FEMS Distribution History & Yield

First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund · NasdaqGM

ETF Diversified Emerging Mkts Quarterly payer
$44.70
+1.98% today
as of Oct 21, 2026
TTM yield
4.02%
$1.796/share over the last 12 months
Forward yield
3.57%
$1.596/share indicated annual rate
Annual distribution
$1.596
per share, forward
Per payment
$0.399
per share, every quarter
Frequency
Quarterly
4 payments a year
Next ex-distribution date
Dec 24, 2026 Estimated
in 60 days
Next pay date
Dec 29, 2026
in 65 days
Last ex-distribution date
Sep 24, 2026
$0.399 per share
Expense ratio
0.80%
AUM 217.9M
Consistency
62/100
variable payouts
5y distribution CAGR
-1.4%
annualised, regular payments
Growth streak
3 yrs
consecutive annual raises
Years paying
14.3
since Jun 21, 2012
1y total return
+5.2%
price +1.2% + distributions 4.1%

Upcoming distribution payments

Ex-datePay datePer sharePer 100 sharesStatus
Thu, Dec 24, 2026 (in 60 days) Dec 29, 2026 $0.399 $39.90 Estimated
Thu, Mar 25, 2027 (in 151 days) Mar 30, 2027 $0.399 $39.90 Estimated
Thu, Jun 24, 2027 (in 242 days) Jun 29, 2027 $0.399 $39.90 Estimated
Thu, Sep 23, 2027 (in 333 days) Sep 28, 2027 $0.399 $39.90 Estimated

Estimated dates and amounts are projected from FEMS's recent payment pattern and will be replaced by declared figures when the fund announces them. Total over the next 12 months: about $1.596 per share.

Distribution payment history

Last 40 payments per share. RegularSpecial

Last 40 payments per share from Jun 22, 2016 to Sep 24, 2026; most recent $0.399$0.00$0.50$1.00Jun 22, 2016: $0.285Jun '16Sep 21, 2016: $0.317Dec 21, 2016: $0.11Jun 22, 2017: $0.292Sep 21, 2017: $0.741Dec 21, 2017: $0.436Dec '17Mar 22, 2018: $0.183Jun 21, 2018: $0.488Sep 14, 2018: $0.422Dec 18, 2018: $0.415Jun 14, 2019: $0.379Jun '19Sep 25, 2019: $0.705Dec 13, 2019: $0.645Mar 26, 2020: $0.185Jun 25, 2020: $0.338Sep 24, 2020: $0.419Sep '20Dec 24, 2020: $0.251Mar 25, 2021: $0.514Jun 24, 2021: $0.431Sep 23, 2021: $0.729Dec 23, 2021: $0.836Dec '21Mar 25, 2022: $0.119Jun 24, 2022: $0.809Sep 23, 2022: $0.751Dec 23, 2022: $0.092Mar 24, 2023: $0.10Mar '23Jun 27, 2023: $0.665Sep 22, 2023: $0.652Dec 22, 2023: $0.37Mar 21, 2024: $0.168Jun 27, 2024: $0.542Jun '24Sep 26, 2024: $0.341Dec 13, 2024: $0.445Mar 27, 2025: $0.094Jun 26, 2025: $0.522Sep 25, 2025: $0.532Sep '25Dec 12, 2025: $0.649Mar 26, 2026: $0.303Jun 25, 2026: $0.445Sep 24, 2026: $0.399

Annual distributions per share

Annual dividend per share by calendar year, 2017 to 2026 (year to date)$0.00$1.50$3.002017: $1.469$1.46920172018: $1.508$1.50820182019: $1.729$1.72920192020: $1.193$1.19320202021: $2.51$2.5120212022: $1.771$1.77120222023: $1.787$1.78720232024: $1.496$1.49620242025: $1.797$1.79720252026 (YTD): $1.147$1.1472026 YTD

How much FEMS do you need for monthly income?

Target incomeShares neededCapital at today's pricePer year
$100 / month752$33,609$1,200
$500 / month3,760$168,045$6,000
$1,000 / month7,519$336,090$12,000

Based on the forward yield of 3.57%. $10,000 in FEMS would currently pay about $357 a year ($30 a month on average). Model reinvestment and growth →

FEMS distribution history

Ex-datePay dateAmountChange
Sep 24, 2026 Sep 30, 2026 $0.399 -10.3%
Jun 25, 2026 Jun 30, 2026 $0.445 +46.9%
Mar 26, 2026 Mar 31, 2026 $0.303 -53.3%
Dec 12, 2025 Dec 31, 2025 $0.649 +22.0%
Sep 25, 2025 Sep 30, 2025 $0.532 +1.9%
Jun 26, 2025 Jun 30, 2025 $0.522 +455.3%
Mar 27, 2025 Mar 31, 2025 $0.094 -78.9%
Dec 13, 2024 Dec 31, 2024 $0.445 +30.5%
Sep 26, 2024 Sep 30, 2024 $0.341 -37.1%
Jun 27, 2024 Jun 28, 2024 $0.542 +222.6%
Mar 21, 2024 Mar 28, 2024 $0.168 -54.6%
Dec 22, 2023 Dec 29, 2023 $0.37 -43.3%
Sep 22, 2023 Sep 29, 2023 $0.652 -2.0%
Jun 27, 2023 Jun 30, 2023 $0.665 +565.0%
Mar 24, 2023 Mar 31, 2023 $0.10 +8.7%
Dec 23, 2022 Dec 30, 2022 $0.092 -87.7%
Sep 23, 2022 Sep 30, 2022 $0.751 -7.2%
Jun 24, 2022 Jun 30, 2022 $0.809 +579.8%
Mar 25, 2022 Mar 31, 2022 $0.119 -85.8%
Dec 23, 2021 Dec 31, 2021 $0.836 +14.7%
Sep 23, 2021 Sep 30, 2021 $0.729 +69.1%
Jun 24, 2021 Jun 30, 2021 $0.431 -16.1%
Mar 25, 2021 Mar 31, 2021 $0.514 +104.8%
Dec 24, 2020 Dec 31, 2020 $0.251 -40.1%

Payout risk check

Distribution stabilityModerate risk

FEMS's last 12 distributions were variable (consistency score 62/100).

Its share price moved +1.2% over the past year.

This is a rule-based screen computed from public data, not a rating or a recommendation. Read our guide to yield traps for what the signals mean.

About First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund

The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise the index. The index is designed to select stocks from the NASDAQ Emerging Markets Index (the "base index") that may generate positive alpha, or risk-adjusted returns, relative to traditional indices through the use of the AlphaDEX® selection methodology.

Fund family: First Trust. Category: Diversified Emerging Mkts. First distribution on our records: Jun 21, 2012. 55 payments tracked. Data last refreshed Oct 21, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll fix it.

FEMS distribution FAQ

When is FEMS's next ex-distribution date?

FEMS's next ex-distribution date is Dec 24, 2026 (in 60 days, estimated from its quarterly schedule). You must own the shares before that date to receive the payment of about $0.399 per share, expected on Dec 29, 2026.

How often does FEMS pay distributions?

FEMS pays distributions every quarter, 4 times a year. The most recent payment was $0.399 per share with an ex-date of Sep 24, 2026.

What is FEMS's distribution yield?

FEMS's trailing 12-month distribution yield is 4.02%, based on $1.796 per share paid over the last year and a share price of $44.70. The forward yield, using the indicated annual rate of $1.596 per share, is 3.57%.

How much does FEMS pay per share?

FEMS pays about $0.399 per share each quarter, which works out to roughly $1.596 per share a year. 100 shares would collect about $159.60 a year.

Has FEMS grown or cut its distribution?

FEMS has raised its annual distribution for 3 consecutive years. Over the last 5 years the regular payout has shrunk at 1.4% a year (+12.7% over the last year). There has been no cut to a regular payment in the last 5 years.

How many shares of FEMS do I need to earn $100 a month?

At the current forward yield of 3.57%, you would need about 752 shares of FEMS (roughly $33,609 invested at today's price) to collect $1,200 a year, or $100 a month on average, before taxes. Payments arrive every quarter, so the monthly figure is an average.

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