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% | 235.70M | Sep 2025 | SPEM vs VEXC | |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 0.08% | 162.80B | Mar 2005 | SPEM vs VWO | |
| BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 0.11% | 86.15M | Apr 2020 | SPEM vs BKEM | |
| Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 0.11% | 12.63B | Jan 2010 | SPEM vs SCHE | |
| Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl... | 0.15% | 58.56M | Dec 2018 | SPEM vs EMCR |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to SPEM
SPEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 47. There are 40 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 88.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 88 | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | SPEM vs GEME | |
| Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF | 88 | 262.88M | Dec 2007 | SPEM vs PIE | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF | 87 | — | Sep 2024 | SPEM vs EVLU | |
| Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF | 82 | 102.15M | Jun 2011 | SPEM vs DBEM | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF | 79 | 24.99B | Jul 2017 | SPEM vs EMXC |
Top Performing SPEM Alternatives (YTD)
SPEM is at 9.96% YTD. There are 47 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 36.43%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF | 36.43% | 262.88M | Dec 2007 | SPEM vs PIE | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF | 30.46% | 24.99B | Jul 2017 | SPEM vs EMXC | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 28.05% | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | SPEM vs GEME | |
| Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF | 27.89% | 1.97B | Sep 2015 | SPEM vs XCEM | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF | 25.92% | — | Sep 2024 | SPEM vs EVLU |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to SPEM
SPEM has 17.28% 1-year volatility. There are 27 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 9.57%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June | 9.57% | — | Jun 2025 | SPEM vs TJUN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | 10.79% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | SPEM vs TDEC | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | 11.50% | 7.11M | Jan 2016 | SPEM vs EMDV | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF | 12.51% | 16.78M | Jun 2017 | SPEM vs RNEM | |
| SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | 12.79% | 1.22B | Feb 2011 | SPEM vs EDIV |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to SPEM
SPEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -11.36%. There are 27 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.72%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June | -6.72% | — | Jun 2025 | SPEM vs TJUN | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | -7.24% | 7.11M | Jan 2016 | SPEM vs EMDV | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | -7.89% | 3.91B | Jul 2007 | SPEM vs DEM | |
| SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF | -7.98% | 707.60M | May 2008 | SPEM vs EWX | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | -8.16% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | SPEM vs TDEC |
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 $783B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 66 | 10.45% | 783.21B | Jan 1993 | SPEM vs SPY | |
| SPDR Gold Shares | Gold, Precious Metals | 22 | -7.36% | 132.10B | Nov 2004 | SPEM vs GLD | |
| State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | Technology Equities | 63 | 26.22% | 120.59B | Dec 1998 | SPEM vs XLK | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | S&P 500, Large Cap Growth Equities | 48 | 10.97% | 52.75B | Sep 2000 | SPEM vs SPYG | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ... | S&P 500, Dividend | 54 | 14.99% | 7.40B | Oct 2015 | SPEM vs SPYD | |
| State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | Energy Equities | 50 | 28.66% | 36.33B | Dec 1998 | SPEM vs XLE | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 66 | 10.50% | 158.31B | Nov 2005 | SPEM vs SPYM | |
| SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 23 | -7.26% | 27.70B | Jun 2018 | SPEM vs GLDM | |
| State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | Utilities Equities | 31 | 8.54% | 23.51B | Dec 1998 | SPEM vs XLU | |
| SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | Government Bonds, Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.88% | 46.75B | May 2007 | SPEM vs BIL |
Often Compared With SPEM
Investors most often compare SPEM with EEM, ESGE, EMGF. These 20 comparison targets span 5 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