- ISIN
- US33737J1824
- CUSIP
- 33737J182
- Issuer
- First Trust
- Inception Date
- Apr 18, 2011
- Region
- Emerging Markets (Broad)
- Category
- Emerging Markets Equities
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- NASDAQ AlphaDEX EM Index
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Multi-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Blend
- Assets Under Management
- $768M
Share Price Chart
Loading charts...
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Performance
FEM Performance Chart
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) is up 20.7% since the beginning of the year. FEM is currently trading at $33 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of FEM shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,465.
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) has returned 20.65% so far this year and 42.19% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, FEM has returned 10.00% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% annually.
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund
- 1D
- 1.04%
- 1M
- 1.06%
- YTD
- 20.65%
- 6M
- 20.82%
- 1Y
- 42.19%
- 3Y*
- 20.56%
- 5Y*
- 7.94%
- 10Y*
- 10.00%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
FEM Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Apr 19, 2011, FEM's average daily return is +0.02%, while the average monthly return is +0.49%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 11.8 years.
Historically, 51% of months were positive and 49% were negative. The best month was Nov 2022 with a return of +15.9%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -23.6%. The longest winning streak lasted 6 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, FEM closed higher 52% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 13, 2020 with a return of +8.6%, while the worst single day was Mar 16, 2020 at -14.0%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.68% | 6.47% | -4.37% | 11.44% | -2.10% | 0.86% | 20.65% | ||||||
| 2025 | 0.72% | 0.62% | 2.57% | -1.13% | 4.08% | 5.82% | 1.20% | 6.14% | 3.81% | -0.44% | 0.35% | 1.80% | 28.36% |
| 2024 | 0.77% | 3.68% | -0.67% | 3.28% | 3.68% | -1.25% | -1.55% | -1.95% | 5.12% | -5.46% | -0.89% | -1.26% | 3.01% |
| 2023 | 5.33% | -4.54% | 0.47% | 1.98% | -6.34% | 7.13% | 9.35% | -6.48% | -1.52% | -5.41% | 6.81% | 5.39% | 10.84% |
| 2022 | -0.62% | -0.10% | -2.90% | -4.93% | 1.55% | -9.84% | -0.58% | -0.57% | -9.99% | -0.11% | 15.86% | -0.77% | -14.24% |
| 2021 | -0.40% | 2.86% | 1.99% | 4.58% | 2.42% | -0.03% | -3.87% | 4.83% | -2.52% | -3.12% | -4.22% | 5.31% | 7.40% |
Benchmark Metrics
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund has an annualized alpha of -5.13%, beta of 0.89, and R2 of 0.52 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since April 19, 2011.
- This ETF participated in 107.28% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 72.23% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
- This ETF had an annualized alpha of -5.13% versus S&P 500 Index - delivering less than market exposure alone would predict.
- With beta of 0.89 and R2 of 0.52, this ETF moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- -5.13%
- Beta
- 0.89
- R²
- 0.52
- Upside Capture
- 72.23%
- Downside Capture
- 107.28%
Expense Ratio
FEM has an expense ratio of 0.80%, placing it in the medium range.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
FEM ranks 76 for risk / return — better than 76% of ETFs on our site. You're getting solid returns for the risk taken. A good sign, especially for investors who want growth without excessive volatility.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| FEM | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.26 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.37 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.56 | 2.78 | +1.77 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 15.81 | 12.44 | +3.37 |
Dividends
Dividend History
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund provided a 2.58% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $0.85 per share.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $0.85 | $0.86 | $0.81 | $1.10 | $1.29 | $1.08 | $0.68 | $0.88 | $0.80 | $0.68 | $0.46 | $0.65 |
Dividend yield | 2.58% | 3.13% | 3.66% | 4.96% | 6.15% | 4.15% | 2.68% | 3.31% | 3.52% | 2.45% | 2.25% | 3.61% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.03 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.03 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.32 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.28 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.21 | $0.86 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.09 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.24 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.32 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.14 | $0.81 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.51 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.46 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.09 | $1.10 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.01 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.54 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.54 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.20 | $1.29 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.03 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.27 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.55 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.22 | $1.08 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
Loading charts...
Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund was 46.23%, occurring on Mar 18, 2020. Recovery took 287 trading sessions.
The current First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund drawdown is 2.28%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
COVID crash2020 | -46.23%Mar 2020 | 2y 1mo | 1y 1mo | 3y 3moJan 2018 - May 2021 |
2016 bear market2016 | -41.85%Jan 2016 | 4y 8mo | 1y 7mo | 6y 4moApr 2011 - Aug 2017 |
Bear market2022 | -31.72%Oct 2022 | 1y 1mo | 1y 7mo | 2y 8moSep 2021 - May 2024 |
2025 selloff2025 | -18.79%Apr 2025 | 10mo 23d | 2mo 4d | 1y 22dMay 2024 - Jun 2025 |
2026 pullback2026 | -9.31%Mar 2026 | 22d | 20d | 1mo 12dFeb 2026 - Apr 2026 |
Drawdown Indicators
| FEM | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.23% | -56.78% | +10.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.31% | -9.10% | -0.21% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.79% | -18.90% | +0.11% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.72% | -25.43% | -6.29% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -46.23% | -33.92% | -12.31% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.28% | -1.80% | -0.48% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.01% | -10.71% | -4.30% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.68% | 2.03% | +0.65% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Build a portfolio with FEM
Add First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund to a portfolio and analyze allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Analyzer with FEM