RNEM Alternatives & Similar ETFs

First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF (RNEM) 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 RNEM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM charges 0.75% annually. There are 66 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	RNEM vs VEXC
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.07%	17.31B	Mar 2007	RNEM vs SPEM
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	162.80B	Mar 2005	RNEM vs VWO
BKEM	BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	86.15M	Apr 2020	RNEM vs BKEM
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	12.63B	Jan 2010	RNEM vs SCHE

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 12. There are 63 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 88.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	88	366.05M	Jan 2025	RNEM vs GEME
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	88	262.88M	Dec 2007	RNEM vs PIE
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	87	—	Sep 2024	RNEM vs EVLU
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	82	102.15M	Jun 2011	RNEM vs DBEM
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	79	24.99B	Jul 2017	RNEM vs EMXC

Top Performing RNEM Alternatives (YTD)

RNEM is at 0.25% YTD. There are 62 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 36.43%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	36.43%	262.88M	Dec 2007	RNEM vs PIE
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	30.46%	24.99B	Jul 2017	RNEM vs EMXC
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	28.05%	366.05M	Jan 2025	RNEM vs GEME
XCEM	Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF	27.89%	1.97B	Sep 2015	RNEM vs XCEM
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	25.92%	—	Sep 2024	RNEM vs EVLU

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has 12.51% 1-year volatility. There are 3 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 9.57%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	9.57%	—	Jun 2025	RNEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	10.79%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RNEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.50%	7.11M	Jan 2016	RNEM vs EMDV
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.79%	1.22B	Feb 2011	RNEM vs EDIV
QAT	iShares MSCI Qatar ETF	13.40%	65.85M	Apr 2014	RNEM vs QAT

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -10.71%. There are 22 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.72%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	-6.72%	—	Jun 2025	RNEM vs TJUN
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.11M	Jan 2016	RNEM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.91B	Jul 2007	RNEM vs DEM
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	-7.98%	707.60M	May 2008	RNEM vs EWX
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	-8.16%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RNEM 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	34	28.87%	14.26B	Jul 2015	RNEM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	58	19.10%	11.74B	Nov 2009	RNEM vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	66	23.60%	10.80B	Mar 2014	RNEM 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	RNEM vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	76	15.23%	7.48B	Mar 2006	RNEM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	18	-7.95%	510.89M	Mar 2021	RNEM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	94	86.56%	2.46B	Sep 2016	RNEM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	44	17.47%	4.34B	Aug 2012	RNEM vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	54	20.15%	718.18M	Feb 2007	RNEM vs QCLN
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	34	8.48%	3.40B	Mar 2018	RNEM vs KNG

Often Compared With RNEM

Investors most often compare RNEM with SFENX, EEM, OHI. These 20 comparison targets span 13 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
SFENX	Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity Index F...	Emerging Markets Equities, Emerging Markets Diversified	66	12.17%	—	Jan 2008	RNEM vs SFENX
EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	61	18.51%	29.54B	Apr 2003	RNEM vs EEM
OHI	Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.		89	12.49%	—	—	RNEM vs OHI
VGTSX	Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Inve...	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Large Cap Blend Equities	55	13.43%	—	Apr 1996	RNEM vs VGTSX
SCHD	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Dividend	86	20.66%	98.55B	Oct 2011	RNEM vs SCHD
VBINX	Vanguard Balanced Index Fund	Diversified Portfolio	66	7.10%	—	Nov 1992	RNEM vs VBINX
VFIAX	Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares	S&P 500, Large Cap Blend Equities	65	11.33%	1.70T	Nov 2000	RNEM vs VFIAX
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	66	10.45%	1.70T	Sep 2010	RNEM vs VOO
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	71	22.87%	2.10B	Jun 2025	RNEM vs EMOP
VBIAX	Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares	Diversified Portfolio	67	7.16%	64.10B	Nov 2000	RNEM vs VBIAX
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	79	19.49%	109.30M	Feb 2015	RNEM vs ROAM
MFEM	PIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor Emerging Markets E...	Emerging Markets Equities, Multi-factor	53	18.46%	149.92M	Aug 2017	RNEM vs MFEM
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	Emerging Markets Equities, ESG	69	24.75%	1.02B	Dec 2018	RNEM vs EMCS
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	Emerging Markets Equities	57	15.90%	58.56M	Dec 2018	RNEM vs EMCR
EDOG	ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	28	2.46%	28.72M	Mar 2014	RNEM vs EDOG
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	65	15.78%	746.53M	Apr 2011	RNEM vs FEM
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	67	10.92%	44.20M	Mar 2015	RNEM vs SDEM
SMH	VanEck Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	92	62.61%	73.62B	Dec 2011	RNEM vs SMH
GVAL	Cambria Global Value ETF	Global Equities	84	17.43%	533.45M	Mar 2014	RNEM vs GVAL
QQQ	Invesco QQQ ETF	Nasdaq-100	58	16.13%	481.14B	Mar 1999	RNEM vs QQQ

Compare RNEM with Any Fund or Stock

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

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Diversifiers

Pair RNEM with funds that move differently

First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to RNEM.

Explore RNEM Diversifiers

First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF (RNEM) Alternatives