NUDM vs RFDI
Nuveen ESG International Developed Markets Equity ETF vs First Trust RiverFront Dynamic Developed International ETF
Which is better, NUDM or RFDI?
Each has led over a different period.
NUDM has a lower expense ratio. NUDM led over the full window, RFDI over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. RFDI is less concentrated, with 22.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 23.4%.
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 | NUDM | RFDI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.27%Best | 0.83% |
| AUM | $869M | $168M |
| Dividend Yield | 5.02% | 3.08% |
| Holdings | 188 | 157 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9%Best | 16.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.0%Best | -42.4% |
| $10,000 over 9.3 years | $21,447Best | $18,729 |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.4% | 22.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 6, 2017 | Apr 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. NUDM has data through Oct 14, 2026 and RFDI through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 9.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 7, 2017 to Sep 11, 2026 (9.3 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RFDI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.9% for NUDM. 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 -32.0% for NUDM and -42.4% for RFDI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUDM charges 0.27% per year while RFDI charges 0.83%. On a $10,000 position that is $27 vs $83 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUDM currently yields 5.02% against 3.08% for RFDI.
Holdings Overlap
11.7% of NUDM's money is in holdings RFDI also owns. 10.9% of RFDI's money is in holdings NUDM also owns.
NUDM and RFDI share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 58 days apart, NUDM as of Oct 2, 2026 and RFDI as of Aug 5, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
14 positions in common, counted across the 155 positions we hold weights for in NUDM and 147 in RFDI, against full books of 188 and 157.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 5 positions for RFDI that do not appear in our book for NUDM (4.5% of the fund), and 1 for NUDM that do not appear in RFDI (2.1%).
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 NUDM | Weight in RFDI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag Ordinary Shares | 2.30% | 2.02% | 0.28% |
| BNP:PABnp Paribas Sa | 1.12% | 1.87% | 0.75% |
| ULVR:LNUnilever Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.30% | 0.96% | 0.34% |
| III:LN3i Group Plc | 1.30% | 0.75% | 0.55% |
| NESN:SMNestle S.A. Ordinary Shares | 1.10% | 0.77% | 0.33% |
| NG:LNNational Grid Plc | 1.10% | 0.64% | 0.46% |
| 4519:JPChugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | 0.64% | 0.62% | 0.02% |
| GSK:LNGSK plc | 1.21% | 0.04% | 1.17% |
| SGSN:SMSgs Sa | 0.70% | 0.55% | 0.15% |
| RKT:LNReckitt Benckiser Group | 0.08% | 1.12% | 1.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NUDM and RFDI 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, NUDM or RFDI?
NUDM has an expense ratio of 0.27% while RFDI charges 0.83%. NUDM is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, NUDM or RFDI?
RFDI has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.9% for NUDM. Worst drawdown: NUDM -32.0% vs RFDI -42.4%.
Should I hold both NUDM and RFDI?
NUDM and RFDI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 NUDM and RFDI?
11.7% of NUDM's money is in holdings RFDI also owns. 10.9% of RFDI's is in holdings NUDM also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 155 positions we hold weights for in NUDM and 147 in RFDI.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUDM or RFDI?
NUDM yields 5.02% while RFDI yields 3.08%, so NUDM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RFDI better than NUDM?
NUDM has a lower expense ratio. NUDM led over the full window, RFDI over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. RFDI is less concentrated, with 22.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 23.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.