First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF
$28.17+0.14 (+0.50%)
- 0.85%
- $372M
- +2.7%
- 7.00%
- 93.6K sh
- low $27.68high $31.55
The ETF.net FEMB Grade
C
Score 41 out of 100
- 5 of 7
Score 41 of 100 falls in the C band. A is 70 or higher, B 55 to under 70, C 40 to under 55, D 25 to under 40, F under 25.
Cost
The fund’s net expense ratio, ranked against its category.F9 out of 100Rank 7 of 7Mission
Whether the fund did what it promised, tested against its stated mandate.A81 out of 100Rank 4 of 7Risk
How the fund held up when markets fell: downside volatility, drawdowns and tail loss.D29 out of 100Rank 7 of 7Tradability
How easy the fund is to trade: daily volume, and how far its price strays from net asset value.C52 out of 100Rank 5 of 7Holdings
How concentrated the fund is, and how complete and current its disclosed holdings are.D35 out of 100Rank 7 of 7Durability
Whether the fund is likely to stay open, judged by its age, its assets and its issuer’s assets.B66 out of 100Rank 3 of 7
Our read on FEMB
In short
CEmerging-market debt bought in the borrower's own money, not dollars, and picked by a manager rather than an index. At least 80% of assets sit in local-currency bonds, so the currency move counts alongside the coupon. Pays monthly.
Stated mandate
The Fund seeks maximum total return and current income.
Why people hold it
Worth knowing
FEMB Performance
Shows how $10,000 changes over the selected period, with cash distributions reinvested at the closing price on each ex-dividend date.
FEMB$10,272
Returns run to the Nov 2, 2026 close, with cash distributions reinvested. Each period starts on the same date that many months or years earlier. Periods over one year show the average yearly return.
| Period | FEMB |
|---|---|
| Year to date | +0.1% |
| 1 month | +0.1% |
| 3 months | −2.0% |
| 1 year | +2.7% |
| 3 years | +8.0% |
| 5 years | +3.6% |
| 10 years | +1.8% |
Calendar-year total return with cash distributions hypothetically reinvested at the ex-dividend date’s closing price. The current year shows year to date.
| Year | Return bar | FEMB |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | +0.1% | |
| 2025 | +21.8% | |
| 2024 | −5.6% | |
| 2023 | +17.1% | |
| 2022 | −10.5% | |
| 2021 | −13.4% | |
| 2020 | +3.1% |
FEMB in the news
FEMB Dividends
- 7.00%
- $1.97
- $0.20 per share
- Monthly
FEMB Risk
- 9.0%
How it’s calculated: standard deviation
The sample standard deviation of monthly total returns, multiplied by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Total returns include reinvested distributions.
- 0.41
How it’s calculated: Sharpe ratio
Subtract each month’s Treasury-bill return from the fund’s monthly total return.
Divide the average of those excess returns by their sample standard deviation, then multiply by the square root of 12.
Uses up to 36 complete months, with at least 12 required. Each month uses the Treasury yield quoted at the end of the previous month.
- −21.3%
How it’s calculated: maximum drawdown
The largest percentage decline from an earlier peak, using total returns with reinvested distributions.
Uses up to five years through the last close, with at least 12 months required.
- 1.27
How it’s calculated: beta
The beta figure is supplied by FMP. The comparison index depends on the fund’s broad asset class.
FMP measures it over up to five years of monthly returns.
FEMB Cost
Overpaying vs EMLC, tied cheapest in Emerging Markets Bonds (Local Currency)
$10,050
On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.
FEMB 0.85%
$16,199
EMLC 0.30% Tied cheapest
$6,149
Cost over time
Year by year
| Year | FEMB | EMLC | Overpaying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,508 | $545 | $963 |
| 20 | $5,706 | $2,113 | $3,593 |
| 30 | $16,199 | $6,149 | $10,050 |
Other funds in Emerging Markets Bonds (Local Currency)
- ALEMBiShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETFExpense ratio 0.30%1 year return +4.2%
- BEMBXVanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETFExpense ratio 0.65%1 year return +4.1%
- BELDWisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt FundExpense ratio 0.55%1 year return +2.8%
- DGAEMSimplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETFExpense ratio 0.76%1 year return +2.3%
- DCBONVanEck China Bond ETFExpense ratio 0.50%1 year return +10.0%
