XEMD.L vs. FEM.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

XEMD.L (Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1D) and FEM.L (First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc) are both Emerging Markets Equities funds tracking the MSCI EM NR USD, from Xtrackers and First Trust respectively. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, XEMD.L returned 23.87%/yr vs 17.02%/yr for FEM.L. A 0.51 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XEMD.L charges 0.18%/yr vs 0.80%/yr for FEM.L.

Performance

XEMD.L vs. FEM.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a €10,000 investment in Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1D (XEMD.L) and First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

XEMD.L is traded in EUR, while FEM.L is traded in GBp. To make them comparable, the FEM.L values have been converted to EUR using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XEMD.L achieves a 26.56% return, which is significantly higher than FEM.L's 20.44% return.

XEMD.L

• 1D: -1.42%
• 1M: 5.37%
• YTD: 26.56%
• 6M: 28.79%
• 1Y: 51.83%
• 3Y*: 23.87%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

FEM.L

• 1D: -0.62%
• 1M: -0.82%
• YTD: 20.44%
• 6M: 21.62%
• 1Y: 37.33%
• 3Y*: 17.02%
• 5Y*: 8.17%
• 10Y*: 9.10%

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

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

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
XEMD.L Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1D	26.56%	33.32%	7.21%	10.03%	-20.21%	-3.35%
FEM.L First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc	20.44%	12.28%	10.19%	6.42%	-8.76%	3.37%

Correlation

The correlation between XEMD.L and FEM.L is 0.68, 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	0.68
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.66
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 19, 2021	0.51

The correlation between XEMD.L and FEM.L shifts across timeframes, from 0.51 (all time) to 0.68 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

XEMD.L vs. FEM.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XEMD.L	FEM.L
Technology	36.9%	27.7%
Financial Services	19.5%	6.4%
Consumer Cyclical	9.6%	5.7%
Industrials	7.4%	20.3%
Communication Services	7.0%	4.6%
Basic Materials	6.5%	7.9%
Energy	4.1%	13.1%
Consumer Defensive	3.0%	2.9%
Healthcare	2.9%	2.8%
Utilities	2.1%	6.0%
Real Estate	1.1%	2.6%

Return for Risk

XEMD.L vs. FEM.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

XEMD.L

XEMD.L Risk / Return Rank: 82
XEMD.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 85
XEMD.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
XEMD.L Omega Ratio Rank: 83
XEMD.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 81
XEMD.L Martin Ratio Rank: 80

FEM.L

FEM.L Risk / Return Rank: 84
FEM.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 83
FEM.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 78
FEM.L Omega Ratio Rank: 81
FEM.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 91
FEM.L Martin Ratio Rank: 88

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.

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

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1D (XEMD.L) and First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.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.

	XEMD.L	FEM.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.73	2.35	+0.38
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.61	3.16	+0.46
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.49	1.42	+0.08
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.16	5.85	-1.69
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	15.63	18.31	-2.68
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

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

The current XEMD.L Sharpe Ratio is 2.73, which is comparable to the FEM.L Sharpe Ratio of 2.35. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XEMD.L and FEM.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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XEMD.L	FEM.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.73	2.35	+0.38
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.49	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.48	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.66	0.33	+0.33

Drawdowns

XEMD.L vs. FEM.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XEMD.L drawdown since its inception was -31.57%, smaller than the maximum FEM.L drawdown of -40.62%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XEMD.L and FEM.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	XEMD.L	FEM.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-31.57%	-40.62%	+9.05%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.23%	-6.35%	-6.88%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-16.98%	-18.18%	+1.20%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-18.18%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-40.62%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.61%	-1.43%	-1.18%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.32%	-9.62%	+0.30%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.44%	2.03%	+1.41%

Volatility

XEMD.L vs. FEM.L - Volatility Comparison

Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1D (XEMD.L) has a higher volatility of 9.04% compared to First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc (FEM.L) at 5.39%. This indicates that XEMD.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FEM.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XEMD.L	FEM.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.04%	5.39%	+3.65%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.14%	12.58%	+4.56%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.17%	15.81%	+4.36%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	22.14%	16.63%	+5.51%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.14%	19.18%	+2.96%

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

XEMD.L has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is lower than FEM.L's 0.80% expense ratio.

Dividends

XEMD.L vs. FEM.L - Dividend Comparison

XEMD.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.33%, while FEM.L has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022
FEM.L First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX UCITS ETF Acc	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XEMD.L Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF 1D	1.33%	1.63%	2.88%	2.15%	2.52%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

XEMD.L and FEM.L have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

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

On fees, XEMD.L is cheaper at 0.18% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

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

XEMD.L is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for FEM.L.

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

Both ETFs track MSCI EM NR USD. They also come from different issuers: Xtrackers and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.18% for XEMD.L and 0.80% for FEM.L.