QAT vs. FEM
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI Qatar ETF (QAT) and First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM).
QAT and FEM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. QAT is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI All Qatar Capped Index. It was launched on Apr 29, 2014. 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. Both QAT and FEM are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
QAT vs. FEM - Performance Comparison
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QAT vs. FEM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QAT iShares MSCI Qatar ETF | -1.16% | 8.81% | 5.20% | 2.72% | -7.23% | 14.42% | 6.94% | -0.44% | 20.03% | -11.66% |
FEM First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund | 9.64% | 28.36% | 3.01% | 10.84% | -14.24% | 7.40% | -1.68% | 20.55% | -15.51% | 41.05% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, QAT achieves a -1.16% return, which is significantly lower than FEM's 9.64% return. Over the past 10 years, QAT has underperformed FEM with an annualized return of 3.21%, while FEM has yielded a comparatively higher 8.47% annualized return.
QAT
- 1D
- 2.22%
- 1M
- -4.42%
- YTD
- -1.16%
- 6M
- -3.61%
- 1Y
- 8.10%
- 3Y*
- 5.46%
- 5Y*
- 3.59%
- 10Y*
- 3.21%
FEM
- 1D
- 1.40%
- 1M
- -4.37%
- YTD
- 9.64%
- 6M
- 11.51%
- 1Y
- 35.39%
- 3Y*
- 16.74%
- 5Y*
- 6.92%
- 10Y*
- 8.47%
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QAT vs. FEM - Expense Ratio Comparison
QAT has a 0.59% expense ratio, which is lower than FEM's 0.80% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
QAT vs. FEM — Risk / Return Rank
QAT
FEM
QAT vs. FEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Qatar ETF (QAT) and First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM). 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.
| QAT | FEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.62 | 1.85 | -1.23 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.86 | 2.34 | -1.48 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.36 | -0.23 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.82 | 2.66 | -1.84 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.80 | 12.54 | -10.74 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| QAT | FEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.62 | 1.85 | -1.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.24 | 0.38 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.18 | 0.41 | -0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.07 | 0.16 | -0.10 |
Correlation
The correlation between QAT and FEM is 0.32, 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
QAT vs. FEM - Dividend Comparison
QAT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.55%, more than FEM's 2.84% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QAT iShares MSCI Qatar ETF | 3.55% | 3.51% | 5.90% | 3.92% | 4.78% | 2.33% | 2.63% | 3.57% | 4.63% | 4.10% | 3.51% | 4.49% |
FEM First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund | 2.84% | 3.13% | 3.66% | 4.96% | 6.15% | 4.15% | 2.68% | 3.31% | 3.52% | 2.45% | 2.25% | 3.61% |
Drawdowns
QAT vs. FEM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QAT drawdown since its inception was -45.21%, roughly equal to the maximum FEM drawdown of -46.23%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QAT and FEM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| QAT | FEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -45.21% | -46.23% | +1.02% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.60% | -13.19% | +2.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.17% | -31.72% | -1.45% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.04% | -46.23% | +12.19% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -13.45% | -5.40% | -8.05% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.29% | -15.20% | -4.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.81% | 2.79% | +2.02% |
Volatility
QAT vs. FEM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI Qatar ETF (QAT) is 5.05%, while First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) has a volatility of 8.51%. This indicates that QAT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| QAT | FEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.05% | 8.51% | -3.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.07% | 13.64% | -4.57% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.22% | 19.24% | -6.02% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.84% | 18.21% | -3.37% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.60% | 20.95% | -3.35% |