AFEMvsNUEMETF 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. NuShares ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM) is part of the EM Large & Mid Cap segment. AFEM's top 3 sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Industrials. In contrast, NUEM's top sector exposures are Technology, Finance and Non-Energy Materials. AFEM is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.85%, versus 0.36% for NUEM. AFEM is up 26.38% year-to-date (YTD) with +$17M in YTD flows. NUEM performs worse with 19.43% YTD performance, and +$32M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of AFEM and NUEM below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
Find out how industry players manage ETF portfolios. Discover our library of Model portfolios
AFEM vs NUEM 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 NUEM | +2.09%+0.70% | +6.56%-0.78% | +26.38%+19.43% | +33.83%+24.08% | +96.88%+71.00% | +68.30%+37.91% |
| Flows | AFEM NUEM | -- | -+$25M | +$17M+$32M | +$21M+$36M | +$22M+$47M | +$16M+$194M |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | AFEM NUEM | +16.57%+24.55% | +16.40%+21.53% | +14.83%+17.32% | +15.99%+17.28% |
| Max drawdown | AFEM NUEM | -7.12%-12.67% | -11.02%-12.67% | -14.01%-15.73% | -30.93%-33.97% |
| Max drawdown duration | AFEM NUEM | 48d84d | 50d84d | 222d244d | 938d1329d |
Trading data
AFEM | NUEM | |
Last sale 9/14/2026 at 7:57 PM | $41.98 | |
| Previous close 09/11/2026 | $43.14 | |
| 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
Create an account to view replication metrics
Join for free
AFEM
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexAFEM | NUEM | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
Advertisement
Main metrics
Last update 9/14/2026 at 7:57 PM
Live
Closed
AFEM | NUEM | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | – | $41.98 |
| 1D performance | – | -2.68% |
| AuM | $83.68 M | $416.28 M |
| E/R | 0.85% | 0.36% |
Characteristics
AFEM | NUEM | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | Nuveen |
| Benchmark | - | MSCI TIAA ESG Emerging Markets Equity Index |
| N° of holdings | 3293 | 176 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | June 14, 2016 | June 7, 2017 |
| ESG | No | Yes |
Advertisement
Exposure
Countries
AFEM
Taiwan
32.46%
India
14.01%
China
13.07%
Other
40.46%
NUEM
Taiwan
27.19%
China
21.32%
Republic of Korea
18.59%
India
11.41%
Other
21.49%
Sectors
AFEM
Technology
39.7%
Finance
19.35%
Industrials
8.37%
Other
32.59%
NUEM
Technology
40.45%
Finance
22.39%
Non-Energy Materi.
7.91%
Industrials
7.87%
Consumer Cyclical.
7.61%
Other
13.76%
Advertisement
Diversification
AFEM
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
47.18%
NUEM
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
46.54%
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%
NUEM
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
16.51%
SK hynix, Inc.
6.73%
Tencent Holdings Ltd.
3.45%
China Construction Bank Corp.
2.06%
Lenovo Group Ltd.
1.86%
SK Square Co. Ltd.
1.85%
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
1.84%
Delta Electronics, Inc.
1.82%
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd.
1.77%
United Microelectronics Corp.
1.61%
Cathay Financial Holdings Co., Ltd.
1.61%
Axis Bank Ltd.
1.46%
Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. of China Ltd.
1.39%
Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
1.33%
Agricultural Bank of China Ltd.
1.26%
Frequently asked questions about AFEM and NUEM
How have the AFEM and NUEM ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 11, 2026, AFEM is up 26.38% year-to-date (YTD), while NUEM has returned 19.43%. That puts AFEM better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: AFEM or NUEM?
Year-to-date, the AFEM ETF saw +$17M in flows, compared to +$32M for NUEM.
Which ETF is more volatile: AFEM or NUEM?
Over the past year, AFEM had a volatility of 16.4%, while NUEM experienced 21.53%.
Which ETF is bigger: AFEM or NUEM?
As of September 11, 2026, AFEM holds $83.68 M in assets under management (AUM), while NUEM manages $416.28 M.
What sectors do the AFEM and NUEM ETFs invest in?
AFEM leans toward sectors like Technology, Finance and Industrials. Meanwhile, NUEM focuses on Technology, Finance and Non-Energy Materials.
What are the top holdings of the AFEM ETF and NUEM ETF?
AFEM top holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., MediaTek, Inc. and Unimicron Technology Corp.. NUEM holds in its top three: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., SK hynix, Inc. and Tencent Holdings Ltd..
Which ETF is more diversified: AFEM or NUEM?
AFEM holds 3401 securities with 47.18% of its assets in the top 15. NUEM has 186 securities and a top 15 weight of 46.54%.
Advertisement
Advertisement
