Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF (XCEM) 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 XCEM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to XCEM
XCEM charges 0.16% annually. There are 10 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% | 16.81B | Mar 2007 | XCEM vs SPEM | |
| Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | 0.07% | 258.70M | Sep 2025 | XCEM vs VEXC | |
| Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 0.08% | 163.30B | Mar 2005 | XCEM vs VWO | |
| iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 0.09% | 152.22B | Oct 2012 | XCEM vs IEMG | |
| Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 0.11% | 12.59B | Jan 2010 | XCEM vs SCHE |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to XCEM
XCEM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 72. There are 28 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 92.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 92 | 658.42M | Sep 2024 | XCEM vs EMEQ | |
| iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Value Factor ETF | 90 | — | Sep 2024 | XCEM vs EVLU | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 90 | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | XCEM vs GEME | |
| First Trust Bloomberg Emerging Market Democracies ... | 89 | 38.85M | Mar 2023 | XCEM vs EMDM | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF | 86 | 123.28M | Oct 2023 | XCEM vs FTHF |
Top Performing XCEM Alternatives (YTD)
XCEM is at 24.71% YTD. There are 19 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 55.77%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomura Focused Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 55.77% | 658.42M | Sep 2024 | XCEM vs EMEQ | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETF | 35.77% | 123.28M | Oct 2023 | XCEM vs FTHF | |
| Matthews Emerging Markets Sustainable Future Activ... | 32.23% | 43.26M | Sep 2023 | XCEM vs EMSF | |
| Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF | 31.89% | 139.63M | Jan 2023 | XCEM vs STXE | |
| Pacific North of South Global Emerging Markets Equ... | 30.26% | 366.05M | Jan 2025 | XCEM vs GEME |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to XCEM
XCEM has 26.40% 1-year volatility. There are 100 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.65%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Emerging Markets Power Buffer ETF Januar... | 8.65% | 144.99M | Jan 2020 | XCEM vs EJAN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - June | 10.70% | — | Jun 2025 | XCEM vs TJUN | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | 11.07% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | XCEM vs TDEC | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | 11.68% | 7.35M | Jan 2016 | XCEM vs EMDV | |
| First Trust Emerging Markets Equity Select ETF | 12.51% | 17.22M | Jun 2017 | XCEM vs RNEM |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to XCEM
XCEM has a 1-year max drawdown of -18.20%. There are 101 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 | XCEM vs EJAN | |
| ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E... | -7.24% | 7.35M | Jan 2016 | XCEM vs EMDV | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | -7.89% | 3.87B | Jul 2007 | XCEM vs DEM | |
| FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | -8.16% | 10.25M | Dec 2024 | XCEM vs TDEC | |
| Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF | -8.35% | 217.49M | May 2019 | XCEM vs ECOW |
Other ETFs from Columbia
The 10 most viewed Columbia ETFs shown here include SEMI, SBND, EQIN and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $2B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Select Technology ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 58 | 21.80% | 37.44M | Mar 2022 | XCEM vs SEMI | |
| Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF | Short-Term Bond | 67 | 1.07% | 214.67M | Sep 2021 | XCEM vs SBND | |
| Columbia U.S. Equity Income ETF | Dividend, Large Cap Value Equities | 87 | 13.23% | 303.83M | Jun 2016 | XCEM vs EQIN | |
| Columbia Core Bond ETF | Intermediate Core Bond | — | — | 2.25B | Mar 2026 | XCEM vs CRUX | |
| Columbia U.S. High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 57 | 1.84% | 39.05M | Sep 2024 | XCEM vs NJNK | |
| Columbia AAA CLO ETF | CLO | — | 2.83% | 103.12M | Dec 2025 | XCEM vs AAAC | |
| Columbia International Equity Income ETF | Dividend, Foreign Large Cap Equities | 81 | 12.31% | 102.39M | Jun 2016 | XCEM vs INEQ | |
| Columbia Short Duration High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 83 | 2.08% | 105.32M | Sep 2024 | XCEM vs HYSD | |
| Columbia Corporate Bond ETF | Corporate Bonds | — | -0.57% | 56.34M | Dec 2025 | XCEM vs CCRP | |
| Columbia Large Cap Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | — | — | 62.72M | Dec 2015 | XCEM vs REGS |
Often Compared With XCEM
Investors most often compare XCEM with EMXC, KEMX, XC. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare XCEM with Any Fund or Stock
Compare XCEM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair XCEM with funds that move differently
Columbia EM Core ex-China ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to XCEM.
Explore XCEM Diversifiers