FEM Performance — First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund
Data updated: 2026-08-21
FEM returned +16.55% year to date and +32.19% over one year to Jun 2026. Annualised returns are +18.40% over 3 years and +6.97% over 5 years. The fund trailed its Emerging Markets Equity category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $166, against $179 for the category, and to $132 over one year, against $141. Volatility over the past three years was 14.58% a year. In the 12 months to Jun 2026 the fund took in a net $204.8M, and assets reached $747.03M.
FEM Growth of $100
What $100 invested in First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the Emerging Markets Equity category average over the same months.
| Period | FEM | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) | $132 | $141 |
| 3 years (Jul 2023 – Jun 2026) | $166 | $179 |
| 5 years (Jul 2021 – Jun 2026) | $140 | $144 |
| Since data start (Jul 2019 – Jun 2026) | $167 | $195 |
FEM Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jun 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +16.55% |
| 1 year | +32.19% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +18.40% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +6.97% |
FEM Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jun) | +16.55% |
| 2025 | +26.35% |
| 2024 | +4.01% |
| 2023 | +10.82% |
| 2022 | −14.34% |
| 2021 | +7.90% |
| 2020 | −0.91% |
| 2019 (Jul–Dec) | +7.64% |
FEM 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 | +8.2% | +6.1% | −5.5% | +11.4% | −0.9% | −2.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | −0.2% | +0.7% | +2.5% | −0.9% | +4.1% | +4.9% | +1.3% | +5.7% | +3.8% | −0.2% | −0.2% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | +0.8% | +3.8% | −1.4% | +3.3% | +3.6% | −0.9% | −1.2% | −1.2% | +4.6% | −6.2% | −1.2% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | +4.3% | −4.0% | +0.4% | +1.7% | −6.0% | +6.4% | +9.3% | −5.3% | −1.2% | −5.5% | +6.3% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | −1.3% | −0.5% | −1.8% | −4.7% | +1.5% | −11.2% | +0.3% | −0.5% | −9.6% | −0.5% | +15.5% | −0.3% |
| 2021 | −0.5% | +3.8% | +0.5% | +5.7% | +1.6% | +0.7% | −3.9% | +5.0% | −2.4% | −3.2% | −4.7% | +5.9% |
| 2020 | −4.9% | −8.6% | −22.8% | +11.8% | +2.1% | +6.4% | +8.7% | −0.3% | −3.7% | −2.0% | +10.5% | +7.6% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | −1.6% | −4.8% | +3.1% | +2.6% | +0.4% | +8.2% |
FEM Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Jul 2023 – Jun 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 14.58%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.95 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +11.42% (Apr 2026)
- Worst month: −6.22% (Oct 2024)
FEM Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $204.8M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $204.8M
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | $8.1M | $0 | $8.1M |
| May 2026 | $29.9M | $0 | $29.9M |
| Apr 2026 | $52.9M | $0 | $52.9M |
| Mar 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Feb 2026 | $80.2M | $0 | $80.2M |
| Jan 2026 | $19.3M | $0 | $19.3M |
| Dec 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Nov 2025 | $5.4M | $0 | $5.4M |
| Oct 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Sep 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Aug 2025 | $6.4M | $0 | $6.4M |
| Jul 2025 | $2.5M | $0 | $2.5M |
FEM Assets Under Management
Net assets of First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | $747.03M |
| 2026-03-31 | $615.39M |
| 2025-12-31 | $477.71M |
| 2025-09-30 | $466.37M |
| 2025-06-30 | $415.53M |
| 2025-03-31 | $393.40M |
| 2024-12-31 | $406.24M |
| 2024-09-30 | $443.89M |
| 2024-06-30 | $446.21M |
| 2024-03-31 | $420.52M |
| 2023-12-31 | $416.53M |
| 2023-09-30 | $411.00M |
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.