- ISIN
- US55273E5096
- CUSIP
- 55273E509
- Issuer
- MFS
- Inception Date
- Oct 23, 1995
- Category
- Emerging Markets Diversified
- Min. Investment
- $1,000
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Multi-Asset
- Asset Class Size
- Large-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Blend
Share Price Chart
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Performance
MEMAX Performance Chart
MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund (MEMAX) is up 20.5% since the beginning of the year. MEMAX is currently trading at $51 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of MEMAX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,408.
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Returns By Period
MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund (MEMAX) has returned 20.53% so far this year and 42.78% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, MEMAX has returned 9.44% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.71% annually.
MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund
- 1D
- -0.35%
- 1M
- 4.59%
- YTD
- 20.53%
- 6M
- 21.21%
- 1Y
- 42.78%
- 3Y*
- 22.02%
- 5Y*
- 7.08%
- 10Y*
- 9.44%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -1.44%
- 1M
- -1.45%
- YTD
- 7.60%
- 6M
- 6.59%
- 1Y
- 22.24%
- 3Y*
- 19.20%
- 5Y*
- 11.54%
- 10Y*
- 13.71%
MEMAX Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Oct 24, 1995, MEMAX's average daily return is +0.03%, while the average monthly return is +0.71%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 8.2 years.
Historically, 57% of months were positive and 43% were negative. The best month was Nov 2022 with a return of +17.5%, while the worst month was Aug 1998 at -29.3%. The longest winning streak lasted 12 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.
On a daily basis, MEMAX closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Oct 13, 2008 with a return of +15.3%, while the worst single day was Oct 15, 2008 at -12.9%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6.18% | 4.17% | -9.72% | 10.93% | 7.06% | 1.64% | 20.53% | ||||||
| 2025 | 2.53% | 0.74% | 1.45% | 0.64% | 3.93% | 5.62% | 2.34% | 2.32% | 5.38% | 4.10% | -1.65% | 2.03% | 33.44% |
| 2024 | -4.23% | 3.66% | 3.00% | 0.58% | 1.19% | 3.14% | 2.06% | 2.20% | 5.67% | -4.72% | -1.79% | 0.23% | 10.96% |
| 2023 | 10.11% | -6.65% | 3.75% | -0.47% | -2.05% | 5.05% | 4.32% | -5.83% | -1.63% | -3.42% | 5.57% | 3.05% | 10.89% |
| 2022 | 0.25% | -7.84% | -1.84% | -6.64% | 1.90% | -5.83% | -0.56% | -0.70% | -11.06% | -4.04% | 17.50% | -0.71% | -20.10% |
| 2021 | 2.06% | 0.93% | -0.38% | 0.50% | 3.07% | -1.48% | -5.71% | 0.91% | -5.07% | 2.32% | -5.99% | 2.22% | -6.98% |
Benchmark Metrics
MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund has an annualized alpha of 0.94%, beta of 0.72, and R2 of 0.48 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since October 24, 1995.
- This fund participated in 105.71% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 96.27% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
- R2 of 0.48 means the benchmark explains less than half of this fund's behavior - treat beta with caution or consider switching to a more representative benchmark.
- Alpha
- 0.94%
- Beta
- 0.72
- R²
- 0.48
- Upside Capture
- 96.27%
- Downside Capture
- 105.71%
Expense Ratio
MEMAX has a high expense ratio of 1.31%, indicating above-average management fees.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
MEMAX ranks 79 for risk / return — better than 79% of mutual funds on our site. You're getting solid returns for the risk taken. A good sign, especially for investors who want growth without excessive volatility.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund (MEMAX) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| MEMAX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.81 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.96 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.48 | 1.32 | +0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.47 | 2.46 | +1.01 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.97 | 10.92 | +2.06 |
Dividends
Dividend History
MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund provided a 2.05% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $1.05 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 3 consecutive years.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $1.05 | $1.05 | $0.79 | $0.75 | $0.28 | $0.70 | $0.20 | $0.58 | $0.14 | $0.03 | $0.14 | $0.03 |
Dividend yield | 2.05% | 2.47% | 2.41% | 2.48% | 0.99% | 1.97% | 0.53% | 1.64% | 0.47% | 0.09% | 0.54% | 0.14% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.05 | $1.05 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.79 | $0.79 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.75 | $0.75 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.28 | $0.28 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.70 | $0.70 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund was 67.04%, occurring on Nov 20, 2008. Recovery took 2296 trading sessions.
The current MFS Emerging Markets Equity Fund drawdown is 1.51%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial crisis2007–2009 | -67.04%Nov 2008 | 1y 20d | 9y 1mo | 10y 2moNov 2007 - Jan 2018 |
1998 bear market1998 | -51.22%Oct 1998 | 1y 2mo | 5y 4mo | 6y 6moAug 1997 - Feb 2004 |
Bear market2022 | -42.32%Oct 2022 | 1y 8mo | 2y 9mo | 4y 5moFeb 2021 - Jul 2025 |
COVID crash2020 | -38.22%Mar 2020 | 2y 1mo | 8mo 15d | 2y 10moJan 2018 - Dec 2020 |
2006 bear market2006 | -24.57%Jun 2006 | 1mo 4d | 5mo 24d | 6mo 28dMay 2006 - Dec 2006 |
Drawdown Indicators
| MEMAX | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.04% | -56.78% | -10.26% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.27% | -9.10% | -3.17% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.48% | -18.90% | +4.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.88% | -25.43% | -14.45% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.32% | -33.92% | -8.40% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.51% | -3.21% | +1.70% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.66% | -10.71% | -8.95% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.27% | 2.04% | +1.23% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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