EMCS vs RFEM
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Select ETF vs First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Emerging Markets ETF
Which is better, EMCS or RFEM?
EMCS has been ahead.
EMCS has a lower expense ratio. EMCS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. RFEM is less concentrated, with 38.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | EMCS | RFEM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15%Best | 0.99% |
| AUM | $1.1B | $84M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.45% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 134 | 119 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 17.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.9% | -36.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 7.8 years | $21,696Best | $21,196 |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.8% | 38.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 4, 2018 | Jun 14, 2016 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 33 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. EMCS has data through Oct 14, 2026 and RFEM through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 7.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 6, 2018 to Sep 11, 2026 (7.8 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMCS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 17.5% for RFEM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -44.9% for EMCS and -36.0% for RFEM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMCS charges 0.15% per year while RFEM charges 0.99%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $99 annually, a gap of $84 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMCS currently yields 1.45% against 2.51% for RFEM.
Holdings Overlap
13.7% of EMCS's money is in holdings RFEM also owns. 16.5% of RFEM's money is in holdings EMCS also owns.
RFEM and EMCS share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in EMCS and 111 in RFEM, against full books of 134 and 119.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for RFEM that do not appear in our book for EMCS (6.8% of the fund), and 0 for EMCS that do not appear in RFEM (1.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EMCS | Weight in RFEM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2454:TWMediaTek Inc ORD TWD10 | 2.52% | 6.60% | 4.08% |
| 0700:KYTencent Holdings Ltd Ordinary Shares | 4.44% | 3.38% | 1.06% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 2.64% | 2.01% | 0.63% |
| 1398:HKIndustrial & Commercial Bank Manufacturing & . Ltd. | 1.19% | 2.09% | 0.90% |
| 3711:TWASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. | 1.21% | 0.92% | 0.29% |
| 005380:KRHyundai Motor Co. | 0.66% | 1.16% | 0.50% |
| RELIANCE:MBReliance Industries Ltd | 1.05% | 0.32% | 0.73% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMCS and RFEM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EMCS or RFEM?
EMCS has an expense ratio of 0.15% while RFEM charges 0.99%. EMCS is the cheaper option, by $84 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, EMCS or RFEM?
EMCS has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 17.5% for RFEM. Worst drawdown: EMCS -44.9% vs RFEM -36.0%.
Should I hold both EMCS and RFEM?
EMCS and RFEM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between EMCS and RFEM?
16.5% of RFEM's money is in holdings EMCS also owns. 16.5% of RFEM's is in holdings EMCS also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in EMCS and 111 in RFEM.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMCS or RFEM?
EMCS yields 1.45% while RFEM yields 2.51%, so RFEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFEM better than EMCS?
EMCS has a lower expense ratio. EMCS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. RFEM is less concentrated, with 38.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.