GEM Alternatives & Similar ETFs

Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF (GEM) belongs to the Emerging Markets Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with GEM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to GEM

GEM charges 0.45% annually. There are 49 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.07%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.07%	16.81B	Mar 2007	GEM vs SPEM
VEXC	Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	0.07%	258.70M	Sep 2025	GEM vs VEXC
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	163.30B	Mar 2005	GEM vs VWO
IEMG	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	0.09%	152.22B	Oct 2012	GEM vs IEMG
BKEM	BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	89.24M	Apr 2020	GEM vs BKEM

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GEM

GEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 64. There are 49 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 91.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	91	658.42M	Sep 2024	GEM vs EMEQ
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	90	366.05M	Jan 2025	GEM vs GEME
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	90	—	Sep 2024	GEM vs EVLU
EMDM	First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ...	90	38.85M	Mar 2023	GEM vs EMDM
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	87	123.28M	Oct 2023	GEM vs FTHF

Top Performing GEM Alternatives (YTD)

GEM is at 17.80% YTD. There are 48 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 53.76%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMEQ	Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF	53.76%	658.42M	Sep 2024	GEM vs EMEQ
FTHF	First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF	34.68%	123.28M	Oct 2023	GEM vs FTHF
STXE	Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	31.48%	139.63M	Jan 2023	GEM vs STXE
EMSF	Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ...	30.73%	43.26M	Sep 2023	GEM vs EMSF
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	29.70%	366.05M	Jan 2025	GEM vs GEME

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GEM

GEM has 23.75% 1-year volatility. There are 71 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.64%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
EJAN	Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar...	8.64%	144.99M	Jan 2020	GEM vs EJAN
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	10.70%	—	Jun 2025	GEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	11.07%	10.25M	Dec 2024	GEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.68%	7.35M	Jan 2016	GEM vs EMDV
RNEM	First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF	12.51%	17.22M	Jun 2017	GEM vs RNEM

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GEM

GEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -13.50%. There are 47 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.63%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
EJAN	Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar...	-6.63%	144.99M	Jan 2020	GEM vs EJAN
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.35M	Jan 2016	GEM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.87B	Jul 2007	GEM vs DEM
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	-8.16%	10.25M	Dec 2024	GEM vs TDEC
ECOW	Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF	-8.35%	217.49M	May 2019	GEM vs ECOW

Other ETFs from Goldman Sachs

The 10 most viewed Goldman Sachs ETFs shown here include GPIQ, GPIX, AAAU and span 13 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $15B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
GPIQ	Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Core Premium Income ETF	Nasdaq-100, Dividend	60	11.67%	5.08B	Oct 2023	GEM vs GPIQ
GPIX	Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF	Derivative Income, S&P 500	78	10.23%	5.01B	Oct 2023	GEM vs GPIX
AAAU	Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF	Gold, Precious Metals	31	-6.16%	2.47B	Jul 2018	GEM vs AAAU
GSLC	Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	54	8.44%	14.91B	Sep 2015	GEM vs GSLC
GSEW	Goldman Sachs Equal Weight U.S. Large Cap Equity E...	Large Cap Blend Equities, Equal Weight	60	12.06%	1.92B	Sep 2017	GEM vs GSEW
GBIL	Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF	Government Bonds, Ultrashort Bond	100	1.99%	7.59B	Sep 2016	GEM vs GBIL
GVIP	Goldman Sachs Hedge Industry VIP ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	36	8.45%	549.16M	Nov 2016	GEM vs GVIP
GSST	Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	99	2.20%	1.59B	Apr 2019	GEM vs GSST
GSIE	Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	70	11.28%	5.99B	Nov 2015	GEM vs GSIE
GHYB	Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	66	1.55%	133.52M	Sep 2017	GEM vs GHYB

Often Compared With GEM

Investors most often compare GEM with JPEM, SPY, SCHE. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	Emerging Markets Equities	61	8.42%	389.42M	Jan 2015	GEM vs JPEM
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	67	10.13%	789.06B	Jan 1993	GEM vs SPY
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	52	10.15%	12.59B	Jan 2010	GEM vs SCHE
SPMO	Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF	Momentum, S&P 500	46	21.07%	21.05B	Oct 2015	GEM vs SPMO
AIA	iShares Asia 50 ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	84	37.37%	4.70B	Nov 2007	GEM vs AIA
QLVE	FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility...	Quality Factor, Low Volatility	52	12.92%	16.83M	Jul 2019	GEM vs QLVE
DNL	WisdomTree Global ex-U.S. Quality Dividend Growth ...	Quality Factor, Foreign Large Cap Equities, Dividend	42	9.54%	474.86M	Jun 2006	GEM vs DNL
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	68	10.16%	1.70T	Sep 2010	GEM vs VOO
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	71	21.20%	1.96B	Jun 2025	GEM vs EMOP
GEMD	Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	49	0.66%	35.39M	Feb 2022	GEM vs GEMD
GSEE	Goldman Sachs MarketBeta Emerging Markets Equity E...	Emerging Markets Equities	61	17.18%	126.14M	May 2020	GEM vs GSEE
EDOG	ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	43	4.93%	29.35M	Mar 2014	GEM vs EDOG
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	73	20.24%	100.81M	Jun 2011	GEM vs DBEM
FRDM	Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	85	28.12%	2.93B	May 2019	GEM vs FRDM
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	27.50%	23.65B	Jul 2017	GEM vs EMXC
AFK	VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	37	-2.32%	96.55M	Jul 2008	GEM vs AFK
TUR	iShares MSCI Turkey ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	27	11.93%	209.04M	Mar 2008	GEM vs TUR
SPYG	State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF	S&P 500, Large Cap Growth Equities	43	10.06%	51.09B	Sep 2000	GEM vs SPYG
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	60	13.37%	749.05M	Apr 2011	GEM vs FEM
GIGB	Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bo...	Corporate Bonds, Investment Grade Bonds	26	-0.61%	972.33M	Jun 2017	GEM vs GIGB

Compare GEM with Any Fund or Stock

Compare GEM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

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Diversifiers

Pair GEM with funds that move differently

Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to GEM.

Explore GEM Diversifiers

Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF (GEM) Alternatives