Mar 2017	FDT vs IDEV

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FDT

FDT has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 84. There are 6 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 91.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
KEMX	KraneShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index E...	91	134.30M	Apr 2019	FDT vs KEMX
PATN	Pacer Nasdaq International Patent Leaders ETF	91	129.11M	Sep 2024	FDT vs PATN
VIDI	Vident International Equity Fund	90	393.41M	Oct 2013	FDT vs VIDI
DBAW	Xtrackers MSCI All World ex US Hedged Equity ETF	84	264.85M	Jan 2014	FDT vs DBAW
ICOW	Pacer Developed Markets International Cash Cows 10...	84	1.85B	Jun 2017	FDT vs ICOW

Top Performing FDT Alternatives (YTD)

FDT is at 25.50% YTD. There are 7 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 42.26%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
KEMX	KraneShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index E...	42.26%	134.30M	Apr 2019	FDT vs KEMX
PATN	Pacer Nasdaq International Patent Leaders ETF	40.52%	129.11M	Sep 2024	FDT vs PATN
IPOS	Renaissance International IPO ETF	40.15%	5.25M	Oct 2014	FDT vs IPOS
FPXI	First Trust International Equity Opportunities ETF	34.41%	218.28M	Nov 2014	FDT vs FPXI
UMMA	Wahed Dow Jones Islamic World ETF	32.49%	117.00M	Jan 2022	FDT vs UMMA

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FDT

FDT has 18.42% 1-year volatility. There are 157 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.19%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
CIL	VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF	8.19%	31.30M	Aug 2015	FDT vs CIL
BUFI	AB International Buffer ETF	8.43%	122.81M	Dec 2024	FDT vs BUFI
FID	First Trust S&P International Dividend Aristocrats...	10.16%	164.97M	Aug 2013	FDT vs FID
EFAV	iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol EAFE ETF	10.35%	5.33B	Oct 2011	FDT vs EFAV
EFAS	Global X MSCI SuperDividend® EAFE ETF	10.60%	54.28M	Nov 2016	FDT vs EFAS

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FDT

FDT has a 1-year max drawdown of -13.41%. There are 146 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -4.60%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
CIL	VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF	-4.60%	31.30M	Aug 2015	FDT vs CIL
EFAS	Global X MSCI SuperDividend® EAFE ETF	-5.30%	54.28M	Nov 2016	FDT vs EFAS
BUFI	AB International Buffer ETF	-5.69%	122.81M	Dec 2024	FDT vs BUFI
EFAV	iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol EAFE ETF	-6.46%	5.33B	Oct 2011	FDT vs EFAV
IDOG	ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	-6.47%	543.79M	Jun 2013	FDT vs IDOG

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 11 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	Technology Equities, Cybersecurity	26	28.52%	13.68B	Jul 2015	FDT vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	79	28.91%	11.29B	Nov 2009	FDT vs GRID
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	3	-9.70%	133.88M	Feb 2012	FDT vs NFTY
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	78	31.77%	10.62B	Mar 2014	FDT vs AIRR
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	70	13.33%	7.39B	Mar 2006	FDT vs FDL
IGLD	FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Precious Metals, Gold	28	1.69%	591.41M	Mar 2021	FDT vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	97	115.70%	2.52B	Sep 2016	FDT vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	83	30.57%	4.66B	Aug 2012	FDT vs TDIV
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...	Dividend, S&P 500	20	2.20%	3.28B	Mar 2018	FDT vs KNG
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	89	52.94%	895.30M	Feb 2007	FDT vs QCLN

Often Compared With FDT

Investors most often compare FDT with FIDZX, QQQ, SCHF. These 20 comparison targets span 10 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
FIDZX	Fidelity Advisor International Capital Appreciatio...	Foreign Large Cap Equities	10	10.20%	—	Feb 2017	FDT vs FIDZX
QQQ	Invesco QQQ ETF	Nasdaq-100	73	21.30%	493.99B	Mar 1999	FDT vs QQQ
SCHF	Schwab International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	59	15.56%	66.49B	Nov 2009	FDT vs SCHF
VTI	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	68	11.20%	2.20T	May 2001	FDT vs VTI
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	70	10.91%	1.60T	Sep 2010	FDT vs VOO
SDY	SPDR S&P Dividend ETF	Mid Cap Value Equities, Dividend	33	7.49%	21.14B	Nov 2005	FDT vs SDY
VYMI	Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF	Dividend, Foreign Large Cap Equities	66	11.31%	20.00B	Feb 2016	FDT vs VYMI
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	96	78.09%	67.50M	Sep 2024	FDT vs EMEQ
EMDM	First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ...	Emerging Markets Diversified	93	39.03%	32.17M	Mar 2023	FDT vs EMDM
FNDF	Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Ind...	Foreign Large Cap Equities	84	21.21%	24.55B	Aug 2013	FDT vs FNDF
JNUSX	JPMorgan International Value Fund	Foreign Large Cap Equities	55	9.93%	—	Nov 1993	FDT vs JNUSX
NVOH	Novo Nordisk A/S (B Shares) ADRhedged ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	3	-13.62%	4.26M	Jan 2025	FDT vs NVOH
ABLG	Abacus FCF International Leaders ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	19	4.01%	18.31M	Jun 2017	FDT vs ABLG
LVHI	Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividen...	Volatility Hedged Equity, Dividend	89	11.71%	4.94B	Jul 2016	FDT vs LVHI
IEFA	iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	41	8.85%	186.62B	Oct 2012	FDT vs IEFA
JIVE	Jpmorgan International Value ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	83	15.75%	2.79B	Sep 2023	FDT vs JIVE
GVAL	Cambria Global Value ETF	Global Equities	77	14.37%	443.40M	Mar 2014	FDT vs GVAL
VXUS	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF	Global Equities	60	14.25%	629.30B	Jan 2011	FDT vs VXUS
IDVO	Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income...	Derivative Income, Dividend, Foreign Large Cap Equities	67	14.12%	1.24B	Sep 2022	FDT vs IDVO
AVDE	Avantis International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	54	10.55%	16.33B	Sep 2019	FDT vs AVDE

Compare FDT with Any Fund or Stock

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

Symbol name

Diversifiers

Pair FDT with funds that move differently

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to FDT.

Explore FDT Diversifiers

First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund (FDT) Alternatives