A side-by-side comparison of First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX® Fund (FEM) and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China (EMXC) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | FEM | EMXC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +0.73%✓ | -2.38% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.38% | +0.26%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -1.21% | -0.42%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -2.79% | +1.35%✓ |
| Current Price | $32.09 | $99.34 |
| AUM | $808M | $25.91B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.8% | 0.25%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 2.16%✓ | 1.96% |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | — |
| Inception Date | 2011-04-18 | 2017-07-18 |
| Holdings Count | 48 | 542 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | Diversified Emerging Mkts | Diversified Emerging Mkts |
| Beta | 0.78 | 1.22 |
| 52-Week High | $35.09 | $107.12 |
| 52-Week Low | $25.25 | $65.38 |
| 50-Day MA | $32.42 | $97.03 |
| 200-Day MA | $31.17 | $89.38 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | FEM | EMXC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +0.73%✓ | -2.38% |
| 1 Year | +25.31% | +54.56%✓ |
| 3 Year | +19.18% | +29.28%✓ |
| 5 Year | +8.22% | +13.11%✓ |
| 10 Year | +8.42% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 18.11% | 28.34% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.99 | 1.11 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | 3189 | Kinsus Interconnect Technology Corp | 3.06% |
| 2 | 3037 | Unimicron Technology Corp | 2.11% |
| 3 | 8046 | Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corp | 1.95% |
| 4 | 3017 | Asia Vital Components Co Ltd | 1.72% |
| 5 | 3481 | Innolux Corp | 1.67% |
| 6 | 2383 | Elite Material Co Ltd | 1.52% |
| 7 | 2615 | Wan Hai Lines Ltd | 1.44% |
| 8 | UGPA3 | Ultrapar Participações S.A | 1.34% |
| 9 | 3702 | WPG Holdings Ltd | 1.31% |
| 10 | 3711 | ASE Industrial Holding Co Ltd | 1.26% |
| 1 | 2330 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | 19.31% |
| 2 | 005930 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 9.49% |
| 3 | 000660 | SK Hynix Inc | 7.27% |
| 4 | 2454 | MediaTek Inc | 2.24% |
| 5 | 005935 | Samsung Electronics Co Pref | 1.22% |
| 6 | 2308 | Delta Electronics Inc | 1.13% |
| 7 | 2317 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd | 0.97% |
| 8 | HDFCBANK | HDFC Bank Limited | 0.86% |
| 9 | 402340 | SK Square Co Ltd | 0.77% |
| 10 | 3711 | ASE Industrial Holding Co Ltd | 0.73% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | FEM | EMXC |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 8.78% | 5.81% |
| Communication Services | 3.99% | 2.81% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 4.81% | 3.77% |
| Consumer Defensive | 3.06% | 2.31% |
| Energy | 14.33% | 3.46% |
| Financial Services | 6.09% | 18.61% |
| Healthcare | 2.56% | 1.93% |
| Industrials | 19.39% | 6.31% |
| Real Estate | 2.30% | 0.79% |
| Technology | 28.81% | 52.38% |
| Utilities | 5.87% | 1.81% |
About FEM
The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise the index. The index is designed to select stocks from the NASDAQ Emerging Markets Index (the base index) that may generate positive alpha, or risk-adjusted returns, relative to traditional indices through the use of the AlphaDEX® selection methodology.
About EMXC
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its index. The index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that captures large- and mid-capitalization stocks across 23 of the 24 Emerging Markets countries, excluding China. The fund is non-diversified.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both FEM and EMXC are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, FEM scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between FEM and EMXC?
FEM (First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX® Fund) and EMXC (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($808M vs $25.91B), dividend yield (2.16% vs 1.96%), and year-to-date performance (+0.73% vs -2.38%).
Is FEM better than EMXC?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, FEM has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy FEM and EMXC on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both FEM and EMXC should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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