AFEMvsIEMGETF 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. iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) is part of the EM Blended Cap segment. AFEM's top 3 sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Industrials. In contrast, IEMG'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 0.09% for IEMG. AFEM is up 26.38% year-to-date (YTD) with +$17M in YTD flows. IEMG performs worse with 21.01% YTD performance, and +$14.03B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of AFEM and IEMG 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 IEMG 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 IEMG | +2.09%-0.42% | +6.56%-4.45% | +26.38%+21.01% | +33.83%+27.28% | +96.88%+78.78% | +68.30%+46.76% |
| Flows | AFEM IEMG | -+$1.37B | -+$3.43B | +$17M+$14.03B | +$21M+$23.14B | +$22M+$34.48B | +$16M+$44.62B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | AFEM IEMG | +16.57%+26.24% | +16.40%+22.63% | +14.83%+17.38% | +15.99%+17.38% |
| Max drawdown | AFEM IEMG | -7.12%-14.04% | -11.02%-14.04% | -14.01%-16.06% | -30.93%-32.36% |
| Max drawdown duration | AFEM IEMG | 48d84d | 50d84d | 222d223d | 938d1323d |
Trading data
AFEM | IEMG | |
Last sale 9/14/2026 at 1:30 PM | $80.40 | |
| Previous close 09/11/2026 | $82.57 | |
| Consolidated volume 09/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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AFEM
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexAFEM | IEMG | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/14/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
AFEM | IEMG | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | – | $80.40 |
| 1D performance | – | -2.63% |
| AuM | $83.68 M | $159.64 B |
| E/R | 0.99% | 0.09% |
Characteristics
AFEM | IEMG | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | iShares |
| Benchmark | - | MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index |
| N° of holdings | 3293 | 2748 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | June 14, 2016 | October 18, 2012 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
AFEM
Taiwan
32.46%
India
14.01%
China
13.07%
Other
40.46%
IEMG
Taiwan
25.65%
China
18.72%
Republic of Korea
17.07%
India
13.54%
Other
25.02%
Sectors
AFEM
Technology
39.7%
Finance
19.35%
Industrials
8.37%
Other
32.59%
IEMG
Technology
39.16%
Finance
22.17%
Non-Energy Materi.
7.51%
Other
31.15%
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Diversification
AFEM
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
47.18%
IEMG
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
34.06%
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%
IEMG
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
13.10%
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
5.27%
SK hynix, Inc.
3.98%
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
2.90%
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
1.87%
MediaTek, Inc.
1.13%
China Construction Bank Corp.
0.79%
Delta Electronics, Inc.
0.72%
HDFC Bank Ltd.
0.69%
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
0.68%
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
0.66%
Reliance Industries Ltd.
0.64%
ICICI Bank Ltd.
0.62%
Xiaomi Corp.
0.53%
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd.
0.50%
Frequently asked questions about AFEM and IEMG
How have the AFEM and IEMG ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 11, 2026, AFEM is up 26.38% year-to-date (YTD), while IEMG has returned 21.01%. That puts AFEM better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: AFEM or IEMG?
Year-to-date, the AFEM ETF saw +$17M in flows, compared to +$14.03B for IEMG.
Which ETF is more volatile: AFEM or IEMG?
Over the past year, AFEM had a volatility of 16.4%, while IEMG experienced 22.63%.
Which ETF is bigger: AFEM or IEMG?
As of September 11, 2026, AFEM holds $83.68 M in assets under management (AUM), while IEMG manages $159.64 B.
What sectors do the AFEM and IEMG ETFs invest in?
AFEM leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Industrials. Meanwhile, IEMG focuses on Technology, Finance and Non-Energy Materials.
What are the top holdings of the AFEM ETF and IEMG ETF?
AFEM top holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., MediaTek, Inc. and Unimicron Technology Corp.. IEMG 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 IEMG?
AFEM holds 3401 securities with 47.18% of its assets in the top 15. IEMG has 2813 securities and a top 15 weight of 34.06%.
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