WCME Alternatives & Similar ETFs

First Trust WCM Developing World Equity ETF (WCME) 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 WCME. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to WCME

WCME charges 0.95% annually. There are 127 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%	258.70M	Sep 2025	WCME vs VEXC
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.07%	16.81B	Mar 2007	WCME vs SPEM
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	163.30B	Mar 2005	WCME vs VWO
IEMG	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	0.09%	152.22B	Oct 2012	WCME vs IEMG
BKEM	BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	89.24M	Apr 2020	WCME vs BKEM

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to WCME

WCME has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 31. There are 96 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 92.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	92	658.42M	Sep 2024	WCME vs EMEQ
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	90	—	Sep 2024	WCME vs EVLU
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	90	366.05M	Jan 2025	WCME vs GEME
EMDM	First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ...	89	38.85M	Mar 2023	WCME vs EMDM
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	86	123.28M	Oct 2023	WCME vs FTHF

Top Performing WCME Alternatives (YTD)

WCME is at 7.80% YTD. There are 94 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 55.77%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	55.77%	658.42M	Sep 2024	WCME vs EMEQ
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	35.77%	123.28M	Oct 2023	WCME vs FTHF
EMSF	Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ...	32.23%	43.26M	Sep 2023	WCME vs EMSF
STXE	Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	31.89%	139.63M	Jan 2023	WCME vs STXE
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	30.26%	366.05M	Jan 2025	WCME vs GEME

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to WCME

WCME has 23.82% 1-year volatility. There are 73 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.65%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
EJAN	Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar...	8.65%	144.99M	Jan 2020	WCME vs EJAN
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	10.70%	—	Jun 2025	WCME vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	11.07%	10.25M	Dec 2024	WCME vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.68%	7.35M	Jan 2016	WCME vs EMDV
RNEM	First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF	12.51%	17.22M	Jun 2017	WCME vs RNEM

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to WCME

WCME has a 1-year max drawdown of -15.64%. There are 84 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	WCME vs EJAN
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.35M	Jan 2016	WCME vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.87B	Jul 2007	WCME vs DEM
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	-8.16%	10.25M	Dec 2024	WCME vs TDEC
ECOW	Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF	-8.35%	217.49M	May 2019	WCME 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	44	31.78%	14.31B	Jul 2015	WCME vs CIBR
GRID	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastru...	Infrastructure Equities, Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	53	19.50%	11.67B	Nov 2009	WCME vs GRID
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	63	22.38%	10.18B	Mar 2014	WCME vs AIRR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	India Equities, Equal Weight, Asia Pacific Equities	9	-5.08%	118.19M	Feb 2012	WCME vs NFTY
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	92	18.62%	7.77B	Mar 2006	WCME vs FDL
IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Gold, Derivative Income, Precious Metals	23	-6.86%	514.13M	Mar 2021	WCME vs IGLD
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	91	68.79%	1.27B	Sep 2016	WCME vs FTXL
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	49	16.55%	4.18B	Aug 2012	WCME vs TDIV
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities, Energy Equities	42	13.15%	586.61M	Feb 2007	WCME vs QCLN
RDVY	First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF	Dividend, Large Cap Blend Equities	88	18.21%	24.89B	Jan 2014	WCME vs RDVY

Often Compared With WCME

Investors most often compare WCME with IBIC, DBEM, BDRY. These 20 comparison targets span 15 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
IBIC	iShares iBonds Oct 2026 Term TIPS ETF	Inflation-Protected Bonds	98	2.67%	76.82M	Sep 2023	WCME vs IBIC
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	72	20.05%	100.81M	Jun 2011	WCME vs DBEM
BDRY	Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping ETF	Commodities	83	59.06%	29.69M	Mar 2018	WCME vs BDRY
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	Emerging Markets Equities, ESG	71	24.85%	939.03M	Dec 2018	WCME vs EMCS
DVYE	iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	73	12.05%	1.22B	Feb 2012	WCME vs DVYE
BILS	State Street SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF	Ultrashort Bond, Investment Grade Bonds	100	2.02%	3.90B	Sep 2020	WCME vs BILS
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	61	14.62%	749.05M	Apr 2011	WCME vs FEM
XCEM	Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	72	24.71%	1.81B	Sep 2015	WCME vs XCEM
ROBT	First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot...	Artificial Intelligence, Technology Equities, Robotics	25	8.60%	724.78M	Feb 2018	WCME vs ROBT
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	Momentum, Emerging Markets Equities	71	29.63%	228.29M	Dec 2007	WCME vs PIE
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	41	8.38%	1.21B	Feb 2011	WCME vs EDIV
AAA	Alternative Access First Priority CLO Bond ETF	CLO	91	2.59%	45.06M	Sep 2020	WCME vs AAA
KNG	FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income...	Dividend, S&P 500	47	9.32%	3.53B	Mar 2018	WCME vs KNG
DBE	Invesco DB Energy Fund	Oil & Gas	66	71.26%	99.84M	Jan 2007	WCME vs DBE
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	69	21.72%	1.96B	Jun 2025	WCME vs EMOP
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	28.12%	23.65B	Jul 2017	WCME vs EMXC
BIL	SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF	Government Bonds, Ultrashort Bond	100	2.10%	47.03B	May 2007	WCME vs BIL
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	Emerging Markets Equities	57	15.38%	56.42M	Dec 2018	WCME vs EMCR
ACLO	TCW AAA CLO ETF	CLO	99	3.00%	515.18M	Nov 2024	WCME vs ACLO
DBO	Invesco DB Oil Fund	Oil & Gas	51	66.72%	257.23M	Jan 2007	WCME vs DBO

Compare WCME with Any Fund or Stock

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

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Diversifiers

Pair WCME with funds that move differently

First Trust WCM Developing World Equity ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to WCME.

Explore WCME Diversifiers

First Trust WCM Developing World Equity ETF (WCME) Alternatives