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FEMB vs. QCLN
Performance
Return for Risk
Dividends
Drawdowns
Volatility

FEMB vs. QCLN

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (FEMB) and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN).

FEMB and QCLN are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FEMB is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Nov 4, 2014. QCLN is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy. It was launched on Feb 8, 2007.

Performance

FEMB vs. QCLN - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (FEMB) and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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FEMB vs. QCLN - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
FEMB
First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF		-2.12%21.77%-5.61%17.12%-10.50%-13.40%3.16%11.52%-7.19%11.92%
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund		4.23%31.81%-18.86%-10.02%-30.37%-3.21%184.00%42.65%-12.38%32.34%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FEMB achieves a -2.12% return, which is significantly lower than QCLN's 4.23% return. Over the past 10 years, FEMB has underperformed QCLN with an annualized return of 1.94%, while QCLN has yielded a comparatively higher 12.77% annualized return.

FEMB

1D
1.15%
1M
-6.18%
YTD
-2.12%
6M
0.86%
1Y
13.41%
3Y*
7.19%
5Y*
2.14%
10Y*
1.94%

QCLN

1D
6.51%
1M
-3.99%
YTD
4.23%
6M
10.87%
1Y
62.76%
3Y*
-3.26%
5Y*
-7.25%
10Y*
12.77%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund

Often compared with FEMB:
FEMB vs. PCYFEMB vs. ELDFEMB vs. EMBFEMB vs. VRIGFEMB vs. BWZFEMB vs. EMLCFEMB vs. FALN
Often compared with QCLN:
QCLN vs. ICLNQCLN vs. TANQCLN vs. PBWQCLN vs. GRIDQCLN vs. ACESQCLN vs. CNRGQCLN vs. DRIV

FEMB vs. QCLN - Expense Ratio Comparison

FEMB has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is higher than QCLN's 0.60% expense ratio.

FEMB
First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund

Return for Risk

FEMB vs. QCLN — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
FEMB
FEMB Risk / Return Rank: 7777
Overall Rank
FEMB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8181
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FEMB Sortino Ratio Rank: 8181
Sortino Ratio Rank
FEMB Omega Ratio Rank: 7777
Omega Ratio Rank
FEMB Calmar Ratio Rank: 7272
Calmar Ratio Rank
FEMB Martin Ratio Rank: 7474
Martin Ratio Rank
QCLN
QCLN Risk / Return Rank: 8787
Overall Rank
QCLN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 8585
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QCLN Sortino Ratio Rank: 8686
Sortino Ratio Rank
QCLN Omega Ratio Rank: 7777
Omega Ratio Rank
QCLN Calmar Ratio Rank: 9595
Calmar Ratio Rank
QCLN Martin Ratio Rank: 9191
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.

FEMB vs. QCLN - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (FEMB) and First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN). 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.

FEMBQCLNDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.51

1.67

-0.16

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

2.07

2.28

-0.20

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.29

1.28

+0.01

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

1.83

3.81

-1.98

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

7.66

11.86

-4.20

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

FEMB vs. QCLN - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current FEMB Sharpe Ratio is 1.51, which is comparable to the QCLN Sharpe Ratio of 1.67. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of FEMB and QCLN, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

FEMBQCLNDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.51

1.67

-0.16

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.21

-0.19

+0.40

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.17

0.37

-0.20

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.07

0.14

-0.08

Correlation

The correlation between FEMB and QCLN is 0.28, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.

Dividends

FEMB vs. QCLN - Dividend Comparison

FEMB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.00%, more than QCLN's 0.22% yield.

TTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
FEMB
First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF		6.00%5.67%6.09%5.15%6.35%6.12%5.29%5.40%5.86%6.38%5.83%4.89%
QCLN
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund		0.22%0.25%0.87%0.76%0.33%0.01%0.30%0.85%1.03%0.45%1.24%0.72%

Drawdowns

FEMB vs. QCLN - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FEMB drawdown since its inception was -30.44%, smaller than the maximum QCLN drawdown of -76.18%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FEMB and QCLN.

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Drawdown Indicators

FEMBQCLNDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-30.44%

-76.18%

+45.74%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-7.58%

-16.18%

+8.60%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-27.85%

-69.49%

+41.64%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-30.44%

-71.73%

+41.29%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-6.52%

-46.16%

+39.64%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-10.03%

-43.54%

+33.51%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.81%

5.20%

-3.39%

Volatility

FEMB vs. QCLN - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (FEMB) is 3.81%, while First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) has a volatility of 14.18%. This indicates that FEMB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than QCLN based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

FEMBQCLNDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.81%

14.18%

-10.37%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

5.46%

27.32%

-21.86%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

8.94%

37.76%

-28.82%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

10.21%

37.87%

-27.66%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

11.22%

34.63%

-23.41%