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%	6.60B	May 2013	FEMB vs VWOB
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	0.18%	42.42M	Feb 2023	FEMB vs BEMB
EMHC	SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF	0.23%	279.36M	Apr 2021	FEMB vs EMHC
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	0.29%	948.98M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
LEMB	iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF	0.30%	757.07M	Oct 2011	FEMB vs LEMB

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 33. There are 21 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 93.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	93	47.30M	Dec 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	93	23.74M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	88	41.07M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM
XEMD	BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year...	84	948.98M	Jun 2022	FEMB vs XEMD
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	81	15.67M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB

Top Performing FEMB Alternatives (YTD)

FEMB is at 1.97% YTD. There are 10 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 6.41%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
VEMY	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo...	6.41%	47.30M	Dec 2022	FEMB vs VEMY
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	5.20%	23.74M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
GAEM	Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF	3.89%	41.07M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM
NEMD	Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Hard Curren...	3.89%	134.51M	Sep 2013	FEMB vs NEMD
BREM	iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF	3.40%	38.40M	Oct 2025	FEMB vs BREM

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FEMB

FEMB has 8.22% 1-year volatility. There are 25 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%	68.17M	Apr 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
KHYB	KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF	3.45%	15.67M	Jun 2018	FEMB vs KHYB
CBON	VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF	3.52%	23.74M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	3.65%	99.31M	Mar 2012	FEMB vs EMCB
BEMB	Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon...	4.31%	42.42M	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%	23.74M	Nov 2014	FEMB vs CBON
EMTL	SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF	-2.00%	68.17M	Apr 2016	FEMB vs EMTL
EMCB	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund	-3.07%	99.31M	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%	41.07M	Aug 2024	FEMB vs GAEM

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 14 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	34	28.87%	14.26B	Jul 2015	FEMB vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	58	19.10%	11.74B	Nov 2009	FEMB vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	66	23.60%	10.80B	Mar 2014	FEMB vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	4	-7.65%	132.86M	Feb 2012	FEMB vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	76	15.23%	7.48B	Mar 2006	FEMB vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	18	-7.95%	510.89M	Mar 2021	FEMB vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	94	86.56%	2.46B	Sep 2016	FEMB vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	44	17.47%	4.34B	Aug 2012	FEMB vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	54	20.15%	718.18M	Feb 2007	FEMB vs QCLN
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	34	8.48%	3.40B	Mar 2018	FEMB vs KNG

Often Compared With FEMB

Investors most often compare FEMB with EMB, VRIG, ELD. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMB	iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	63	1.67%	14.61B	Dec 2007	FEMB vs EMB
VRIG	Invesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF	Ultrashort Bond	99	2.29%	1.75B	Sep 2016	FEMB vs VRIG
ELD	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund	Emerging Markets Bonds	35	1.41%	142.45M	Aug 2010	FEMB vs ELD
PCY	Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	58	1.41%	1.41B	Oct 2007	FEMB vs PCY
BWZ	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term International T...	International Government Bonds	6	-1.87%	272.63M	Jan 2009	FEMB vs BWZ
EMLC	VanEck J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	34	1.46%	4.80B	Jul 2010	FEMB vs EMLC
FALN	iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	54	2.18%	1.64B	Jun 2016	FEMB vs FALN
FLRT	Pacific Global Senior Loan ETF	High Yield Bonds	87	2.10%	637.48M	Feb 2015	FEMB vs FLRT
IGIB	iShares 5-10 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ...	Corporate Bonds	35	-0.33%	18.57B	Jan 2007	FEMB vs IGIB
FNILX	Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index Fund	Large Cap Blend Equities	61	11.15%	—	—	FEMB vs FNILX
EMBX	VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	70	3.29%	245.21M	Oct 2025	FEMB vs EMBX
FCVT	First Trust SSI Strategic Convertible Securities E...	Preferred Stock/Convertible Bonds	70	18.52%	116.40M	Nov 2015	FEMB vs FCVT
IBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays International Corporate Bo...	Corporate Bonds	7	-2.74%	458.13M	May 2010	FEMB vs IBND
EBND	SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bon...	Emerging Markets Bonds	20	0.44%	2.25B	Feb 2011	FEMB vs EBND
CVRT	Calamos Convertible Equity Alternative ETF	Convertible Bonds	86	28.31%	32.10M	Oct 2023	FEMB vs CVRT
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	66	10.45%	783.21B	Jan 1993	FEMB vs SPY
JPIB	JPMorgan International Bond Opportunities ETF	Global Bonds	39	1.00%	2.06B	Apr 2017	FEMB vs JPIB
HYEM	VanEck Vectors Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ET...	High Yield Bonds	78	4.07%	522.28M	May 2012	FEMB vs HYEM
BND	Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF	Total Bond Market	32	-0.17%	394.40B	Apr 2007	FEMB vs BND
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	1.92%	97.69B	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