Putnam Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF (PEMX) 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 PEMX. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to PEMX
PEMX charges 0.85% annually. There are 119 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.07%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | 0.07% | 258.70M | Sep 2025 | PEMX vs VEXC | |
| SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | 0.07% | 16.81B | Mar 2007 | PEMX vs SPEM | |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 0.08% | 163.30B | Mar 2005 | PEMX vs VWO | |
| iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 0.09% | 152.22B | Oct 2012 | PEMX vs IEMG | |
| BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 0.11% | 89.24M | Apr 2020 | PEMX vs BKEM |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PEMX
PEMX has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 73. There are 28 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 91.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 91 | 658.42M | Sep 2024 | PEMX vs EMEQ | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 90 | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | PEMX vs GEME | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF | 90 | — | Sep 2024 | PEMX vs EVLU | |
| First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ... | 90 | 38.85M | Mar 2023 | PEMX vs EMDM | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF | 87 | 123.28M | Oct 2023 | PEMX vs FTHF |
Top Performing PEMX Alternatives (YTD)
PEMX is at 26.42% YTD. There are 11 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 53.76%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 53.76% | 658.42M | Sep 2024 | PEMX vs EMEQ | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF | 34.68% | 123.28M | Oct 2023 | PEMX vs FTHF | |
| Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | 31.48% | 139.63M | Jan 2023 | PEMX vs STXE | |
| Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ... | 30.73% | 43.26M | Sep 2023 | PEMX vs EMSF | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 29.70% | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | PEMX vs GEME |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PEMX
PEMX has 27.22% 1-year volatility. There are 109 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.64%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar... | 8.64% | 144.99M | Jan 2020 | PEMX vs EJAN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June | 10.70% | — | Jun 2025 | PEMX vs TJUN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | 11.07% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | PEMX vs TDEC | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | 11.68% | 7.35M | Jan 2016 | PEMX vs EMDV | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF | 12.51% | 17.22M | Jun 2017 | PEMX vs RNEM |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PEMX
PEMX has a 1-year max drawdown of -19.04%. There are 104 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar... | -6.63% | 144.99M | Jan 2020 | PEMX vs EJAN | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | -7.24% | 7.35M | Jan 2016 | PEMX vs EMDV | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | -7.89% | 3.87B | Jul 2007 | PEMX vs DEM | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | -8.16% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | PEMX vs TDEC | |
| Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF | -8.35% | 217.49M | May 2019 | PEMX vs ECOW |
Other ETFs from Putnam
The 8 most viewed Putnam ETFs shown here include PVAL, PGRO, PPEM and span 10 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $13B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 95 | 17.84% | 13.48B | May 2021 | PEMX vs PVAL | |
| Putnam Focused Large Cap Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 20 | 1.37% | 202.07M | May 2021 | PEMX vs PGRO | |
| Putnam Panagora ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF - | Emerging Markets Equities | — | — | 1.76M | Jan 2023 | PEMX vs PPEM | |
| Putnam ESG High Yield ETF - | High Yield Bonds | — | — | 7.62M | Jan 2023 | PEMX vs PHYD | |
| Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF | Sustainable | — | — | 2.85M | May 2021 | PEMX vs PLDR | |
| Putnam ESG Ultra Short ETF | Ultrashort Bond, ESG | — | — | 36.51M | Jan 2023 | PEMX vs PULT | |
| Putnam Panagora ESG International Equity ETF - | Foreign Large Cap Equities | — | — | 3.51M | Jan 2023 | PEMX vs PPIE | |
| Putnam International Stock ETF | Actively Managed, Foreign Large Cap Equities, Global Equities | — | 6.72% | 6.61M | Oct 2025 | PEMX vs PGRI |
Often Compared With PEMX
Investors most often compare PEMX with AVES, AVEE, IMTM. These 19 comparison targets span 3 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare PEMX with Any Fund or Stock
Compare PEMX with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair PEMX with funds that move differently
Putnam Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PEMX.
Explore PEMX Diversifiers