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 57 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%	17.88B	Mar 2007	RNEM vs SPEM
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	162.80B	Mar 2005	RNEM vs VWO
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	12.80B	Jan 2010	RNEM vs SCHE
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	0.15%	58.93M	Dec 2018	RNEM vs EMCR

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 13. There are 63 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	RNEM vs GEME
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	88	—	Sep 2024	RNEM vs EVLU
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	87	107.84M	Jun 2011	RNEM vs DBEM
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	86	120.77M	Feb 2015	RNEM vs ROAM
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	85	257.92M	Dec 2007	RNEM vs PIE

Top Performing RNEM Alternatives (YTD)

RNEM is at -0.01% YTD. There are 61 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 38.60%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	38.60%	257.92M	Dec 2007	RNEM vs PIE
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	37.89%	26.40B	Jul 2017	RNEM vs EMXC
EEMO	Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	35.52%	21.60M	Feb 2012	RNEM vs EEMO
XCEM	Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF	34.20%	2.09B	Sep 2015	RNEM vs XCEM
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	32.99%	366.05M	Jan 2025	RNEM vs GEME

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has 13.64% 1-year volatility. There are 5 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.33%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	8.33%	—	Jun 2025	RNEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	10.71%	10.25M	Dec 2024	RNEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.54%	7.21M	Jan 2016	RNEM vs EMDV
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.67%	1.28B	Feb 2011	RNEM vs EDIV
QAT	iShares MSCI Qatar ETF	13.25%	67.45M	Apr 2014	RNEM vs QAT

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to RNEM

RNEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -10.71%. There are 20 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -4.47%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	-4.47%	—	Jun 2025	RNEM vs TJUN
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.21M	Jan 2016	RNEM vs EMDV
DVYE	iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	-7.30%	1.21B	Feb 2012	RNEM vs DVYE
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	4.03B	Jul 2007	RNEM vs DEM
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	-7.98%	747.02M	May 2008	RNEM vs EWX

Other ETFs from First Trust

The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 13 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	18	18.06%	13.59B	Jul 2015	RNEM vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	65	23.40%	11.60B	Nov 2009	RNEM vs GRID
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities, Equal Weight	5	-7.30%	136.58M	Feb 2012	RNEM vs NFTY
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	79	31.81%	11.14B	Mar 2014	RNEM vs AIRR
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	69	12.67%	9.22B	Mar 2006	RNEM vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	18	-5.55%	543.16M	Mar 2021	RNEM vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	96	111.02%	2.89B	Sep 2016	RNEM vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	53	19.03%	4.90B	Aug 2012	RNEM vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	78	37.20%	880.41M	Feb 2007	RNEM vs QCLN
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	27	4.84%	3.32B	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	75	13.84%	—	Jan 2008	RNEM vs SFENX
EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	67	23.41%	31.27B	Apr 2003	RNEM vs EEM
OHI	Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.		83	7.78%	—	—	RNEM vs OHI
VGTSX	Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Inve...	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Large Cap Blend Equities	68	15.80%	—	Apr 1996	RNEM vs VGTSX
VBINX	Vanguard Balanced Index Fund	Diversified Portfolio	66	6.32%	—	Nov 1992	RNEM vs VBINX
SCHD	Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF	Dividend	77	17.72%	99.95B	Oct 2011	RNEM vs SCHD
VFIAX	Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares	S&P 500, Large Cap Blend Equities	65	9.77%	1.70T	Nov 2000	RNEM vs VFIAX
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	59	8.19%	1.70T	Sep 2010	RNEM vs VOO
VBIAX	Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares	Diversified Portfolio	67	6.36%	64.10B	Nov 2000	RNEM vs VBIAX
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	76	27.21%	2.16B	Jun 2025	RNEM vs EMOP
MFEM	PIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor Emerging Markets E...	Emerging Markets Equities, Multi-factor	63	22.43%	159.06M	Aug 2017	RNEM vs MFEM
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	Emerging Markets Equities, ESG	75	30.08%	1.07B	Dec 2018	RNEM vs EMCS
SMH	VanEck Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	94	72.73%	84.54B	Dec 2011	RNEM vs SMH
EDOG	ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	32	1.65%	28.85M	Mar 2014	RNEM vs EDOG
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	66	16.29%	767.68M	Apr 2011	RNEM vs FEM
QQQ	Invesco QQQ ETF	Nasdaq-100	59	16.45%	493.17B	Mar 1999	RNEM vs QQQ
GVAL	Cambria Global Value ETF	Global Equities	84	17.40%	525.44M	Mar 2014	RNEM vs GVAL
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	61	9.57%	44.25M	Mar 2015	RNEM vs SDEM
TUR	iShares MSCI Turkey ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	44	17.67%	193.16M	Mar 2008	RNEM vs TUR
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	Emerging Markets Equities	43	4.39%	392.87M	Jan 2015	RNEM vs JPEM

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