FEMS Performance — First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund
Data updated: 2026-08-21
FEMS returned +8.38% year to date and +16.69% over one year to Jun 2026. Annualised returns are +12.28% over 3 years and +4.17% over 5 years. The fund trailed its Emerging Markets Equity category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $142, against $179 for the category, and to $117 over one year, against $141. Volatility over the past three years was 12.42% a year. In the 12 months to Jun 2026 the fund lost a net $24.6M, and assets reached $251.80M.
FEMS Growth of $100
What $100 invested in First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap 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 | FEMS | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) | $117 | $141 |
| 3 years (Jul 2023 – Jun 2026) | $142 | $179 |
| 5 years (Jul 2021 – Jun 2026) | $123 | $144 |
| Since data start (Jul 2019 – Jun 2026) | $178 | $195 |
FEMS Trailing Returns
Total returns to Jun 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +8.38% |
| 1 year | +16.69% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +12.28% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +4.17% |
FEMS Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Jun) | +8.38% |
| 2025 | +15.60% |
| 2024 | +4.45% |
| 2023 | +3.21% |
| 2022 | +1.35% |
| 2021 | +3.68% |
| 2020 | +8.74% |
| 2019 (Jul–Dec) | +15.65% |
FEMS 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 | +7.4% | +5.6% | −5.5% | +5.1% | −0.7% | −3.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | −1.9% | −1.2% | +0.4% | −0.2% | +5.3% | +4.9% | +1.7% | +6.1% | +2.0% | −3.6% | +1.2% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | −0.8% | +3.4% | +0.1% | +0.7% | +3.7% | +1.1% | −0.4% | −2.2% | +4.8% | −4.9% | +0.1% | −0.7% |
| 2023 | +2.6% | −4.3% | −2.1% | −2.0% | −2.5% | +3.8% | +8.3% | −0.7% | −0.2% | −6.4% | +4.1% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | −0.4% | −1.7% | +3.6% | −5.6% | +1.4% | −9.2% | −0.8% | +3.2% | −8.2% | +4.9% | +14.9% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | −0.5% | +6.9% | −0.1% | +6.2% | +0.4% | +2.3% | −5.4% | +2.7% | −4.3% | −3.1% | −4.1% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | −6.3% | −7.4% | −25.7% | +12.6% | +6.1% | +10.7% | +6.8% | +1.4% | −4.4% | −2.2% | +16.0% | +8.6% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | +2.1% | −3.7% | +1.5% | +4.6% | +1.1% | +9.7% |
FEMS Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Jul 2023 – Jun 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 12.42%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.63 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +8.33% (Jul 2023)
- Worst month: −6.43% (Oct 2023)
FEMS Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: −$24.6M
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $12.3M
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 0.33×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| May 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Apr 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Mar 2026 | $0 | $4.5M | −$4.5M |
| Feb 2026 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Jan 2026 | $0 | $2.2M | −$2.2M |
| Dec 2025 | $0 | $12.9M | −$12.9M |
| Nov 2025 | $0 | $4.3M | −$4.3M |
| Oct 2025 | $0 | $6.4M | −$6.4M |
| Sep 2025 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Aug 2025 | $0 | $6.5M | −$6.5M |
| Jul 2025 | $12.3M | $0 | $12.3M |
FEMS Assets Under Management
Net assets of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | $251.80M |
| 2026-03-31 | $251.26M |
| 2025-12-31 | $242.55M |
| 2025-09-30 | $276.04M |
| 2025-06-30 | $247.64M |
| 2025-03-31 | $255.52M |
| 2024-12-31 | $289.91M |
| 2024-09-30 | $334.90M |
| 2024-06-30 | $328.85M |
| 2024-03-31 | $329.62M |
| 2023-12-31 | $326.39M |
| 2023-09-30 | $327.15M |
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.