LDEM Alternatives & Similar ETFs

iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) 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 LDEM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to LDEM

LDEM charges 0.16% annually. There are 6 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%	216.60M	Sep 2025	LDEM vs VEXC
VWO	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF	0.08%	159.90B	Mar 2005	LDEM vs VWO
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	12.74B	Jan 2010	LDEM vs SCHE
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.11%	17.83B	Mar 2007	LDEM vs SPEM
EMCS	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Climate Selection ...	0.15%	1.02B	Dec 2018	LDEM vs EMCS

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to LDEM

LDEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 40. There are 48 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	72.25M	Jan 2025	LDEM vs GEME
DBEM	Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF	93	103.78M	Jun 2011	LDEM vs DBEM
EVLU	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF	92	—	Sep 2024	LDEM vs EVLU
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	91	24.61B	Jul 2017	LDEM vs EMXC
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	91	119.41M	Feb 2015	LDEM vs ROAM

Top Performing LDEM Alternatives (YTD)

LDEM is at 6.92% YTD. There are 50 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 41.72%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	41.72%	24.61B	Jul 2017	LDEM vs EMXC
EEMO	Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	40.25%	15.51M	Feb 2012	LDEM vs EEMO
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	39.11%	237.62M	Dec 2007	LDEM vs PIE
GEME	Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ...	38.52%	72.25M	Jan 2025	LDEM vs GEME
XCEM	Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF	38.32%	1.98B	Sep 2015	LDEM vs XCEM

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to LDEM

LDEM has 17.68% 1-year volatility. There are 30 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 7.55%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
TJUN	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June	7.55%	—	Jun 2025	LDEM vs TJUN
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	10.08%	10.25M	Dec 2024	LDEM vs TDEC
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.21%	7.35M	Jan 2016	LDEM vs EMDV
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	12.19%	1.25B	Feb 2011	LDEM vs EDIV
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	12.96%	390.16M	Jan 2015	LDEM vs JPEM

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to LDEM

LDEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -13.21%. There are 39 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.49%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
DVYE	iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	-6.49%	1.28B	Feb 2012	LDEM vs DVYE
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.24%	7.35M	Jan 2016	LDEM vs EMDV
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	-7.89%	3.78B	Jul 2007	LDEM vs DEM
EWX	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF	-7.98%	742.62M	May 2008	LDEM vs EWX
TDEC	FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December	-8.16%	10.25M	Dec 2024	LDEM vs TDEC

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 $855B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
SGOV	iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF	Ultrashort Bond	100	1.51%	91.90B	May 2020	LDEM vs SGOV
IBIT	iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF	Cryptocurrency	2	-25.48%	58.12B	Jan 2024	LDEM vs IBIT
IVV	iShares Core S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	70	10.85%	854.92B	May 2000	LDEM vs IVV
TLT	iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF	Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond	16	-0.27%	42.90B	Jul 2002	LDEM vs TLT
SOXX	iShares Semiconductor ETF	Semiconductors, Technology Equities	97	104.57%	38.37B	Jul 2001	LDEM vs SOXX
DGRO	iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend	71	8.76%	40.46B	Jun 2014	LDEM vs DGRO
SLV	iShares Silver Trust	Silver, Precious Metals	47	2.78%	36.82B	Apr 2006	LDEM vs SLV
IAU	iShares Gold Trust	Gold, Precious Metals	32	2.98%	69.92B	Jan 2005	LDEM vs IAU
IWM	iShares Russell 2000 ETF	Small Cap Blend Equities	62	17.07%	80.93B	May 2000	LDEM vs IWM
ACWI	iShares MSCI ACWI ETF	Global Equities	66	12.13%	32.93B	Mar 2008	LDEM vs ACWI

Often Compared With LDEM

Investors most often compare LDEM with EMXF, DIVISLAB.NS, EEM. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
EMXF	iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	77	24.76%	160.74M	Oct 2020	LDEM vs EMXF
DIVISLAB.NS	Divi's Laboratories Limited		39	2.88%	—	—	LDEM vs DIVISLAB.NS
EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	81	27.80%	30.33B	Apr 2003	LDEM vs EEM
ESGE	iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	80	26.85%	7.08B	Jun 2016	LDEM vs ESGE
EIMI.L	iShares Core MSCI EM IMI UCITS ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	80	25.89%	43.11B	May 2014	LDEM vs EIMI.L
FNDE	Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company ...	Emerging Markets Equities	72	15.56%	9.61B	Aug 2013	LDEM vs FNDE
IEMG	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	79	26.21%	162.03B	Oct 2012	LDEM vs IEMG
AVEM	Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	82	27.59%	24.32B	Sep 2019	LDEM vs AVEM
VXUS	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF	Global Equities	60	14.25%	629.30B	Jan 2011	LDEM vs VXUS
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	70	10.91%	781.00B	Jan 1993	LDEM vs SPY
QEMM	SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	78	24.39%	52.51M	Jun 2014	LDEM vs QEMM
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	Emerging Markets Equities	76	23.20%	58.19M	Dec 2018	LDEM vs EMCR
GLD	SPDR Gold Shares	Gold, Precious Metals	32	2.92%	150.37B	Nov 2004	LDEM vs GLD
FTEC	Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF	Technology Equities	77	31.89%	17.89B	Oct 2013	LDEM vs FTEC
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	70	10.91%	1.60T	Sep 2010	LDEM vs VOO
EELV	Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF	Volatility Hedged Equity	36	3.97%	436.74M	Jan 2012	LDEM vs EELV
SPMO	Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF	Momentum, S&P 500	75	30.35%	19.93B	Oct 2015	LDEM vs SPMO
FRDM	Freedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	93	44.61%	2.93B	May 2019	LDEM vs FRDM
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	65	10.35%	46.73M	Mar 2015	LDEM vs SDEM
DSI	iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	62	11.07%	5.34B	Nov 2006	LDEM vs DSI

Compare LDEM with Any Fund or Stock

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

Symbol name

Diversifiers

Pair LDEM with funds that move differently

iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to LDEM.

Explore LDEM Diversifiers

iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) Alternatives