Skip to content

FEDM vs LCTD

Northern Trust ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US Core ETF

FEDMANYSE Arca

iShares World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness Aware Active ETF

LCTDBNYSE Arca

Overlap

Expense ratio

FEDM −0.10pt a year

FEDM0.12%LCTD0.22%

Avg volume · 30D

LCTD 7.4×the volume

FEDM2.03KLCTD15K

5Y return · a year

FEDM +0.4pt

FEDM+7.6%LCTD+7.2%

FEDM vs LCTD Performance

Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2026

+44.1%FEDM+41.5%LCTD

Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026. FEDM +44.1%. LCTD +41.5%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−20%0%20%Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 2026
Expense ratio
FEDM 0.12%, better
LCTD 0.22%
Fund size
FEDM $86M
LCTD $318M
1Y total return
FEDM +15.7%, better
LCTD +11.3%
Yield (12M)
FEDM 2.88%
LCTD 3.36%, better
Holdings
FEDM 231
LCTD 352
Avg volume (30D)
FEDM 2.03K sh
LCTD 15K sh, better
NAV per share
FEDM $64.72
LCTD $58.04
52W range

ETF.net Grade

FEDM: Cost 88, Risk 53, Mission 100, Tradability 35, Holdings 60, Durability 40. LCTD: Cost 59, Risk 59, Mission not scored, Tradability 59, Holdings 66, Durability 49.
Pillar letters and Scores for FEDM, LCTD, with each pillar’s weight
PillarFEDMLCTD
Cost30% weightA88HigherB59
Mission25% weightA100Not scored
Risk15% weightC53B59Higher
Tradability15% weightD35B59Higher
Holdings10% weightB60B66Higher
Durability5% weightC40C49Higher

Rank among International ESG & Values Index funds

Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Same Category. FEDM and LCTD are both graded against the same 18 International ESG & Values Index funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

See all 18 ›

FEDM ranks 4th and LCTD 9th of 18 funds in the International ESG & Values Index Category.

  1. Rank 1AVSGXVanguard ESG International Stock ETFScore 82
  2. Rank 2AESGDiShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETFScore 79
  3. Rank 3ADMXFiShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETFScore 76
  4. Rank 4AFEDMNorthern Trust ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US Core ETFScore 72
  5. Rank 5AEFAXState Street SPDR MSCI EAFE Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETFScore 71
  6. Rank 9BDFSIDimensional International Sustainability Core 1 ETFScore 59
  7. Rank 9BLCTDiShares World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness Aware Active ETFScore 59
  8. Rank 12BESGGNorthern Trust STOXX Global ESG Select ETFScore 56

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

FEDMANorthern Trust ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US Core ETF

LCTDBiShares World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness Aware Active ETF

In short

FEDM Northern Trust writes the index and runs the fund: a developed-ex-US core holding screened on its own ESG and climate scoring, at 0.12% net of a waiver through March 1, 2027.

LCTD Instead of banning fossil fuels, LCTD stays inside the MSCI World ex USA universe and tilts toward the companies BlackRock scores as readiest for the low-carbon shift. 0.22% net of a waiver through June 30, 2027.

Stated mandate

FEDM The Fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Northern Trust ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US Core Index.

LCTD The Fund seeks to outperform the MSCI World ex USA Index before expenses by applying BlackRock's proprietary Low Carbon Economy Transition Readiness score criteria.

Why people hold it

  • FEDM At 0.12% net of a waiver through March 1, 2027, it sits at the low end of its peer group, matching DMXF (0.12%) and undercutting ESGD (0.20%).
  • Optimized, not just screened: the index limits how far any stock, sector or region can drift from its developed-ex-US parent, so it still behaves like core foreign equity.flexshares.com
  • Northern Trust scores companies on its own ESG Vector Score instead of licensing a third party ratings index, and manages the fund in-house.flexshares.com
  • Roughly 300 large and mid-cap names across developed markets outside the US, paid out quarterly.flexshares.com
  • LCTD Not a purity screen. It buys index members and over- or underweights each against industry peers, targeting a readiness score at least 10% better than the index at purchase.sec.gov
  • The climate tilt sits on market-shaped risk: the prospectus has it matching the risk profile of MSCI World ex USA, spread across roughly 300 developed-market stocks outside the US.sec.gov
  • Active stock-picking at 0.22% net of a waiver through June 30, 2027 (0.37% gross), a fee that lands near the median of its international sustainable-equity peers.
  • One of BlackRock's two 2021 carbon-transition launches, and the one that looks outside the US. Live since April 2021, with a few hundred million dollars behind it.blackrock.com

Worth knowing

  • FEDM Thinly traded next to the category giants, so spreads can widen. Limit orders matter more here than with the household-name alternatives.
  • The 0.12% is net of a waiver through March 1, 2027; the gross fee is 0.16%, so the discount depends on that waiver being extended.
  • ESG and climate screens change what it owns versus a plain developed-ex-US index, so results can drift from the broad market in either direction.sec.gov
  • LCTD Index rivals cost less: VSGX at 0.10%, DMXF at 0.12% and FEDM at 0.12% net of a waiver through March 1, 2027. LCTD's own waiver runs to June 30, 2027; gross is 0.37%.
  • Thinly traded, so spreads can run wider than the big index names in the category and larger orders meet less depth on screen.
  • Everything hinges on BlackRock's proprietary score. The 10% readiness uplift is measured at the time of investment and can drift with markets and data changes.sec.gov

Full FEDM profile⁠

Full LCTD profile⁠

FEDM vs LCTD Holdings

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

FEDM vs LCTD Cost

Overpaying LCTD vs FEDM

$2,038

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

  • FEDM 0.12%

    $2,520

  • LCTD 0.22%

    $4,558

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • FEDM 0.12%
  • LCTD 0.22%
  • Overpaying
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$1K$2K$3K$4K$5K051015202530LCTD $4,558FEDM $2,520

Year by year

YearFEDMLCTDOverpaying
10$220$401$181
20$859$1,561$702
30$2,520$4,558$2,038

Expense ratio

  • 0.12%FEDM, cheaper
  • 0.22%LCTD
  • Middle half of International ESG & Values Index funds
  • Median 0.23%

FEDM 2nd cheapest of 18 funds

LCTD 8th cheapest of 18 funds

FEDM vs LCTD Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026
Yield (12M)
FEDM 2.88%
LCTD 3.36%, better
Payout (12M)
FEDM $1.86
LCTD $1.95
Last payment
FEDM $0.26
LCTD $0.96
Ex-dividend
FEDM Sep 18, 2026
LCTD Jun 15, 2026
Paid on
FEDM Sep 24, 2026
LCTD Jun 18, 2026
Frequency
FEDM Quarterly
LCTD Twice a year

Distribution history

Per share, 2021 to 2026, same scale for both

FEDMQuarterly · 20 paymentsAll FEDM payments⁠
One bar per payment. 20 payments from 2021 to 2026 YTD. Dec 17, 2021 $0.32; Mar 18, 2022 $0.10; Jun 17, 2022 $0.56; Sep 16, 2022 $0.22; Dec 16, 2022 $0.19; Mar 17, 2023 $0.11; Jun 16, 2023 $0.66; Sep 15, 2023 $0.23; Dec 15, 2023 $0.25; Mar 15, 2024 $0.12; Jun 21, 2024 $0.70; Sep 20, 2024 $0.29; Dec 20, 2024 $0.30; Mar 21, 2025 $0.15; Jun 20, 2025 $0.80; Sep 19, 2025 $0.26; Dec 19, 2025 $0.54; Mar 20, 2026 $0.16; Jun 18, 2026 $0.89; Sep 18, 2026 $0.26. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$120232026YTD
LCTDTwice a year · 11 paymentsAll LCTD payments⁠
One bar per payment. 11 payments from 2021 to 2026 YTD. Jun 10, 2021 $0.31; Dec 13, 2021 $0.74; Jun 9, 2022 $0.77; Dec 13, 2022 $0.59; Jun 7, 2023 $0.73; Dec 20, 2023 $0.65; Jun 11, 2024 $0.89; Dec 17, 2024 $0.74; Jun 16, 2025 $0.98; Dec 16, 2025 $1.00; Jun 15, 2026 $0.96. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$120232026YTD

FEDM vs LCTD Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

  • FEDM
  • LCTD
Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026. Worst fall: LCTD −29.7% · Oct 2022. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−30%−20%−10%0%Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 2026

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
FEDM 11.8%LCTD 11.7%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
FEDM 1.14LCTD 1.14Same figure. Both funds show the same value, so neither comes out ahead.
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
FEDM −29.4%, betterLCTD −29.7%
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
FEDM 0.91LCTD 0.80

Popular comparisons

  • FEDMAvsVSGXA

    Northern Trust ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US Core ETF · Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.12% · 0.10%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • LCTDBvsVSGXA

    iShares World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness Aware Active ETF · Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.22% · 0.10%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • FEDMAvsESGDA

    Northern Trust ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US Core ETF · iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.12% · 0.20%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • LCTDBvsESGDA

    iShares World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness Aware Active ETF · iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.22% · 0.20%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • FEDMAvsDMXFA

    Northern Trust ESG & Climate Developed Markets ex-US Core ETF · iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.12% · 0.12%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • LCTDBvsDMXFA

    iShares World ex U.S. Carbon Transition Readiness Aware Active ETF · iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.22% · 0.12%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.