SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) 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 SPEM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to SPEM
SPEM charges 0.07% annually. No ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category have lower expense ratios; the lowest-cost alternatives shown here go as low as 0.07%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | 0.07% | 258.70M | Sep 2025 | SPEM vs VEXC | |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 0.08% | 163.30B | Mar 2005 | SPEM vs VWO | |
| iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 0.09% | 152.22B | Oct 2012 | SPEM vs IEMG | |
| BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 0.11% | 89.24M | Apr 2020 | SPEM vs BKEM | |
| Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 0.11% | 12.59B | Jan 2010 | SPEM vs SCHE |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to SPEM
SPEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 51. There are 77 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 | SPEM vs EMEQ | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 90 | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | SPEM vs GEME | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF | 90 | — | Sep 2024 | SPEM vs EVLU | |
| First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ... | 90 | 38.85M | Mar 2023 | SPEM vs EMDM | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF | 87 | 123.28M | Oct 2023 | SPEM vs FTHF |
Top Performing SPEM Alternatives (YTD)
SPEM is at 9.89% YTD. There are 86 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 | SPEM vs EMEQ | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF | 34.68% | 123.28M | Oct 2023 | SPEM vs FTHF | |
| Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | 31.48% | 139.63M | Jan 2023 | SPEM vs STXE | |
| Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ... | 30.73% | 43.26M | Sep 2023 | SPEM vs EMSF | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 29.70% | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | SPEM vs GEME |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to SPEM
SPEM has 17.70% 1-year volatility. There are 31 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 | SPEM vs EJAN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June | 10.70% | — | Jun 2025 | SPEM vs TJUN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | 11.07% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | SPEM vs TDEC | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | 11.68% | 7.35M | Jan 2016 | SPEM vs EMDV | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF | 12.51% | 17.22M | Jun 2017 | SPEM vs RNEM |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to SPEM
SPEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -11.36%. There are 24 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 | SPEM vs EJAN | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | -7.24% | 7.35M | Jan 2016 | SPEM vs EMDV | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | -7.89% | 3.87B | Jul 2007 | SPEM vs DEM | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | -8.16% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | SPEM vs TDEC | |
| Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF | -8.35% | 217.49M | May 2019 | SPEM vs ECOW |
Other ETFs from State Street
The 10 most viewed State Street ETFs shown here include SPY, GLD, XLK and span 10 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $789B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 67 | 10.13% | 789.06B | Jan 1993 | SPEM vs SPY | |
| SPDR Gold Shares | Gold, Precious Metals | 30 | -6.25% | 130.32B | Nov 2004 | SPEM vs GLD | |
| State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | Technology Equities | 55 | 22.09% | 115.56B | Dec 1998 | SPEM vs XLK | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | S&P 500, Large Cap Growth Equities | 43 | 10.06% | 51.09B | Sep 2000 | SPEM vs SPYG | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 68 | 10.15% | 160.81B | Nov 2005 | SPEM vs SPYM | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ... | S&P 500, Dividend | 78 | 16.95% | 8.75B | Oct 2015 | SPEM vs SPYD | |
| State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | Energy Equities | 76 | 35.03% | 38.64B | Dec 1998 | SPEM vs XLE | |
| SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 31 | -6.13% | 27.37B | Jun 2018 | SPEM vs GLDM | |
| State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | Utilities Equities | 21 | 5.28% | 23.07B | Dec 1998 | SPEM vs XLU | |
| SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | Government Bonds, Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 2.08% | 47.03B | May 2007 | SPEM vs BIL |
Often Compared With SPEM
Investors most often compare SPEM with EEM, EMXC, ESGE. These 20 comparison targets span 4 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare SPEM with Any Fund or Stock
Compare SPEM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair SPEM with funds that move differently
SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to SPEM.
Explore SPEM Diversifiers