EWX vs. FEMS
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF (EWX) and First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FEMS).
EWX and FEMS are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. EWX is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Emerging Markets Under USD2 Billion Index. It was launched on May 12, 2008. FEMS is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX EM Small Cap Index. It was launched on Feb 15, 2012. Both EWX and FEMS are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: EWX or FEMS.
Key characteristics
| EWX | FEMS | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 8.39% | 2.86% |
| 1Y Return | 16.44% | 9.10% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 2.61% | 1.75% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 9.34% | 6.34% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 5.41% | 5.21% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.12 | 0.49 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.55 | 0.77 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.21 | 1.09 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.82 | 0.50 |
| Martin Ratio | 5.76 | 2.05 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.91% | 3.94% |
| Daily Std Dev | 14.87% | 16.54% |
| Max Drawdown | -63.90% | -47.85% |
| Current Drawdown | -6.26% | -8.61% |
Correlation
The correlation between EWX and FEMS is 0.79, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
EWX vs. FEMS - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, EWX achieves a 8.39% return, which is significantly higher than FEMS's 2.86% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with EWX having a 5.41% annualized return and FEMS not far behind at 5.21%. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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EWX vs. FEMS - Expense Ratio Comparison
EWX has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is lower than FEMS's 0.80% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
EWX vs. FEMS - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF (EWX) and First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FEMS). 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.
Dividends
EWX vs. FEMS - Dividend Comparison
EWX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.10%, less than FEMS's 3.69% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EWX SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF | 2.10% | 2.32% | 3.00% | 2.77% | 2.24% | 2.73% | 3.26% | 2.30% | 2.46% | 3.04% | 2.74% | 2.33% |
FEMS First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund | 3.69% | 4.65% | 4.55% | 6.25% | 2.90% | 4.38% | 4.68% | 3.39% | 2.42% | 3.28% | 3.49% | 1.79% |
Drawdowns
EWX vs. FEMS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum EWX drawdown since its inception was -63.90%, which is greater than FEMS's maximum drawdown of -47.85%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EWX and FEMS. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
EWX vs. FEMS - Volatility Comparison
SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF (EWX) has a higher volatility of 5.14% compared to First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FEMS) at 4.33%. This indicates that EWX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FEMS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.