AFEMvsDFAEETF Comparison
ETF 1
AFEM
First Trust Active Factor Emerging Markets ETF
This fund is part of
Uncategorized Equities
-1.03%
VS
First Trust Active Factor Emerging Markets ETF (AFEM) belongs to the Uncategorized Equities segment. Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF (DFAE) is part of the EM Blended Cap segment. AFEM's top 3 sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Industrials. In contrast, DFAE's top sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Non-Energy Materials. AFEM is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.99%, versus 0.29% for DFAE. AFEM is up 26.38% year-to-date (YTD) with +$17M in YTD flows. DFAE performs worse with 23.36% YTD performance, and +$1.08B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of AFEM and DFAE below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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AFEM vs DFAE performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/11/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | AFEM DFAE | +2.09%+3.41% | +6.56%+3.85% | +26.38%+23.36% | +33.83%+31.55% | +96.88%+83.02% | +68.30%+57.74% |
| Flows | AFEM DFAE | -+$174M | -+$504M | +$17M+$1.08B | +$21M+$1.41B | +$22M+$3.73B | +$16M+$6.39B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | AFEM DFAE | +16.57%+23.60% | +16.40%+20.96% | +14.83%+16.71% | +15.99%+16.40% |
| Max drawdown | AFEM DFAE | -7.12%-12.75% | -11.02%-12.75% | -14.01%-16.33% | -30.93%-28.73% |
| Max drawdown duration | AFEM DFAE | 48d81d | 50d81d | 222d245d | 938d1029d |
Trading data
AFEM | DFAE | |
Last sale 9/14/2026 at 1:30 PM | $39.16 | |
| Previous close 09/11/2026 | $40.13 | |
| Consolidated volume 09/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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Main metrics
Last update 9/14/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
AFEM | DFAE | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | – | $39.16 |
| 1D performance | – | -2.42% |
| AuM | $83.68 M | $10.17 B |
| E/R | 0.99% | 0.29% |
Characteristics
AFEM | DFAE | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Active |
| Provider | First Trust | Dimensional |
| Benchmark | - | - |
| N° of holdings | 3293 | 6143 |
| Asset class | - | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | June 14, 2016 | February 12, 2020 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
AFEM
Taiwan
32.46%
India
14.01%
China
13.07%
Other
40.46%
DFAE
Taiwan
27.29%
China
18.52%
Republic of Korea
18.1%
India
13.27%
Other
22.81%
Sectors
AFEM
Technology
39.7%
Finance
19.35%
Industrials
8.37%
Other
32.59%
DFAE
Technology
40.87%
Finance
19.62%
Non-Energy Materi.
8.21%
Industrials
7.86%
Other
23.44%
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Diversification
AFEM
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
47.18%
DFAE
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
32.71%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
AFEM
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
10.15%
MediaTek, Inc.
6.04%
Unimicron Technology Corp.
4.35%
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
3.61%
Kia Corp.
2.51%
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
2.36%
International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
2.33%
Global Unichip Corp.
2.24%
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd.
2.23%
Jentech Precision Industrial Co. Ltd.
2.21%
Kasikornbank Public Co. Ltd.
1.94%
Kasikornbank Public Co. Ltd.
1.91%
Lenovo Group Ltd.
1.90%
HDFC Bank Ltd.
1.78%
Turkiye Petrol Rafinerileri AS
1.60%
DFAE
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
13.21%
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
5.18%
SK hynix, Inc.
4.54%
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
2.57%
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
1.20%
MediaTek, Inc.
0.97%
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
0.79%
China Construction Bank Corp.
0.77%
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
0.67%
Delta Electronics, Inc.
0.62%
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd.
0.46%
ICICI Bank Ltd.
0.45%
Bharti Airtel Ltd.
0.44%
Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. of China Ltd.
0.43%
Xiaomi Corp.
0.41%
Frequently asked questions about AFEM and DFAE
How have the AFEM and DFAE ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 11, 2026, AFEM is up 26.38% year-to-date (YTD), while DFAE has returned 23.36%. That puts AFEM better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: AFEM or DFAE?
Year-to-date, the AFEM ETF saw +$17M in flows, compared to +$1.08B for DFAE.
Which ETF is more volatile: AFEM or DFAE?
Over the past year, AFEM had a volatility of 16.4%, while DFAE experienced 20.96%.
Which ETF is bigger: AFEM or DFAE?
As of September 11, 2026, AFEM holds $83.68 M in assets under management (AUM), while DFAE manages $10.17 B.
What sectors do the AFEM and DFAE ETFs invest in?
AFEM leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Industrials. Meanwhile, DFAE focuses on Technology, Finance and Non-Energy Materials.
What are the top holdings of the AFEM ETF and DFAE ETF?
AFEM top holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., MediaTek, Inc. and Unimicron Technology Corp.. DFAE holds in its top three: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and SK hynix, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: AFEM or DFAE?
AFEM holds 3401 securities with 47.18% of its assets in the top 15. DFAE has 6260 securities and a top 15 weight of 32.71%.
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