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 24 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%	6.60B	May 2013	FEMB vs VWOB
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	0.18%	42.78M	Feb 2023	FEMB vs BEMB
EMHC	SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF	0.23%	266.45M	Apr 2021	FEMB vs EMHC
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	0.29%	948.98M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
EMLC	VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ...	0.30%	4.87B	Jul 2010	FEMB vs EMLC

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 32. There are 20 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 91.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	91	27.50M	Dec 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	89	23.78M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	86	41.32M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	79	948.98M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	78	15.78M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB

Top Performing FEMB Alternatives (YTD)

FEMB is at 0.58% YTD. There are 21 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 6.35%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	6.35%	27.50M	Dec 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	4.99%	23.78M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	4.21%	41.32M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM
BREM	iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF	3.77%	38.74M	Oct 2025	FEMB vs BREM
NEMD	Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Hard Curren...	3.64%	136.81M	Sep 2013	FEMB vs NEMD

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has 8.61% 1-year volatility. There are 24 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.27%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
EMTL	SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF	2.27%	80.27M	Apr 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	3.44%	15.78M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	3.44%	23.78M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	3.79%	99.72M	Mar 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	4.35%	42.78M	Feb 2023	FEMB vs BEMB

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has a 1-year max drawdown of -7.58%. There are 22 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%	23.78M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMTL	SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF	-2.00%	80.27M	Apr 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	-3.07%	99.72M	Mar 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	-3.52%	948.98M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	-3.61%	41.32M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 13 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Cybersecurity, Technology Equities	18	18.06%	13.59B	Jul 2015	FEMB vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	65	23.40%	11.60B	Nov 2009	FEMB vs GRID
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities, Equal Weight	5	-7.30%	136.58M	Feb 2012	FEMB vs NFTY
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	79	31.81%	11.14B	Mar 2014	FEMB vs AIRR
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	69	12.67%	9.22B	Mar 2006	FEMB vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	18	-5.55%	543.16M	Mar 2021	FEMB vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	96	111.02%	2.89B	Sep 2016	FEMB vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	53	19.03%	4.90B	Aug 2012	FEMB vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	78	37.20%	880.41M	Feb 2007	FEMB vs QCLN
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	27	4.84%	3.32B	Mar 2018	FEMB vs KNG

Often Compared With FEMB

Investors most often compare FEMB with VRIG, PCY, 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	99	2.06%	1.52B	Sep 2016	FEMB vs VRIG
PCY	Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	58	2.69%	1.42B	Oct 2007	FEMB vs PCY
EMB	iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	60	2.18%	14.29B	Dec 2007	FEMB vs EMB
ELD	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund	Emerging Markets Bonds	32	0.51%	138.39M	Aug 2010	FEMB vs ELD
BWZ	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International T...	International Government Bonds	6	-1.98%	309.09M	Jan 2009	FEMB vs BWZ
FALN	iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	51	2.24%	1.62B	Jun 2016	FEMB vs FALN
FLRT	Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF	High Yield Bonds	84	1.81%	624.90M	Feb 2015	FEMB vs FLRT
IGIB	iShares 5-10 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ...	Corporate Bonds	37	0.33%	18.35B	Jan 2007	FEMB vs IGIB
FNILX	Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index Fund	Large Cap Blend Equities	62	9.63%	—	—	FEMB vs FNILX
EMBX	VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	71	3.35%	239.29M	Oct 2025	FEMB vs EMBX
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	84	24.74%	122.72M	Nov 2015	FEMB vs FCVT
IBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bo...	Corporate Bonds	9	-2.31%	466.70M	May 2010	FEMB vs IBND
CVRT	Calamos Convertible Equity Alternative ETF	Convertible Bonds	92	36.17%	28.70M	Oct 2023	FEMB vs CVRT
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	59	8.15%	765.27B	Jan 1993	FEMB vs SPY
EBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bon...	Emerging Markets Bonds	20	-0.23%	2.29B	Feb 2011	FEMB vs EBND
BND	Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF	Total Bond Market	32	0.49%	394.40B	Apr 2007	FEMB vs BND
LEMB	iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	37	1.61%	720.34M	Oct 2011	FEMB vs LEMB
JPIB	JPMorgan International Bond Opportunities ETF	Global Bonds	36	1.10%	2.03B	Apr 2017	FEMB vs JPIB
PYLD	PIMCO Multisector Bond Active Exchange-Traded Fund	Multisector Bonds	65	1.41%	13.69B	Jun 2023	FEMB vs PYLD
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	1.71%	95.28B	May 2020	FEMB vs SGOV

Compare FEMB with Any Fund or Stock

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

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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