RFEM Alternatives & Similar ETFs

First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF (RFEM) belongs to the Emerging Markets Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with RFEM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to RFEM

RFEM charges 0.95% annually. There are 79 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.07%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
VEXC	Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	0.07%	235.70M	Sep 2025	RFEM vs VEXC
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.07%	17.31B	Mar 2007	RFEM vs SPEM
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	162.80B	Mar 2005	RFEM vs VWO
BKEM	BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	86.15M	Apr 2020	RFEM vs BKEM
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	12.63B	Jan 2010	RFEM vs SCHE

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to RFEM

RFEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 76. There are 16 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 90.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	90	366.05M	Jan 2025	RFEM vs GEME
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	89	262.88M	Dec 2007	RFEM vs PIE
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	89	—	Sep 2024	RFEM vs EVLU
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	87	102.15M	Jun 2011	RFEM vs DBEM
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	85	24.99B	Jul 2017	RFEM vs EMXC

Top Performing RFEM Alternatives (YTD)

RFEM is at 20.69% YTD. There are 31 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 39.82%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	39.82%	262.88M	Dec 2007	RFEM vs PIE
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	36.07%	24.99B	Jul 2017	RFEM vs EMXC
XCEM	Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF	32.72%	1.97B	Sep 2015	RFEM vs XCEM
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	31.73%	366.05M	Jan 2025	RFEM vs GEME
EEMO	Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	30.01%	25.97M	Feb 2012	RFEM vs EEMO

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to RFEM

RFEM has 18.31% 1-year volatility. There are 29 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 9.17%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	9.17%	—	Jun 2025	RFEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	10.68%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RFEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.46%	7.11M	Jan 2016	RFEM vs EMDV
RNEM	First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF	12.45%	16.78M	Jun 2017	RFEM vs RNEM
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.76%	1.22B	Feb 2011	RFEM vs EDIV

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to RFEM

RFEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -11.65%. There are 30 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -5.56%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	-5.56%	—	Jun 2025	RFEM vs TJUN
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.11M	Jan 2016	RFEM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.91B	Jul 2007	RFEM vs DEM
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	-7.98%	707.60M	May 2008	RFEM vs EWX
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	-8.16%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RFEM vs TDEC

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	30	28.93%	14.26B	Jul 2015	RFEM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	61	21.35%	11.74B	Nov 2009	RFEM vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	68	25.81%	10.80B	Mar 2014	RFEM vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	4	-7.15%	132.86M	Feb 2012	RFEM vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	70	14.31%	7.48B	Mar 2006	RFEM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	21	-5.84%	510.89M	Mar 2021	RFEM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	95	96.17%	2.46B	Sep 2016	RFEM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	45	19.14%	4.34B	Aug 2012	RFEM vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	59	24.93%	718.18M	Feb 2007	RFEM vs QCLN
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	30	8.22%	3.40B	Mar 2018	RFEM vs KNG

Often Compared With RFEM

Investors most often compare RFEM with FEM, ALTY, INDY. These 20 comparison targets span 10 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	70	18.08%	746.53M	Apr 2011	RFEM vs FEM
ALTY	Global X Alternative Income ETF	Global Allocation, Dividend	90	7.91%	45.46M	Jul 2015	RFEM vs ALTY
INDY	iShares India 50 ETF	India Equities, Emerging Markets Equities, Asia Pacific Equities	2	-11.66%	560.85M	Nov 2009	RFEM vs INDY
AVEM	Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	69	23.01%	25.69B	Sep 2019	RFEM vs AVEM
EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	69	22.92%	29.54B	Apr 2003	RFEM vs EEM
ECOW	Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	77	11.69%	213.27M	May 2019	RFEM vs ECOW
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	Emerging Markets Equities	65	19.75%	58.56M	Dec 2018	RFEM vs EMCR
EMIF	iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	29	0.09%	13.17M	Jun 2009	RFEM vs EMIF
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	84	22.40%	109.30M	Feb 2015	RFEM vs ROAM
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	Emerging Markets Equities	45	6.53%	383.52M	Jan 2015	RFEM vs JPEM
TUR	iShares MSCI Turkey ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	29	14.52%	204.17M	Mar 2008	RFEM vs TUR
QAT	iShares MSCI Qatar ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	8	-2.47%	65.85M	Apr 2014	RFEM vs QAT
ROBT	First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot...	Technology Equities, Robotics	20	8.33%	733.99M	Feb 2018	RFEM vs ROBT
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	69	12.05%	44.20M	Mar 2015	RFEM vs SDEM
DVYE	iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	50	8.84%	1.20B	Feb 2012	RFEM vs DVYE
QEMM	SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	67	21.22%	54.57M	Jun 2014	RFEM vs QEMM
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	26.93%	2.10B	Jun 2025	RFEM vs EMOP
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	Emerging Markets Equities, ESG	77	29.93%	1.02B	Dec 2018	RFEM vs EMCS
IBIC	iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF	Inflation-Protected Bonds	98	2.55%	79.20M	Sep 2023	RFEM vs IBIC
EYLD	Cambria Emerging Shareholder Yield ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	76	24.11%	845.66M	Jul 2016	RFEM vs EYLD

Compare RFEM with Any Fund or Stock

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

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Diversifiers

Pair RFEM with funds that move differently

First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to RFEM.

Explore RFEM Diversifiers

First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF (RFEM) Alternatives