FEMB Performance — First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF
Data updated: 2026-09-24
FEMB returned +2.22% year to date and +10.83% over one year to Jul 2026. Annualised returns are +5.85% over 3 years and +2.66% over 5 years. Against its Emerging Markets Bond category average the fund came out behind over three years but ahead over one: $100 invested three years ago grew to $119, against $126 for the category, and to $111 over one year, against $109. Volatility over the past three years was 9.11% a year. In the 12 months to Jul 2026 the fund took in a net $141.8M, and assets reached $361.87M.
FEMB Growth of $100
What $100 invested in First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the Emerging Markets Bond category average over the same months.
| Period | FEMB | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) | $111 | $109 |
| 3 years (Aug 2023 – Jul 2026) | $119 | $126 |
| 5 years (Aug 2021 – Jul 2026) | $114 | $115 |
| Since data start (Aug 2019 – Jul 2026) | $112 | $123 |
FEMB Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jul 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +2.22% |
| 1 year | +10.83% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +5.85% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +2.66% |
FEMB Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | +2.22% |
| 2025 | +20.76% |
| 2024 | −5.79% |
| 2023 | +16.84% |
| 2022 | −9.96% |
| 2021 | −13.34% |
| 2020 | +3.03% |
| 2019 (Aug–Dec) | +2.65% |
FEMB 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 | +2.3% | +1.9% | −6.1% | +2.6% | +0.7% | +0.5% | +0.6% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +2.3% | +0.7% | +1.6% | +2.9% | +1.9% | +3.5% | −1.9% | +3.4% | +1.7% | +0.5% | +1.3% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | −1.9% | −0.6% | −0.2% | −2.7% | +1.7% | −2.0% | +2.3% | +3.0% | +3.3% | −5.1% | −0.8% | −2.5% |
| 2023 | +4.7% | −3.6% | +5.2% | +1.1% | −1.1% | +4.8% | +3.0% | −3.4% | −3.3% | −0.4% | +5.1% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | +0.6% | −2.3% | +0.1% | −6.5% | +2.1% | −5.6% | −0.9% | −0.3% | −5.2% | −0.3% | +7.0% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | −2.1% | −3.0% | −3.5% | +1.5% | +2.8% | −1.3% | −1.4% | +0.7% | −4.4% | −1.5% | −2.5% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | −1.7% | −3.2% | −12.2% | +3.4% | +6.0% | −0.3% | +3.0% | −0.5% | −2.1% | +0.8% | +6.1% | +5.2% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | −2.7% | +1.0% | +1.8% | −1.5% | +4.2% |
FEMB Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Aug 2023 – Jul 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 9.11%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.15 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +5.07% (Nov 2023)
- Worst month: −6.12% (Mar 2026)
FEMB Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $141.8M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $172.8M
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 5.57×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | $8.8M | $0 | $8.8M |
| Jun 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| May 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Apr 2026 | $0 | $13.5M | −$13.5M |
| Mar 2026 | $13.5M | $17.6M | −$4.1M |
| Feb 2026 | $35.1M | $0 | $35.1M |
| Jan 2026 | $39.3M | $0 | $39.3M |
| Dec 2025 | $17.7M | $0 | $17.7M |
| Nov 2025 | $16.2M | $0 | $16.2M |
| Oct 2025 | $2.9M | $0 | $2.9M |
| Sep 2025 | $32.0M | $0 | $32.0M |
| Aug 2025 | $7.2M | $0 | $7.2M |
FEMB Assets Under Management
Net assets of First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | $361.87M |
| 2026-04-30 | $352.92M |
| 2026-01-31 | $348.49M |
| 2025-10-31 | $264.88M |
| 2025-07-31 | $213.67M |
| 2025-04-30 | $147.61M |
| 2025-01-31 | $145.00M |
| 2024-10-31 | $200.78M |
| 2024-07-31 | $185.21M |
| 2024-04-30 | $154.81M |
| 2024-01-31 | $154.15M |
| 2023-10-31 | $130.54M |
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.