FEM.L vs. LDME.L

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

FEM.L (First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc) and LDME.L (L&G Emerging Markets Quality Dividends Equal Weight ETF USD Dis) are both Emerging Markets Equities funds - FEM.L tracks the MSCI EM NR USD while LDME.L tracks the L&G Emerging Markets Quality Dividends Equal Weight ETF USD Dis. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, FEM.L returned 7.62%/yr vs 9.82%/yr for LDME.L. A 0.79 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. FEM.L charges 0.80%/yr vs 0.45%/yr for LDME.L.

Performance

FEM.L vs. LDME.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.L) and L&G Emerging Markets Quality Dividends Equal Weight ETF USD Dis (LDME.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FEM.L achieves a 16.09% return, which is significantly higher than LDME.L's 11.94% return.

FEM.L

• 1D: -0.12%
• 1M: -2.83%
• 6M: 9.86%
• YTD: 16.09%
• 1Y: 30.90%
• 3Y*: 15.05%
• 5Y*: 7.62%
• 10Y*: 7.99%

LDME.L

• 1D: -0.95%
• 1M: -4.00%
• 6M: 8.40%
• YTD: 11.94%
• 1Y: 21.67%
• 3Y*: 16.11%
• 5Y*: 9.82%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

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

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
FEM.L First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc	16.09%	18.46%	5.12%	4.21%	-3.80%	0.25%
LDME.L L&G Emerging Markets Quality Dividends Equal Weight ETF USD Dis	11.94%	16.54%	11.33%	10.64%	-2.34%	7,358.59%

Correlation

The correlation between FEM.L and LDME.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	0.79
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.79
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 13, 2021	0.79

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

Return for Risk

FEM.L vs. LDME.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

FEM.L

FEM.L Risk / Return Rank: 74
FEM.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 70
FEM.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
FEM.L Omega Ratio Rank: 67
FEM.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 90
FEM.L Martin Ratio Rank: 80

LDME.L

LDME.L Risk / Return Rank: 73
LDME.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 74
LDME.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 71
LDME.L Omega Ratio Rank: 71
LDME.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 83
LDME.L Martin Ratio Rank: 65

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.

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

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.L) and L&G Emerging Markets Quality Dividends Equal Weight ETF USD Dis (LDME.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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	FEM.L	LDME.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.83	1.88	-0.05
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.44	2.59	-0.15
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.33	1.33	-0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.42	3.53	+0.89
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.11	9.38	+2.73

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

The current FEM.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.83, which is comparable to the LDME.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.88. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FEM.L and LDME.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.

Drawdowns

FEM.L vs. LDME.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FEM.L drawdown since its inception was -54.05%, which is greater than LDME.L's maximum drawdown of -14.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FEM.L and LDME.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	FEM.L	LDME.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-54.05%	-14.82%	-39.23%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.96%	-6.44%	-0.52%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-17.83%	-14.82%	-3.01%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-17.83%	-14.82%	-3.01%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-35.42%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-4.90%	-5.29%	+0.39%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-17.73%	-3.24%	-14.49%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.55%	2.42%	+0.13%

Volatility

FEM.L vs. LDME.L - Volatility Comparison

First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.L) has a higher volatility of 6.37% compared to L&G Emerging Markets Quality Dividends Equal Weight ETF USD Dis (LDME.L) at 3.97%. This indicates that FEM.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than LDME.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	FEM.L	LDME.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.37%	3.97%	+2.40%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.60%	9.77%	+3.83%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.82%	12.12%	+4.70%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.27%	12.65%	+3.62%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.65%	3,216.41%	-3,197.76%

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

FEM.L has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than LDME.L's 0.45% expense ratio.

Dividends

FEM.L vs. LDME.L - Dividend Comparison

FEM.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while LDME.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.85%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
FEM.L First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
LDME.L L&G Emerging Markets Quality Dividends Equal Weight ETF USD Dis	2.85%	3.04%	3.67%	3.56%	4.57%	1.55%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both FEM.L and LDME.L in my portfolio?

FEM.L and LDME.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.

Which ETF is better, FEM.L or LDME.L?

On fees, LDME.L is cheaper at 0.45% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, FEM.L or LDME.L?

LDME.L is cheaper with a 0.45% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for FEM.L.

What is the main difference between FEM.L and LDME.L?

FEM.L tracks MSCI EM NR USD, while LDME.L tracks L&G Emerging Markets Quality Dividends Equal Weight ETF USD Dis. They also come from different issuers: First Trust and L&G. Their fees differ too: 0.80% for FEM.L and 0.45% for LDME.L.