FEMB Alternatives & Similar ETFs

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 a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB charges 0.85% annually. There are 26 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.15%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
VWOB	Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF	0.15%	6.80B	May 2013	FEMB vs VWOB
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	0.18%	42.02M	Feb 2023	FEMB vs BEMB
EMHC	SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF	0.23%	283.35M	Apr 2021	FEMB vs EMHC
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	0.29%	843.20M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
EMLC	VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF	0.30%	4.80B	Jul 2010	FEMB vs EMLC

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 46. There are 18 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	96	26.23M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	89	49.68M	Dec 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	87	40.62M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	83	15.61M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	81	843.20M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD

Top Performing FEMB Alternatives (YTD)

FEMB is at 2.20% YTD. There are 10 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 5.65%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	5.65%	49.68M	Dec 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	5.60%	26.23M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMBX	VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF	3.80%	262.35M	Oct 2025	FEMB vs EMBX
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	3.58%	15.61M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	3.58%	40.62M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has 8.20% 1-year volatility. There are 24 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.47%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	3.47%	15.61M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	3.59%	26.23M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	3.70%	98.87M	Mar 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	4.37%	42.02M	Feb 2023	FEMB vs BEMB
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	4.74%	843.20M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has a 1-year max drawdown of -7.58%. There are 21 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -1.34%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	-1.34%	26.23M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	-3.07%	98.87M	Mar 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	-3.52%	843.20M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	-3.61%	40.62M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	-3.67%	42.02M	Feb 2023	FEMB vs BEMB

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	FEMB 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	FEMB vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	54	19.12%	10.18B	Mar 2014	FEMB 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	FEMB vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	92	18.16%	7.77B	Mar 2006	FEMB vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	25	-6.56%	514.13M	Mar 2021	FEMB vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	91	67.20%	1.27B	Sep 2016	FEMB vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	43	14.88%	4.18B	Aug 2012	FEMB vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	39	10.48%	586.61M	Feb 2007	FEMB vs QCLN
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Dividend, Large Cap Blend Equities	85	17.25%	24.89B	Jan 2014	FEMB vs RDVY

Often Compared With FEMB

Investors most often compare FEMB with VRIG, ELD, EMB. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
VRIG	Invesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF	Ultrashort Bond, Investment Grade Bonds	99	2.56%	1.83B	Sep 2016	FEMB vs VRIG
ELD	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund	Emerging Markets Bonds	46	1.41%	140.90M	Aug 2010	FEMB vs ELD
EMB	iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	53	0.90%	14.61B	Dec 2007	FEMB vs EMB
PCY	Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	43	-0.05%	1.38B	Oct 2007	FEMB vs PCY
BWZ	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International T...	International Government Bonds	16	0.01%	267.35M	Jan 2009	FEMB vs BWZ
FALN	iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	55	1.86%	1.61B	Jun 2016	FEMB vs FALN
FLRT	Pacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ...	Bank Loan	91	2.39%	652.88M	Feb 2015	FEMB vs FLRT
IGIB	iShares 5-10 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ...	Corporate Bonds, Investment Grade Bonds	31	-0.58%	18.59B	Jan 2007	FEMB vs IGIB
FNILX	Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index Fund	Large Cap Blend Equities	59	9.06%	—	—	FEMB vs FNILX
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	Convertible Bonds	54	14.79%	100.83M	Nov 2015	FEMB vs FCVT
NEMD	Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Hard Curren...	Emerging Markets Bonds	—	3.47%	137.00M	Sep 2013	FEMB vs NEMD
IBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bo...	Corporate Bonds	13	-1.95%	458.73M	May 2010	FEMB vs IBND
EBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bon...	Emerging Markets Bonds	31	0.87%	2.26B	Feb 2011	FEMB vs EBND
CVRT	Calamos Convertible Equity Alternative ETF	Convertible Bonds	78	25.14%	31.20M	Oct 2023	FEMB vs CVRT
EMTL	SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	—	—	67.06M	Apr 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
JPIB	JPMorgan International Bond Opportunities ETF	Global Bonds	37	0.67%	2.10B	Apr 2017	FEMB vs JPIB
BREM	iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	—	2.28%	37.97M	Oct 2025	FEMB vs BREM
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	67	10.13%	789.06B	Jan 1993	FEMB vs SPY
BND	Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF	Total Bond Market	29	-0.54%	398.10B	Apr 2007	FEMB vs BND
HYEM	VanEck Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	80	4.23%	521.46M	May 2012	FEMB vs HYEM

Compare FEMB with Any Fund or Stock

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

Symbol name

Diversifiers

Pair FEMB with funds that move differently

First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to FEMB.

Explore FEMB Diversifiers

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