iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMB) belongs to the Emerging Markets Bonds category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with EMB. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to EMB
EMB charges 0.39% annually. There are 7 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.15%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF | 0.15% | 6.60B | May 2013 | EMB vs VWOB | |
| Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon... | 0.18% | 42.78M | Feb 2023 | EMB vs BEMB | |
| SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF | 0.23% | 266.45M | Apr 2021 | EMB vs EMHC | |
| BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year... | 0.29% | 948.98M | Jun 2022 | EMB vs XEMD | |
| VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ... | 0.30% | 4.87B | Jul 2010 | EMB vs EMLC |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to EMB
EMB has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 60. There are 11 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 91.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo... | 91 | 27.50M | Dec 2022 | EMB vs VEMY | |
| VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF | 89 | 23.78M | Nov 2014 | EMB vs CBON | |
| Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF | 86 | 41.32M | Aug 2024 | EMB vs GAEM | |
| BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year... | 79 | 948.98M | Jun 2022 | EMB vs XEMD | |
| KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF | 78 | 15.78M | Jun 2018 | EMB vs KHYB |
Top Performing EMB Alternatives (YTD)
EMB is at 2.18% YTD. There are 12 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 6.35%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo... | 6.35% | 27.50M | Dec 2022 | EMB vs VEMY | |
| VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF | 4.99% | 23.78M | Nov 2014 | EMB vs CBON | |
| Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF | 4.21% | 41.32M | Aug 2024 | EMB vs GAEM | |
| iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF | 3.77% | 38.74M | Oct 2025 | EMB vs BREM | |
| Neuberger Berman Emerging Markets Debt Hard Curren... | 3.64% | 136.81M | Sep 2013 | EMB vs NEMD |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to EMB
EMB has 5.68% 1-year volatility. There are 12 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.27%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF | 2.27% | 80.27M | Apr 2016 | EMB vs EMTL | |
| KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF | 3.44% | 15.78M | Jun 2018 | EMB vs KHYB | |
| VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF | 3.44% | 23.78M | Nov 2014 | EMB vs CBON | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund | 3.79% | 99.72M | Mar 2012 | EMB vs EMCB | |
| Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon... | 4.35% | 42.78M | Feb 2023 | EMB vs BEMB |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to EMB
EMB has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.51%. There are 12 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -1.34%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF | -1.34% | 23.78M | Nov 2014 | EMB vs CBON | |
| SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF | -2.00% | 80.27M | Apr 2016 | EMB vs EMTL | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund | -3.07% | 99.72M | Mar 2012 | EMB vs EMCB | |
| BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year... | -3.52% | 948.98M | Jun 2022 | EMB vs XEMD | |
| Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF | -3.61% | 41.32M | Aug 2024 | EMB vs GAEM |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, IVV and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $838B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.71% | 95.28B | May 2020 | EMB vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -28.88% | 48.04B | Jan 2024 | EMB vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 59 | 8.20% | 837.93B | May 2000 | EMB vs IVV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 95 | 100.58% | 46.67B | Jul 2001 | EMB vs SOXX | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 14 | 0.77% | 41.34B | Jul 2002 | EMB vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 75 | 9.19% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | EMB vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 31 | -13.49% | 32.53B | Apr 2006 | EMB vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 22 | -4.73% | 64.29B | Jan 2005 | EMB vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 67 | 20.47% | 81.35B | May 2000 | EMB vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 58 | 9.86% | 32.95B | Mar 2008 | EMB vs ACWI |
Often Compared With EMB
Investors most often compare EMB with LEMB, PCY, EMHY. These 20 comparison targets span 7 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare EMB with Any Fund or Stock
Compare EMB with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair EMB with funds that move differently
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to EMB.
Explore EMB Diversifiers