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 65 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%	216.60M	Sep 2025	RFEM vs VEXC
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	159.90B	Mar 2005	RFEM vs VWO
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	12.74B	Jan 2010	RFEM vs SCHE
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.11%	17.83B	Mar 2007	RFEM vs SPEM
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	0.15%	58.19M	Dec 2018	RFEM vs EMCR

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to RFEM

RFEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 81. There are 20 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 93.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	93	72.25M	Jan 2025	RFEM vs GEME
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	93	103.78M	Jun 2011	RFEM vs DBEM
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	92	—	Sep 2024	RFEM vs EVLU
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	91	24.61B	Jul 2017	RFEM vs EMXC
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	91	119.41M	Feb 2015	RFEM vs ROAM

Top Performing RFEM Alternatives (YTD)

RFEM is at 21.66% YTD. There are 29 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 41.72%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	41.72%	24.61B	Jul 2017	RFEM vs EMXC
EEMO	Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	40.25%	15.51M	Feb 2012	RFEM vs EEMO
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	39.11%	237.62M	Dec 2007	RFEM vs PIE
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	38.52%	72.25M	Jan 2025	RFEM vs GEME
XCEM	Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF	38.32%	1.98B	Sep 2015	RFEM vs XCEM

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to RFEM

RFEM has 16.85% 1-year volatility. There are 26 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 7.54%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	7.54%	—	Jun 2025	RFEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	10.09%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RFEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.21%	7.35M	Jan 2016	RFEM vs EMDV
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.19%	1.25B	Feb 2011	RFEM vs EDIV
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	12.96%	390.16M	Jan 2015	RFEM vs JPEM

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to RFEM

RFEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -11.65%. There are 28 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.49%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
DVYE	iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	-6.49%	1.28B	Feb 2012	RFEM vs DVYE
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.35M	Jan 2016	RFEM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.78B	Jul 2007	RFEM vs DEM
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	-7.98%	742.62M	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, 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	RFEM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	79	28.91%	11.29B	Nov 2009	RFEM vs GRID
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	3	-9.70%	133.88M	Feb 2012	RFEM vs NFTY
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	78	31.77%	10.62B	Mar 2014	RFEM vs AIRR
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	70	13.33%	7.39B	Mar 2006	RFEM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Precious Metals, Gold	28	1.69%	591.41M	Mar 2021	RFEM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	97	115.70%	2.52B	Sep 2016	RFEM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	83	30.57%	4.66B	Aug 2012	RFEM vs TDIV
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...	Dividend, S&P 500	20	2.20%	3.28B	Mar 2018	RFEM vs KNG
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	89	52.94%	895.30M	Feb 2007	RFEM vs QCLN

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	76	20.43%	764.60M	Apr 2011	RFEM vs FEM
ALTY	Global X Alternative Income ETF	Global Allocation, Dividend	82	6.19%	44.29M	Jul 2015	RFEM vs ALTY
INDY	iShares India 50 ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	1	-15.38%	560.36M	Nov 2009	RFEM vs INDY
AVEM	Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	82	27.59%	24.32B	Sep 2019	RFEM vs AVEM
EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	81	27.80%	30.33B	Apr 2003	RFEM vs EEM
ECOW	Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	77	13.10%	214.70M	May 2019	RFEM vs ECOW
EMIF	iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	37	1.74%	13.58M	Jun 2009	RFEM vs EMIF
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	65	10.35%	46.73M	Mar 2015	RFEM vs SDEM
QEMM	SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	24.39%	52.51M	Jun 2014	RFEM vs QEMM
QAT	iShares MSCI Qatar ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	10	-0.42%	83.74M	Apr 2014	RFEM vs QAT
TUR	iShares MSCI Turkey ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	35	13.80%	218.28M	Mar 2008	RFEM vs TUR
ROBT	First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot...	Technology Equities, Robotics	32	14.22%	763.61M	Feb 2018	RFEM vs ROBT
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	—	32.56%	2.13B	Jun 2025	RFEM vs EMOP
IBIC	iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF	Inflation-Protected Bonds	98	2.37%	85.92M	Sep 2023	RFEM vs IBIC
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	Emerging Markets Equities, ESG	85	33.83%	1.02B	Dec 2018	RFEM vs EMCS
EYLD	Cambria Emerging Shareholder Yield ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	23.85%	816.33M	Jul 2016	RFEM vs EYLD
DBO	Invesco DB Oil Fund	Oil & Gas	65	84.75%	275.60M	Jan 2007	RFEM vs DBO
BNO	United States Brent Oil Fund LP	Oil & Gas	65	90.47%	95.54M	Jun 2010	RFEM vs BNO
DBE	Invesco DB Energy Fund	Oil & Gas	71	83.68%	99.79M	Jan 2007	RFEM vs DBE
IBID	iShares iBonds Oct 2027 Term TIPS ETF	Inflation-Protected Bonds	97	2.46%	111.60M	Sep 2023	RFEM vs IBID

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