First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (FEMB) Alternatives

First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (FEMB) belongs to the Emerging Markets Bonds category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with FEMB. 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 FEMB

FEMB charges 0.85% annually. Among ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among FEMB alternatives.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	Inception
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	0.18%	Feb 22, 2023	FEMB vs BEMB
VWOB	Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF	0.20%	May 31, 2013	FEMB vs VWOB
EMHC	SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF	0.23%	Apr 6, 2021	FEMB vs EMHC
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	0.29%	Jun 28, 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
EBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bon...	0.30%	Feb 23, 2011	FEMB vs EBND

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FEMB

Among ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds 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
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	93	Nov 10, 2014	FEMB vs CBON
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	91	Jun 28, 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	89	Aug 12, 2024	FEMB vs GAEM
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	86	Dec 12, 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
EMLC	VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ...	83	Jul 22, 2010	FEMB vs EMLC

Top Performing FEMB Alternatives (YTD)

FEMB alternatives from the Emerging Markets Bonds category, sorted by year-to-date return.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	Inception
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	2.36%	Nov 10, 2014	FEMB vs CBON
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	0.75%	Dec 12, 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	-0.18%	Mar 8, 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
EMBX	VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF	-0.21%	Oct 6, 2025	FEMB vs EMBX
NEMD	Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Hard Curren...	-0.36%	Sep 27, 2013	FEMB vs NEMD

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB alternatives from the Emerging Markets Bonds category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	Inception
EMTL	SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF	2.84%	Apr 13, 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	3.92%	Nov 10, 2014	FEMB vs CBON
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	4.71%	Jun 26, 2018	FEMB vs KHYB
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	5.46%	Feb 22, 2023	FEMB vs BEMB
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	5.50%	Aug 12, 2024	FEMB vs GAEM

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB alternatives from the Emerging Markets Bonds category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	Inception
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	-1.66%	Nov 10, 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMTL	SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF	-2.15%	Apr 13, 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	-3.43%	Mar 8, 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	-3.52%	Jun 28, 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	-3.61%	Aug 12, 2024	FEMB vs GAEM

Other ETFs from First Trust

Most popular First Trust ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Technology Equities, Cybersecurity	12	-12.12%	Jul 7, 2015	FEMB vs CIBR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	5	-11.19%	Feb 14, 2012	FEMB vs NFTY
GRID	First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	94	6.96%	Nov 17, 2009	FEMB vs GRID
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	79	15.49%	Mar 9, 2006	FEMB vs FDL
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	95	12.74%	Mar 10, 2014	FEMB vs AIRR
IGLD	FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Precious Metals, Gold	84	5.99%	Mar 2, 2021	FEMB vs IGLD
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	77	-2.96%	Aug 14, 2012	FEMB vs TDIV
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...	Dividend, S&P 500	25	1.24%	Mar 26, 2018	FEMB vs KNG
ROBT	First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot...	Technology Equities, Robotics	28	-11.00%	Feb 21, 2018	FEMB vs ROBT
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	87	4.23%	Feb 8, 2007	FEMB vs QCLN

Often Compared With FEMB

What investors most often compare with FEMB, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
PCY	Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	62	-2.08%	Oct 11, 2007	FEMB vs PCY
ELD	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund	Emerging Markets Bonds, Actively Managed	65	-3.30%	Aug 9, 2010	FEMB vs ELD
EMB	iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	78	-1.61%	Dec 17, 2007	FEMB vs EMB
VRIG	Invesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF	Ultrashort Bond	99	0.90%	Sep 20, 2016	FEMB vs VRIG
BWZ	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International T...	International Government Bonds	31	-1.47%	Jan 15, 2009	FEMB vs BWZ
FALN	iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	54	-1.06%	Jun 14, 2016	FEMB vs FALN
FLRT	Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF	High Yield Bonds, Actively Managed	86	-0.24%	Feb 19, 2015	FEMB vs FLRT
FNILX	Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index Fund	Large Cap Blend Equities	45	-7.30%	—	FEMB vs FNILX
IGIB	iShares Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF	Corporate Bonds	74	-0.45%	Jan 11, 2007	FEMB vs IGIB
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds, Actively Managed	88	2.96%	Nov 4, 2015	FEMB vs FCVT
IBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bo...	Corporate Bonds	49	-2.80%	May 19, 2010	FEMB vs IBND
BND	Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF	Total Bond Market	59	0.05%	Apr 3, 2007	FEMB vs BND
CVRT	Calamos Convertible Equity Alternative ETF	Convertible Bonds	93	9.28%	Oct 4, 2023	FEMB vs CVRT
PYLD	PIMCO ETF Trust - PIMCO Multisector Bond Active Ex...	Multisector Bonds	83	-0.92%	Jun 21, 2023	FEMB vs PYLD
HYEM	VanEck Vectors Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ET...	High Yield Bonds	67	0.26%	May 8, 2012	FEMB vs HYEM
JPIB	JPMorgan International Bond Opportunities ETF	Global Bonds, Actively Managed	68	-1.04%	Apr 5, 2017	FEMB vs JPIB
LEMB	iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	83	-1.85%	Oct 18, 2011	FEMB vs LEMB
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	0.86%	May 26, 2020	FEMB vs SGOV
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	64	-4.37%	Jan 22, 1993	FEMB vs SPY
VCIT	Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF	Corporate Bonds	74	-0.45%	Nov 19, 2009	FEMB vs VCIT

Compare FEMB with Any Fund or Stock

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

Symbol name

First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF

Symbol name