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 99 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.07%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.07%	16.81B	Mar 2007	RNEM vs SPEM
VEXC	Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	0.07%	258.70M	Sep 2025	RNEM vs VEXC
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	163.30B	Mar 2005	RNEM vs VWO
IEMG	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	0.09%	152.22B	Oct 2012	RNEM vs IEMG
BKEM	BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	89.24M	Apr 2020	RNEM vs BKEM

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 29. There are 97 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 91.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	91	658.42M	Sep 2024	RNEM vs EMEQ
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	90	366.05M	Jan 2025	RNEM vs GEME
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	90	—	Sep 2024	RNEM vs EVLU
EMDM	First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ...	90	38.85M	Mar 2023	RNEM vs EMDM
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	87	123.28M	Oct 2023	RNEM vs FTHF

Top Performing RNEM Alternatives (YTD)

RNEM is at 3.95% YTD. There are 99 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 53.76%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	53.76%	658.42M	Sep 2024	RNEM vs EMEQ
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	34.68%	123.28M	Oct 2023	RNEM vs FTHF
STXE	Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	31.48%	139.63M	Jan 2023	RNEM vs STXE
EMSF	Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ...	30.73%	43.26M	Sep 2023	RNEM vs EMSF
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	29.70%	366.05M	Jan 2025	RNEM vs GEME

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has 12.51% 1-year volatility. There are 4 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.64%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
EJAN	Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar...	8.64%	144.99M	Jan 2020	RNEM vs EJAN
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	10.70%	—	Jun 2025	RNEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	11.07%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RNEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.68%	7.35M	Jan 2016	RNEM vs EMDV
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.94%	1.21B	Feb 2011	RNEM vs EDIV

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -10.71%. There are 17 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.63%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
EJAN	Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar...	-6.63%	144.99M	Jan 2020	RNEM vs EJAN
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%	3.87B	Jul 2007	RNEM vs DEM
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	-8.16%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RNEM vs TDEC
ECOW	Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF	-8.35%	217.49M	May 2019	RNEM vs ECOW

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, AIRR and span 16 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $25B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Cybersecurity, Technology Equities	39	28.86%	14.31B	Jul 2015	RNEM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Infrastructure Equities, Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	49	17.75%	11.67B	Nov 2009	RNEM vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	54	19.12%	10.18B	Mar 2014	RNEM vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	8	-5.91%	118.19M	Feb 2012	RNEM vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	92	18.16%	7.77B	Mar 2006	RNEM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	25	-6.56%	514.13M	Mar 2021	RNEM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	91	67.20%	1.27B	Sep 2016	RNEM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	43	14.88%	4.18B	Aug 2012	RNEM vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	39	10.48%	586.61M	Feb 2007	RNEM vs QCLN
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Dividend, Large Cap Blend Equities	85	17.25%	24.89B	Jan 2014	RNEM vs RDVY

Often Compared With RNEM

Investors most often compare RNEM with SFENX, SCHE, VGTSX. These 20 comparison targets span 10 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	76	13.49%	—	Jan 2008	RNEM vs SFENX
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	52	10.15%	12.59B	Jan 2010	RNEM vs SCHE
VGTSX	Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Inve...	Foreign Large Cap Equities	72	12.73%	—	Apr 1996	RNEM vs VGTSX
EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	63	17.75%	29.16B	Apr 2003	RNEM vs EEM
OHI	Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.		90	17.58%	—	—	RNEM vs OHI
SCHD	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Dividend	95	24.03%	104.16B	Oct 2011	RNEM vs SCHD
VBINX	Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Investor Shares	Diversified Portfolio	64	5.76%	—	Nov 1992	RNEM vs VBINX
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	71	21.20%	1.96B	Jun 2025	RNEM vs EMOP
VFIAX	Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares	S&P 500, Large Cap Blend Equities	63	9.33%	1.70T	Nov 2000	RNEM vs VFIAX
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	68	10.16%	1.70T	Sep 2010	RNEM vs VOO
VBIAX	Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares	Diversified Portfolio	66	5.80%	63.70B	Nov 2000	RNEM vs VBIAX
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	16.88%	106.24M	Feb 2015	RNEM vs ROAM
MFEM	PIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor Emerging Markets E...	Emerging Markets Equities, Multi-factor	53	16.47%	149.92M	Aug 2017	RNEM vs MFEM
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	Emerging Markets Equities	56	14.41%	56.42M	Dec 2018	RNEM vs EMCR
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	Emerging Markets Equities, ESG	73	24.35%	939.03M	Dec 2018	RNEM vs EMCS
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	27	3.22%	640.04M	May 2008	RNEM vs EWX
EDOG	ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	43	4.93%	29.35M	Mar 2014	RNEM vs EDOG
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	83	13.99%	45.23M	Mar 2015	RNEM vs SDEM
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	60	13.37%	749.05M	Apr 2011	RNEM vs FEM
SMH	VanEck Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	87	50.09%	68.10B	Dec 2011	RNEM vs SMH

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