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 31 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.07%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
VEXC	Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	0.07%	235.70M	Sep 2025	GEM vs VEXC
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.07%	17.31B	Mar 2007	GEM vs SPEM
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	162.80B	Mar 2005	GEM vs VWO
BKEM	BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	86.15M	Apr 2020	GEM vs BKEM
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	12.63B	Jan 2010	GEM vs SCHE

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GEM

GEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 61. There are 27 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 90.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	90	366.05M	Jan 2025	GEM vs GEME
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	88	262.88M	Dec 2007	GEM vs PIE
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	87	—	Sep 2024	GEM vs EVLU
EQLT	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF	83	12.17M	Sep 2024	GEM vs EQLT
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	82	102.15M	Jun 2011	GEM vs DBEM

Top Performing GEM Alternatives (YTD)

GEM is at 18.38% YTD. There are 27 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 36.43%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	36.43%	262.88M	Dec 2007	GEM vs PIE
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	31.73%	366.05M	Jan 2025	GEM vs GEME
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	30.46%	24.99B	Jul 2017	GEM vs EMXC
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	29.93%	1.02B	Dec 2018	GEM vs EMCS
ECON	Columbia Emerging Markets Consumer ETF	28.73%	335.26M	Sep 2010	GEM vs ECON

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GEM

GEM has 22.91% 1-year volatility. There are 51 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 9.17%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	9.17%	—	Jun 2025	GEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	10.68%	10.25M	Dec 2024	GEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.50%	7.11M	Jan 2016	GEM vs EMDV
RNEM	First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF	12.51%	16.78M	Jun 2017	GEM vs RNEM
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.79%	1.22B	Feb 2011	GEM vs EDIV

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 -5.56%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	-5.56%	—	Jun 2025	GEM vs TJUN
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.11M	Jan 2016	GEM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.91B	Jul 2007	GEM vs DEM
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	-7.98%	707.60M	May 2008	GEM vs EWX
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	-8.16%	10.25M	Dec 2024	GEM vs TDEC

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	71	14.94%	5.03B	Oct 2023	GEM vs GPIQ
GPIX	Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF	Derivative Income, S&P 500	76	10.17%	4.77B	Oct 2023	GEM vs GPIX
AAAU	Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF	Gold, Precious Metals	22	-7.29%	2.45B	Jul 2018	GEM vs AAAU
GSLC	Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	54	8.45%	15.44B	Sep 2015	GEM vs GSLC
GSEW	Goldman Sachs Equal Weight U.S. Large Cap Equity E...	Large Cap Blend Equities, Equal Weight	52	12.31%	1.87B	Sep 2017	GEM vs GSEW
GBIL	Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF	Government Bonds, Ultrashort Bond	100	1.79%	7.68B	Sep 2016	GEM vs GBIL
GVIP	Goldman Sachs Hedge Industry VIP ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	50	14.44%	581.68M	Nov 2016	GEM vs GVIP
GSST	Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	99	1.98%	1.54B	Apr 2019	GEM vs GSST
GSIE	Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	46	8.23%	5.84B	Nov 2015	GEM vs GSIE
GHYB	Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	64	1.53%	131.78M	Sep 2017	GEM vs GHYB

Often Compared With GEM

Investors most often compare GEM with IEMG, JPEM, SPY. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
IEMG	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	59	17.70%	156.92B	Oct 2012	GEM vs IEMG
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	Emerging Markets Equities	42	5.31%	383.52M	Jan 2015	GEM vs JPEM
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	66	10.45%	783.21B	Jan 1993	GEM vs SPY
SPMO	Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF	Momentum, S&P 500	62	26.03%	22.01B	Oct 2015	GEM vs SPMO
AIA	iShares Asia 50 ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	85	37.27%	4.78B	Nov 2007	GEM vs AIA
QLVE	FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility...	Volatility Hedged Equity	53	14.70%	16.68M	Jul 2019	GEM vs QLVE
DNL	WisdomTree Global ex-U.S. Quality Dividend Growth ...	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Dividend	27	9.88%	483.43M	Jun 2006	GEM vs DNL
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	66	10.45%	1.70T	Sep 2010	GEM vs VOO
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	26.93%	2.10B	Jun 2025	GEM vs EMOP
GEMD	Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	60	2.10%	35.81M	Feb 2022	GEM vs GEMD
GSEE	Goldman Sachs MarketBeta Emerging Markets Equity E...	Emerging Markets Equities	61	18.29%	138.68M	May 2020	GEM vs GSEE
EDOG	ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	28	2.46%	28.72M	Mar 2014	GEM vs EDOG
FRDM	Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	86	30.27%	2.93B	May 2019	GEM vs FRDM
SPYG	State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF	S&P 500, Large Cap Growth Equities	48	10.97%	52.75B	Sep 2000	GEM vs SPYG
AFK	VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	31	-4.45%	99.85M	Jul 2008	GEM vs AFK
TUR	iShares MSCI Turkey ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	26	12.38%	204.17M	Mar 2008	GEM vs TUR
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	79	19.49%	109.30M	Feb 2015	GEM vs ROAM
EMIF	iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	27	-1.12%	13.17M	Jun 2009	GEM vs EMIF
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	65	15.78%	746.53M	Apr 2011	GEM vs FEM
GIGB	Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bo...	Corporate Bonds	31	0.26%	967.55M	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.

Symbol name

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