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 181 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%	316.30B	Jul 2007	FDT vs VEA
SPDW	SPDR Portfolio World ex-US ETF	0.04%	40.07B	Apr 2007	FDT vs SPDW
BKIE	BNY Mellon International Equity ETF	0.04%	1.31B	Apr 2020	FDT vs BKIE
VEU	Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF	0.04%	94.90B	Mar 2007	FDT vs VEU
IDEV	iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ...	0.05%	31.64B	Mar 2017	FDT vs IDEV

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FDT

FDT has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 68. There are 91 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
GMOI	GMO International Value ETF	96	489.00M	Oct 2024	FDT vs GMOI
EFAS	Global X MSCI SuperDividend® EAFE ETF	94	52.73M	Nov 2016	FDT vs EFAS
IFLO	VictoryShares International Free Cash Flow ETF	94	196.67M	Jun 2025	FDT vs IFLO
IDOG	ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	93	549.25M	Jun 2013	FDT vs IDOG
FIDI	Fidelity International High Dividend ETF	93	325.11M	Jan 2018	FDT vs FIDI

Top Performing FDT Alternatives (YTD)

FDT is at 14.23% YTD. There are 53 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 32.73%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
IPOS	Renaissance International IPO ETF	32.73%	11.77M	Oct 2014	FDT vs IPOS
PATN	Pacer Nasdaq International Patent Leaders ETF	27.96%	190.45M	Sep 2024	FDT vs PATN
IDHQ	Invesco S&P International Developed High Quality E...	26.27%	939.30M	Jun 2007	FDT vs IDHQ
EPIN	Harbor International Equity ETF	23.34%	7.71M	Jun 2025	FDT vs EPIN
IFLO	VictoryShares International Free Cash Flow ETF	22.59%	196.67M	Jun 2025	FDT vs IFLO

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FDT

FDT has 20.77% 1-year volatility. There are 180 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 6.80%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
CIL	VictoryShares International Volatility Wtd ETF	6.80%	31.30M	Aug 2015	FDT vs CIL
BUFI	AB International Buffer ETF	9.04%	122.81M	Dec 2024	FDT vs BUFI
FID	First Trust S&P International Dividend Aristocrats...	10.17%	167.77M	Aug 2013	FDT vs FID
EFAV	iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF	10.67%	5.44B	Oct 2011	FDT vs EFAV
MCSE	Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF	10.71%	2.98M	Nov 2015	FDT vs MCSE

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FDT

FDT has a 1-year max drawdown of -13.41%. There are 150 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%	52.73M	Nov 2016	FDT vs EFAS
BUFI	AB International Buffer ETF	-5.69%	122.81M	Dec 2024	FDT vs BUFI
IFLO	VictoryShares International Free Cash Flow ETF	-6.44%	196.67M	Jun 2025	FDT vs IFLO
IDOG	ALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	-6.47%	549.25M	Jun 2013	FDT vs IDOG

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	39	28.86%	14.31B	Jul 2015	FDT vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Infrastructure Equities, Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	49	17.75%	11.67B	Nov 2009	FDT vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	54	19.12%	10.18B	Mar 2014	FDT vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	8	-5.91%	118.19M	Feb 2012	FDT vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	92	18.16%	7.77B	Mar 2006	FDT vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	25	-6.56%	514.13M	Mar 2021	FDT vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	91	67.20%	1.27B	Sep 2016	FDT vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	43	14.88%	4.18B	Aug 2012	FDT vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	39	10.48%	586.61M	Feb 2007	FDT vs QCLN
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Dividend, Large Cap Blend Equities	85	17.25%	24.89B	Jan 2014	FDT vs RDVY

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	4.95%	—	Feb 2017	FDT vs FIDZX
QQQ	Invesco QQQ ETF	Nasdaq-100	49	12.26%	452.80B	Mar 1999	FDT vs QQQ
SCHF	Schwab International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	77	14.79%	67.17B	Nov 2009	FDT vs SCHF
VTI	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	67	10.49%	2.30T	May 2001	FDT vs VTI
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	68	10.16%	1.70T	Sep 2010	FDT vs VOO
SDY	SPDR S&P Dividend ETF	Mid Cap Value Equities, Dividend	62	12.79%	23.53B	Nov 2005	FDT vs SDY
VYMI	Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF	Dividend, Foreign Large Cap Equities	91	17.41%	20.40B	Feb 2016	FDT vs VYMI
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	91	53.76%	658.42M	Sep 2024	FDT vs EMEQ
ABLG	Abacus FCF International Leaders ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	19	-2.27%	18.31M	Jun 2017	FDT vs ABLG
NVOH	Novo Nordisk A/S (B Shares) ADRhedged ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	14	-3.13%	4.26M	Jan 2025	FDT vs NVOH
FNDF	Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Large Cap Value Equities	91	20.14%	25.13B	Aug 2013	FDT vs FNDF
EMDM	First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ...	Emerging Markets Equities	90	27.86%	38.85M	Mar 2023	FDT vs EMDM
JNUSX	JPMorgan International Value Fund	Foreign Large Cap Equities	92	17.30%	—	Nov 1993	FDT vs JNUSX
JIVE	JPMorgan International Value ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	93	19.28%	3.49B	Sep 2023	FDT vs JIVE
VIDI	Vident International Equity Fund	Foreign Large Cap Equities	88	16.36%	393.41M	Oct 2013	FDT vs VIDI
EFA	iShares MSCI EAFE ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	68	11.69%	77.98B	Aug 2001	FDT vs EFA
LVHI	Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividen...	Dividend, Low Volatility	97	18.29%	5.48B	Jul 2016	FDT vs LVHI
IEFA	iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	67	11.62%	190.11B	Oct 2012	FDT vs IEFA
VXUS	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF	Global Equities	71	12.75%	651.00B	Jan 2011	FDT vs VXUS
GVAL	Cambria Global Value ETF	Global Equities	91	20.23%	583.80M	Mar 2014	FDT vs GVAL

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