Virtus Emerging Markets Dividend ETF (VEM) 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 VEM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to VEM
VEM charges 0.49% annually. There are 52 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.07%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | 0.07% | 17.25B | Mar 2007 | VEM vs SPEM | |
| Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | 0.07% | 258.70M | Sep 2025 | VEM vs VEXC | |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 0.08% | 163.30B | Mar 2005 | VEM vs VWO | |
| iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 0.09% | 149.00B | Oct 2012 | VEM vs IEMG | |
| Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 0.11% | 12.34B | Jan 2010 | VEM vs SCHE |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to VEM
Among 116 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 88.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 88 | 658.42M | Sep 2024 | VEM vs EMEQ | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF | 87 | — | Sep 2024 | VEM vs EVLU | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 86 | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | VEM vs GEME | |
| First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ... | 85 | 37.76M | Mar 2023 | VEM vs EMDM | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF | 79 | 119.90M | Oct 2023 | VEM vs FTHF |
Top Performing VEM Alternatives (YTD)
Among 121 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with YTD return data, the top-performing alternatives shown here go as high as 43.28%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 43.28% | 658.42M | Sep 2024 | VEM vs EMEQ | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF | 26.20% | 119.90M | Oct 2023 | VEM vs FTHF | |
| Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ... | 24.74% | 42.76M | Sep 2023 | VEM vs EMSF | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 23.65% | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | VEM vs GEME | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF | 23.28% | — | Sep 2024 | VEM vs EVLU |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to VEM
VEM has 30.70% 1-year volatility. There are 118 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.55%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar... | 8.55% | 143.58M | Jan 2020 | VEM vs EJAN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June | 10.30% | — | Jun 2025 | VEM vs TJUN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | 10.93% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | VEM vs TDEC | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | 11.59% | 7.16M | Jan 2016 | VEM vs EMDV | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF | 12.47% | 16.77M | Jun 2017 | VEM vs RNEM |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to VEM
Among 116 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -6.63%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar... | -6.63% | 143.58M | Jan 2020 | VEM vs EJAN | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | -7.24% | 7.16M | Jan 2016 | VEM vs EMDV | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | -7.89% | 3.90B | Jul 2007 | VEM vs DEM | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | -8.16% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | VEM vs TDEC | |
| Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF | -8.35% | 217.49M | May 2019 | VEM vs ECOW |
Other ETFs from Virtus
The 10 most viewed Virtus ETFs shown here include SEIX, VEMY, NFLT and span 12 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $445M.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtus Seix Senior Loan ETF | Bank Loan, High Yield Bonds, Actively Managed | 96 | 2.87% | 248.93M | Apr 2019 | VEM vs SEIX | |
| Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo... | Emerging Markets Bonds | 88 | 5.29% | 49.71M | Dec 2022 | VEM vs VEMY | |
| Virtus Newfleet Multi-Sector Bond ETF | Multisector Bonds | 58 | 1.21% | 445.24M | Aug 2015 | VEM vs NFLT | |
| Virtus Newfleet Short Duration Core Plus Bond ETF | Short-Term Bond | 95 | 1.50% | 13.35M | Nov 2023 | VEM vs SDCP | |
| Virtus AlphaSimplex Global Macro ETF | Tactical Allocation | — | 14.10% | — | Aug 2025 | VEM vs ASGM | |
| Virtus SEIX AAA Private Credit CLO ETF | CLO | 99 | 2.62% | — | Dec 2024 | VEM vs PCLO | |
| Virtus AlphaSimplex Managed Futures ETF | Systematic Trend | 57 | 7.51% | 31.36M | May 2024 | VEM vs ASMF | |
| Virtus Newfleet Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF | High Yield Bonds | 76 | 2.24% | 30.83M | Dec 2016 | VEM vs VSHY | |
| Virtus KAR Mid-Cap ETF | Mid Cap Growth Equities | 10 | 3.22% | 46.13M | Oct 2024 | VEM vs KMID | |
| Virtus U.S. Dividend ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities, Dividend | — | 17.14% | 17.88M | Dec 2025 | VEM vs VUS |
Often Compared With VEM
Investors most often compare VEM with PIE, EEMO, DBEM. These 12 comparison targets span 5 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare VEM with Any Fund or Stock
Compare VEM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair VEM with funds that move differently
Virtus Emerging Markets Dividend ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to VEM.
Explore VEM Diversifiers