AFEM Performance — First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF
Data updated: 2026-09-24
AFEM returned +18.80% year to date and +33.39% over one year to Jul 2026. Annualised returns are +20.96% over 3 years and +9.75% over 5 years. Against its Emerging Markets Equity category average the fund came out ahead over three years but behind over one: $100 invested three years ago grew to $177, against $164 for the category, and to $133 over one year, against $134. Volatility over the past three years was 13.84% a year. In the 12 months to Jul 2026 the fund took in a net $28.1M, and assets reached $78.66M.
AFEM Growth of $100
What $100 invested in First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the Emerging Markets Equity category average over the same months.
| Period | AFEM | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) | $133 | $134 |
| 3 years (Aug 2023 – Jul 2026) | $177 | $164 |
| 5 years (Aug 2021 – Jul 2026) | $159 | $143 |
| Since data start (Aug 2019 – Jul 2026) | $198 | $188 |
AFEM Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jul 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +18.80% |
| 1 year | +33.39% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +20.96% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +9.75% |
AFEM Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | +18.81% |
| 2025 | +26.10% |
| 2024 | +11.29% |
| 2023 | +20.79% |
| 2022 | −19.07% |
| 2021 | +0.74% |
| 2020 | +8.68% |
| 2019 (Aug–Dec) | +10.89% |
AFEM Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +7.8% | +5.0% | −9.0% | +12.4% | +4.2% | −2.0% | +0.5% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +0.7% | +0.3% | +1.3% | +0.1% | +3.6% | +5.1% | +0.8% | +2.2% | +4.5% | +3.3% | −0.3% | +2.0% |
| 2024 | −2.1% | +4.2% | +1.2% | +0.8% | +3.8% | +3.6% | −0.3% | +1.0% | +4.3% | −5.8% | −0.8% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | +8.2% | −4.2% | +1.8% | −1.5% | 0.0% | +5.5% | +3.8% | −4.8% | −0.5% | −2.1% | +8.2% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −1.2% | −3.1% | +0.1% | −5.9% | +1.5% | −13.2% | +2.9% | −1.2% | −11.6% | +3.0% | +14.1% | −3.6% |
| 2021 | +2.9% | +2.0% | −0.1% | +1.7% | +1.9% | 0.0% | −5.1% | +1.3% | −5.6% | 0.0% | −2.4% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | −5.3% | −5.3% | −17.2% | +8.3% | +1.6% | +6.8% | +9.1% | +0.7% | −0.9% | +1.2% | +6.6% | +6.3% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | −4.9% | +2.3% | +4.5% | +0.5% | +8.6% |
AFEM Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Aug 2023 – Jul 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 13.84%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 1.19 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +12.42% (Apr 2026)
- Worst month: −8.97% (Mar 2026)
AFEM Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $28.1M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $28.1M
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Jun 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| May 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Apr 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mar 2026 | $8.4M | $0 | $8.4M |
| Feb 2026 | $4.3M | $0 | $4.3M |
| Jan 2026 | $4.0M | $0 | $4.0M |
| Dec 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Nov 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Oct 2025 | $3.9M | $0 | $3.9M |
| Sep 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Aug 2025 | $7.3M | $0 | $7.3M |
AFEM Assets Under Management
Net assets of First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | $78.66M |
| 2026-04-30 | $77.64M |
| 2026-01-31 | $59.53M |
| 2025-10-31 | $50.82M |
| 2025-07-31 | $35.73M |
| 2025-04-30 | $29.40M |
| 2025-01-31 | $28.92M |
| 2024-10-31 | $29.11M |
| 2024-07-31 | $29.47M |
| 2024-04-30 | $30.91M |
| 2024-01-31 | $34.90M |
| 2023-10-31 | $31.49M |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.