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 26 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%	17.88B	Mar 2007	GEM vs SPEM
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	162.80B	Mar 2005	GEM vs VWO
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	12.80B	Jan 2010	GEM vs SCHE
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	0.15%	58.93M	Dec 2018	GEM vs EMCR

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GEM

GEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 81. There are 19 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 93.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	93	366.05M	Jan 2025	GEM vs GEME
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	92	107.84M	Jun 2011	GEM vs DBEM
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	92	26.40B	Jul 2017	GEM vs EMXC
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	92	257.92M	Dec 2007	GEM vs PIE
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	91	—	Sep 2024	GEM vs EVLU

Top Performing GEM Alternatives (YTD)

GEM is at 29.96% YTD. There are 17 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 47.80%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EEMO	Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	47.80%	21.60M	Feb 2012	GEM vs EEMO
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	47.39%	26.40B	Jul 2017	GEM vs EMXC
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	46.17%	257.92M	Dec 2007	GEM vs PIE
XCEM	Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF	43.27%	2.09B	Sep 2015	GEM vs XCEM
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	39.92%	366.05M	Jan 2025	GEM vs GEME

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GEM

GEM has 21.48% 1-year volatility. There are 46 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 7.35%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	7.35%	—	Jun 2025	GEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	10.50%	10.25M	Dec 2024	GEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.48%	7.21M	Jan 2016	GEM vs EMDV
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.60%	1.28B	Feb 2011	GEM vs EDIV
QAT	iShares MSCI Qatar ETF	13.27%	67.45M	Apr 2014	GEM vs QAT

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GEM

GEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -13.50%. There are 44 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -4.47%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	-4.47%	—	Jun 2025	GEM vs TJUN
DVYE	iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	-7.10%	1.21B	Feb 2012	GEM vs DVYE
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.21M	Jan 2016	GEM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	4.03B	Jul 2007	GEM vs DEM
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	-7.98%	747.02M	May 2008	GEM vs EWX

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	81	18.36%	4.55B	Oct 2023	GEM vs GPIQ
GPIX	Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Premium Income ETF	Derivative Income, S&P 500	75	9.41%	4.27B	Oct 2023	GEM vs GPIX
AAAU	Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF	Gold, Precious Metals	24	-2.94%	2.65B	Jul 2018	GEM vs AAAU
GSLC	Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	54	7.16%	15.22B	Sep 2015	GEM vs GSLC
GSEW	Goldman Sachs Equal Weight U.S. Large Cap Equity E...	Large Cap Blend Equities, Equal Weight	48	10.29%	1.76B	Sep 2017	GEM vs GSEW
GBIL	Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF	Government Bonds, Ultrashort Bond	100	1.56%	7.67B	Sep 2016	GEM vs GBIL
GVIP	Goldman Sachs Hedge Industry VIP ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	71	23.78%	548.57M	Nov 2016	GEM vs GVIP
GSST	Goldman Sachs Ultra Short Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	99	1.72%	1.52B	Apr 2019	GEM vs GSST
GSIE	Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	46	8.35%	5.72B	Nov 2015	GEM vs GSIE
GHYB	Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF	High Yield Bonds	60	1.58%	124.90M	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	79	28.97%	165.70B	Oct 2012	GEM vs IEMG
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	Emerging Markets Equities	52	7.50%	392.87M	Jan 2015	GEM vs JPEM
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	68	9.74%	765.27B	Jan 1993	GEM vs SPY
SPMO	Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF	Momentum, S&P 500	83	36.08%	21.99B	Oct 2015	GEM vs SPMO
AIA	iShares Asia 50 ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	92	54.57%	5.44B	Nov 2007	GEM vs AIA
QLVE	FlexShares Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility...	Volatility Hedged Equity	63	19.51%	17.32M	Jul 2019	GEM vs QLVE
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	68	9.75%	1.70T	Sep 2010	GEM vs VOO
DNL	WisdomTree Global ex-U.S. Quality Dividend Growth ...	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Dividend	36	13.24%	491.64M	Jun 2006	GEM vs DNL
GEMD	Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	60	2.30%	33.60M	Feb 2022	GEM vs GEMD
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	83	33.60%	2.16B	Jun 2025	GEM vs EMOP
GSEE	Goldman Sachs MarketBeta Emerging Markets Equity E...	Asia Pacific Equities	81	30.28%	136.59M	May 2020	GEM vs GSEE
FRDM	Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	93	49.24%	2.93B	May 2019	GEM vs FRDM
EDOG	ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Dividend	32	1.88%	28.85M	Mar 2014	GEM vs EDOG
AFK	VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	40	0.15%	104.81M	Jul 2008	GEM vs AFK
SPYG	State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF	S&P 500, Large Cap Growth Equities	54	11.38%	52.13B	Sep 2000	GEM vs SPYG
TUR	iShares MSCI Turkey ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	45	19.14%	193.16M	Mar 2008	GEM vs TUR
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	90	29.16%	120.77M	Feb 2015	GEM vs ROAM
HYEM	VanEck Vectors Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ET...	High Yield Bonds	76	4.43%	522.05M	May 2012	GEM vs HYEM
EMIF	iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	36	1.64%	13.34M	Jun 2009	GEM vs EMIF
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	Emerging Markets Equities	76	20.65%	767.68M	Apr 2011	GEM vs FEM

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