First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) Alternatives
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) 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 FEM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.
Cheapest Alternatives to FEM
FEM charges 0.80% annually. Among ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among FEM alternatives.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | 0.07% | Sep 30, 2025 | FEM vs VEXC | |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 0.08% | Mar 4, 2005 | FEM vs VWO | |
| SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | 0.11% | Mar 19, 2007 | FEM vs SPEM | |
| Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 0.11% | Jan 14, 2010 | FEM vs SCHE | |
| Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl... | 0.15% | Dec 6, 2018 | FEM vs EMCR |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FEM
Among ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF | 95 | Jun 16, 2009 | FEM vs EMIF | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF | 94 | Jul 19, 2017 | FEM vs EMXC | |
| Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF | 93 | May 2, 2019 | FEM vs ECOW | |
| Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF | 93 | Feb 26, 2015 | FEM vs ROAM | |
| Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF | 93 | Mar 17, 2015 | FEM vs SDEM |
Top Performing FEM Alternatives (YTD)
FEM alternatives from the Emerging Markets Equities category, sorted by year-to-date return.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI Turkey ETF | 12.29% | Mar 26, 2008 | FEM vs TUR | |
| iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | 10.67% | Feb 23, 2012 | FEM vs DVYE | |
| Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF | 10.23% | Dec 28, 2007 | FEM vs PIE | |
| Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF | 9.29% | May 2, 2019 | FEM vs ECOW | |
| iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF | 9.17% | Sep 16, 2015 | FEM vs KSA |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FEM
FEM alternatives from the Emerging Markets Equities category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | 11.95% | Jan 25, 2016 | FEM vs EMDV | |
| iShares MSCI Qatar ETF | 13.22% | Apr 29, 2014 | FEM vs QAT | |
| SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | 13.77% | Feb 23, 2011 | FEM vs EDIV | |
| J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq... | 14.07% | Jan 7, 2015 | FEM vs JPEM | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | 15.04% | Jul 13, 2007 | FEM vs DEM |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FEM
FEM alternatives from the Emerging Markets Equities category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | -7.48% | Jan 25, 2016 | FEM vs EMDV | |
| Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF | -9.78% | Mar 17, 2015 | FEM vs SDEM | |
| J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq... | -10.32% | Jan 7, 2015 | FEM vs JPEM | |
| SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | -10.36% | Feb 23, 2011 | FEM vs EDIV | |
| SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF | -10.40% | Jun 4, 2014 | FEM vs QEMM |
Other ETFs from First Trust
Most popular First Trust ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.
Often Compared With FEM
What investors most often compare with FEM, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare FEM with Any Fund or Stock
Compare FEM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.