FEM vs. RFEM
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) and First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF (RFEM).
FEM and RFEM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FEM is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX EM Index. It was launched on Apr 18, 2011. RFEM is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Jun 14, 2016.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: FEM or RFEM.
Key characteristics
| FEM | RFEM | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 2.61% | 9.70% |
| 1Y Return | 7.39% | 16.62% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -0.32% | 2.27% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 2.40% | 4.79% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.46 | 1.09 |
| Sortino Ratio | 0.75 | 1.58 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.09 | 1.20 |
| Calmar Ratio | 0.42 | 0.94 |
| Martin Ratio | 1.50 | 5.31 |
| Ulcer Index | 4.84% | 3.20% |
| Daily Std Dev | 15.68% | 15.55% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.24% | -42.22% |
| Current Drawdown | -10.79% | -8.84% |
Correlation
The correlation between FEM and RFEM is 0.83, 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
FEM vs. RFEM - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FEM achieves a 2.61% return, which is significantly lower than RFEM's 9.70% return. 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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FEM vs. RFEM - Expense Ratio Comparison
FEM has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is lower than RFEM's 0.95% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FEM vs. RFEM - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) and First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF (RFEM). 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
FEM vs. RFEM - Dividend Comparison
FEM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.40%, more than RFEM's 2.64% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FEM First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund | 3.40% | 4.97% | 6.16% | 4.15% | 2.68% | 3.30% | 3.52% | 2.45% | 2.26% | 3.62% | 2.85% | 2.62% |
RFEM First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF | 2.64% | 3.28% | 7.74% | 3.21% | 1.22% | 3.75% | 2.37% | 1.62% | 3.73% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
FEM vs. RFEM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FEM drawdown since its inception was -46.24%, which is greater than RFEM's maximum drawdown of -42.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FEM and RFEM. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FEM vs. RFEM - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) has a higher volatility of 5.60% compared to First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF (RFEM) at 4.16%. This indicates that FEM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than RFEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.