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EMGU.L vs. FEM.L
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

EMGU.L (iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI UCITS ETF) and FEM.L (First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc) are both Emerging Markets Equities funds tracking the MSCI EM NR USD, from iShares and First Trust respectively. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, EMGU.L returned 8.74%/yr vs 8.32%/yr for FEM.L. A 0.79 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. EMGU.L charges 0.18%/yr vs 0.80%/yr for FEM.L.

Performance

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI UCITS ETF (EMGU.L) and First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Different Trading Currencies

EMGU.L is traded in GBP, while FEM.L is traded in GBp. To make them comparable, the FEM.L values have been converted to GBP using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, EMGU.L achieves a 24.44% return, which is significantly higher than FEM.L's 19.38% return.

EMGU.L

1D
-1.41%
1M
5.55%
YTD
24.44%
6M
26.29%
1Y
50.77%
3Y*
20.11%
5Y*
8.74%
10Y*
—

FEM.L

1D
-0.53%
1M
-0.64%
YTD
19.38%
6M
20.41%
1Y
41.02%
3Y*
17.20%
5Y*
8.32%
10Y*
10.14%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
EMGU.L
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI UCITS ETF		24.44%22.98%9.19%4.92%-10.05%0.64%14.80%3.98%
FEM.L
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc		19.38%18.46%5.12%4.21%-3.80%8.72%-3.95%4.17%

Correlation

The correlation between EMGU.L and FEM.L is 0.76, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.76

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.78

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.76

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 25, 2019

0.79

The correlation between EMGU.L and FEM.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.76 to 0.79 - a consistent structural relationship.

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
EMGU.L
FEM.L

Technology

39.4%
27.7%

Financial Services

17.3%
6.4%

Consumer Cyclical

9.1%
5.7%

Industrials

8.4%
20.3%

Basic Materials

6.4%
7.9%

Communication Services

5.9%
4.6%

Energy

3.5%
13.1%

Healthcare

3.5%
2.8%

Consumer Defensive

3.1%
2.9%

Utilities

2.0%
6.0%

Real Estate

1.6%
2.6%

Technology

EMGU.L
39.4%
FEM.L
27.7%

Financial Services

EMGU.L
17.3%
FEM.L
6.4%

Consumer Cyclical

EMGU.L
9.1%
FEM.L
5.7%

Industrials

EMGU.L
8.4%
FEM.L
20.3%

Basic Materials

EMGU.L
6.4%
FEM.L
7.9%

Communication Services

EMGU.L
5.9%
FEM.L
4.6%

Energy

EMGU.L
3.5%
FEM.L
13.1%

Healthcare

EMGU.L
3.5%
FEM.L
2.8%

Consumer Defensive

EMGU.L
3.1%
FEM.L
2.9%

Utilities

EMGU.L
2.0%
FEM.L
6.0%

Real Estate

EMGU.L
1.6%
FEM.L
2.6%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI UCITS ETF

First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc

Often compared with EMGU.L:
EMGU.L vs. 0823.HKEMGU.L vs. AIAEMGU.L vs. SPEMEMGU.L vs. EMDV.LEMGU.L vs. IEEM.LEMGU.L vs. EMHD.LEMGU.L vs. CSP1.L
Often compared with FEM.L:
FEM.L vs. JMRE.LFEM.L vs. EMXC.LFEM.L vs. MXFP.LFEM.L vs. SEGM.LFEM.L vs. FEMD.LFEM.L vs. AEMU.LFEM.L vs. FEMQ.L

Return for Risk

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
EMGU.L
EMGU.L Risk / Return Rank: 8888
Overall Rank
EMGU.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9191
Sharpe Ratio Rank
EMGU.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 8989
Sortino Ratio Rank
EMGU.L Omega Ratio Rank: 9191
Omega Ratio Rank
EMGU.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 8585
Calmar Ratio Rank
EMGU.L Martin Ratio Rank: 8383
Martin Ratio Rank
FEM.L
FEM.L Risk / Return Rank: 8484
Overall Rank
FEM.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8383
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FEM.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 7878
Sortino Ratio Rank
FEM.L Omega Ratio Rank: 8181
Omega Ratio Rank
FEM.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 9191
Calmar Ratio Rank
FEM.L Martin Ratio Rank: 8888
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI UCITS ETF (EMGU.L) and First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.L). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

EMGU.LFEM.LDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
3.10
2.67

+0.43

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.99
3.46

+0.53

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.58

1.48

+0.10

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

4.65

5.87

-1.21

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

16.46

18.76

-2.30

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current EMGU.L Sharpe Ratio is 3.10, which is comparable to the FEM.L Sharpe Ratio of 2.67. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of EMGU.L and FEM.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

EMGU.LFEM.LDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

3.10

2.67

+0.43

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.56

0.52

+0.04

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

—

0.54

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.59

0.35

+0.24

Drawdowns

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EMGU.L drawdown since its inception was -25.97%, smaller than the maximum FEM.L drawdown of -35.42%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EMGU.L and FEM.L.

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Drawdown Indicators

EMGU.LFEM.LDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-25.97%

-35.42%

+9.45%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-10.86%

-6.96%

-3.90%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-15.41%

-17.83%

+2.42%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-22.05%

-17.83%

-4.22%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-35.42%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.34%

-1.32%

-1.02%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-9.03%

-8.99%

-0.04%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.08%

2.18%

+0.90%

Volatility

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Volatility Comparison

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI UCITS ETF (EMGU.L) has a higher volatility of 7.12% compared to First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.L) at 5.20%. This indicates that EMGU.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FEM.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

EMGU.LFEM.LDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

7.12%

5.20%

+1.92%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.90%

12.21%

+1.69%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

16.30%

15.31%

+0.99%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

15.60%

15.96%

-0.36%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

17.58%

18.68%

-1.10%

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

EMGU.L has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is lower than FEM.L's 0.80% expense ratio.

Dividends

EMGU.L vs. FEM.L - Dividend Comparison

EMGU.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.61%, while FEM.L has not paid dividends to shareholders.

PositionTTM202520242023202220212020
EMGU.L
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI UCITS ETF		1.61%1.93%2.26%2.51%3.16%1.86%1.81%
FEM.L
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc		0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

EMGU.L and FEM.L have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, EMGU.L is cheaper at 0.18% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

EMGU.L is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for FEM.L.

Both ETFs track MSCI EM NR USD. They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.18% for EMGU.L and 0.80% for FEM.L.

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