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

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 12. There are 57 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	RNEM vs GEME
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	93	103.78M	Jun 2011	RNEM vs DBEM
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	92	—	Sep 2024	RNEM vs EVLU
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	91	24.61B	Jul 2017	RNEM vs EMXC
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	91	119.41M	Feb 2015	RNEM vs ROAM

Top Performing RNEM Alternatives (YTD)

RNEM is at -1.51% YTD. There are 60 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	RNEM vs EMXC
EEMO	Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	40.25%	15.51M	Feb 2012	RNEM vs EEMO
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	39.11%	237.62M	Dec 2007	RNEM vs PIE
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	38.52%	72.25M	Jan 2025	RNEM vs GEME
XCEM	Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF	38.32%	1.98B	Sep 2015	RNEM vs XCEM

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has 13.31% 1-year volatility. There are 5 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	RNEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	10.09%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RNEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.21%	7.35M	Jan 2016	RNEM vs EMDV
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.19%	1.25B	Feb 2011	RNEM vs EDIV
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	12.96%	390.16M	Jan 2015	RNEM vs JPEM

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -10.71%. There are 21 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	RNEM vs DVYE
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.35M	Jan 2016	RNEM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.78B	Jul 2007	RNEM vs DEM
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	-7.98%	742.62M	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, 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	RNEM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	79	28.91%	11.29B	Nov 2009	RNEM vs GRID
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	3	-9.70%	133.88M	Feb 2012	RNEM vs NFTY
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	78	31.77%	10.62B	Mar 2014	RNEM vs AIRR
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	70	13.33%	7.39B	Mar 2006	RNEM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Precious Metals, Gold	28	1.69%	591.41M	Mar 2021	RNEM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	97	115.70%	2.52B	Sep 2016	RNEM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	83	30.57%	4.66B	Aug 2012	RNEM vs TDIV
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...	Dividend, S&P 500	20	2.20%	3.28B	Mar 2018	RNEM vs KNG
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	89	52.94%	895.30M	Feb 2007	RNEM vs QCLN

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 Large Company ...	Emerging Markets Diversified	86	17.28%	—	Jan 2008	RNEM vs SFENX
EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	81	27.80%	30.33B	Apr 2003	RNEM vs EEM
OHI	Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.		77	2.30%	—	—	RNEM vs OHI
VGTSX	Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Inve...	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Large Cap Blend Equities	58	15.35%	—	Apr 1996	RNEM vs VGTSX
VBINX	Vanguard Balanced Index Fund	Diversified Portfolio	75	7.32%	—	Nov 1992	RNEM vs VBINX
SCHD	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Dividend	80	19.01%	94.95B	Oct 2011	RNEM vs SCHD
VFIAX	Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares	S&P 500, Large Cap Blend Equities	73	11.69%	1.60T	Nov 2000	RNEM vs VFIAX
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	70	10.91%	1.60T	Sep 2010	RNEM vs VOO
VBIAX	Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares	Diversified Portfolio	76	7.35%	62.30B	Nov 2000	RNEM vs VBIAX
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	—	32.56%	2.13B	Jun 2025	RNEM vs EMOP
EDOG	ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	31	2.43%	29.53M	Mar 2014	RNEM vs EDOG
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	Emerging Markets Equities, ESG	85	33.83%	1.02B	Dec 2018	RNEM vs EMCS
SMH	VanEck Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	96	77.13%	67.82B	Dec 2011	RNEM vs SMH
MFEM	PIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor Emerging Markets E...	Emerging Markets Equities, Multi-factor	83	31.49%	146.99M	Aug 2017	RNEM vs MFEM
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	76	20.43%	764.60M	Apr 2011	RNEM vs FEM
QQQ	Invesco QQQ ETF	Nasdaq-100	73	21.30%	493.99B	Mar 1999	RNEM vs QQQ
GVAL	Cambria Global Value ETF	Global Equities	77	14.37%	443.40M	Mar 2014	RNEM vs GVAL
TUR	iShares MSCI Turkey ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	35	13.80%	218.28M	Mar 2008	RNEM vs TUR
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	65	10.35%	46.73M	Mar 2015	RNEM vs SDEM
QEMM	SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	24.39%	52.51M	Jun 2014	RNEM vs QEMM

Compare RNEM with Any Fund or Stock

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

Symbol name

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