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 0.18%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	0.18%	42.64M	Feb 2023	FEMB vs BEMB
VWOB	Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF	0.20%	6.50B	May 2013	FEMB vs VWOB
EMHC	SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF	0.23%	262.73M	Apr 2021	FEMB vs EMHC
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	0.29%	921.62M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
EMLC	VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ...	0.30%	4.88B	Jul 2010	FEMB vs EMLC

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 32. There are 21 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 90.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	90	21.37M	Dec 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	89	23.84M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	84	41.40M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	79	15.69M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	79	921.62M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD

Top Performing FEMB Alternatives (YTD)

FEMB is at 0.60% YTD. There are 23 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 5.89%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	5.89%	21.37M	Dec 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	5.41%	23.84M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
NEMD	Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Hard Curren...	3.76%	132.40M	Sep 2013	FEMB vs NEMD
EMBX	VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF	3.49%	242.06M	Oct 2025	FEMB vs EMBX
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	3.26%	41.40M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has 8.36% 1-year volatility. There are 23 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.22%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
EMTL	SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF	2.22%	89.86M	Apr 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	3.40%	15.69M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	3.45%	23.84M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	4.16%	99.06M	Mar 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	4.26%	42.64M	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%	23.84M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMTL	SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF	-2.00%	89.86M	Apr 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	-3.07%	99.06M	Mar 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	-3.52%	921.62M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	-3.61%	41.40M	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 11 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	Technology Equities, Cybersecurity	26	28.52%	13.68B	Jul 2015	FEMB vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	79	28.91%	11.29B	Nov 2009	FEMB vs GRID
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	3	-9.70%	133.88M	Feb 2012	FEMB vs NFTY
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	78	31.77%	10.62B	Mar 2014	FEMB vs AIRR
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	70	13.33%	7.39B	Mar 2006	FEMB vs FDL
IGLD	FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Precious Metals, Gold	28	1.69%	591.41M	Mar 2021	FEMB vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	97	115.70%	2.52B	Sep 2016	FEMB vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	83	30.57%	4.66B	Aug 2012	FEMB vs TDIV
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...	Dividend, S&P 500	20	2.20%	3.28B	Mar 2018	FEMB vs KNG
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	89	52.94%	895.30M	Feb 2007	FEMB vs QCLN

Often Compared With FEMB

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

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PCY	Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	59	2.20%	1.39B	Oct 2007	FEMB vs PCY
EMB	iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	61	1.80%	14.16B	Dec 2007	FEMB vs EMB
ELD	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund	Emerging Markets Bonds	34	0.74%	132.95M	Aug 2010	FEMB vs ELD
VRIG	Invesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF	Ultrashort Bond	99	1.81%	1.53B	Sep 2016	FEMB vs VRIG
BWZ	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International T...	International Government Bonds	8	-0.62%	310.96M	Jan 2009	FEMB vs BWZ
FALN	iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	54	1.56%	1.66B	Jun 2016	FEMB vs FALN
FLRT	Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF	High Yield Bonds	85	1.83%	615.17M	Feb 2015	FEMB vs FLRT
IGIB	iShares Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF	Corporate Bonds	42	0.21%	18.22B	Jan 2007	FEMB vs IGIB
FNILX	Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index Fund	Large Cap Blend Equities	71	11.56%	—	—	FEMB vs FNILX
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	87	25.61%	122.33M	Nov 2015	FEMB vs FCVT
IBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bo...	Corporate Bonds	13	-1.08%	468.60M	May 2010	FEMB vs IBND
EBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bon...	Emerging Markets Bonds	23	-0.23%	2.26B	Feb 2011	FEMB vs EBND
CVRT	Calamos Convertible Equity Alternative ETF	Convertible Bonds	93	40.89%	28.60M	Oct 2023	FEMB vs CVRT
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	70	10.91%	781.00B	Jan 1993	FEMB vs SPY
BND	Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF	Total Bond Market	37	0.27%	389.80B	Apr 2007	FEMB vs BND
LEMB	iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	39	1.19%	732.66M	Oct 2011	FEMB vs LEMB
JPIB	JPMorgan International Bond Opportunities ETF	Global Bonds	37	0.74%	2.01B	Apr 2017	FEMB vs JPIB
PYLD	PIMCO ETF Trust - PIMCO Multisector Bond Active Ex...	Multisector Bonds	66	0.95%	13.03B	Jun 2023	FEMB vs PYLD
HYEM	VanEck Vectors Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ET...	High Yield Bonds	76	3.92%	510.68M	May 2012	FEMB vs HYEM
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	1.51%	91.90B	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