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iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XEM.TO) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in CAD · Last updated Jun 25, 2026

XEM.TO is a passive ETF by iShares tracking the investment results of the Morningstar EM GR CAD. XEM.TO launched on Jun 18, 2009 and has a 0.81% expense ratio.

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF (XEM.TO) 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 XEM.TO. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to XEM.TO

XEM.TO charges 0.81% annually. There are 7 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
HXEM.TO
Global X Emerging Markets Equity Index Corporate C...0.25%216.54MAug 2020XEM.TO vs HXEM.TO
VEE.TO
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF0.25%4.23BNov 2011XEM.TO vs VEE.TO
ZEM.TO
BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF0.27%3.56BOct 2009XEM.TO vs ZEM.TO
XEC.TO
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF0.28%4.78BApr 2013XEM.TO vs XEC.TO
XSEM.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF0.32%6.42BMar 2019XEM.TO vs XSEM.TO

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to XEM.TO

XEM.TO has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 77. There are 3 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 79.

SymbolNameRisk / Return RankAUMInception
HXEM.TO
Global X Emerging Markets Equity Index Corporate C...
79
216.54MAug 2020XEM.TO vs HXEM.TO
ZEM.TO
BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF
78
3.56BOct 2009XEM.TO vs ZEM.TO
XEC.TO
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF
78
4.78BApr 2013XEM.TO vs XEC.TO
XMM.TO
iShares MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets Index ETF
72
124.64MJul 2012XEM.TO vs XMM.TO
XSEM.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF
68
6.42BMar 2019XEM.TO vs XSEM.TO

Top Performing XEM.TO Alternatives (YTD)

XEM.TO is at 27.52% YTD. There are 2 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 28.44%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
ZEM.TO
BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF
28.44%
3.56BOct 2009XEM.TO vs ZEM.TO
HXEM.TO
Global X Emerging Markets Equity Index Corporate C...
27.62%
216.54MAug 2020XEM.TO vs HXEM.TO
XEC.TO
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF
26.75%
4.78BApr 2013XEM.TO vs XEC.TO
XSEM.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF
24.97%
6.42BMar 2019XEM.TO vs XSEM.TO
XMM.TO
iShares MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets Index ETF
20.77%
124.64MJul 2012XEM.TO vs XMM.TO

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to XEM.TO

XEM.TO has 22.00% 1-year volatility. There are 4 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 14.44%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
XMM.TO
iShares MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets Index ETF14.44%124.64MJul 2012XEM.TO vs XMM.TO
VEE.TO
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF16.33%4.23BNov 2011XEM.TO vs VEE.TO
CWO.NEO
iShares Emerging Markets Fundamental Index ETF16.55%—Apr 2009XEM.TO vs CWO.NEO
XEC.TO
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF21.01%4.78BApr 2013XEM.TO vs XEC.TO
XSEM.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF22.19%6.42BMar 2019XEM.TO vs XSEM.TO

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to XEM.TO

XEM.TO has a 1-year max drawdown of -12.27%. There are 5 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -8.76%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
XMM.TO
iShares MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets Index ETF
-8.76%
124.64MJul 2012XEM.TO vs XMM.TO
VEE.TO
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap Index ETF
-10.74%
4.23BNov 2011XEM.TO vs VEE.TO
CWO.NEO
iShares Emerging Markets Fundamental Index ETF
-10.90%
—Apr 2009XEM.TO vs CWO.NEO
XEC.TO
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF
-11.25%
4.78BApr 2013XEM.TO vs XEC.TO
ZEM.TO
BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF
-11.64%
3.56BOct 2009XEM.TO vs ZEM.TO

Other ETFs from iShares

The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include XEQT.TO, XDIV.TO, XEI.TO and span 8 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $30B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
XEQT.TO
iShares Core Equity ETF PortfolioGlobal Equities
81
12.77%
19.56BAug 2019XEM.TO vs XEQT.TO
XDIV.TO
iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ...Dividend, Large Cap Value Equities
98
20.61%
5.54BJun 2017XEM.TO vs XDIV.TO
XEI.TO
iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETFCanada Equities
97
23.00%
4.13BApr 2011XEM.TO vs XEI.TO
XIC.TO
iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETFCanada Equities
83
10.67%
30.44BFeb 2001XEM.TO vs XIC.TO
XIU.TO
iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETFCanada Equities
88
11.33%
22.98BSep 1999XEM.TO vs XIU.TO
XQQ.TO
iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)Nasdaq-100
43
14.22%
5.60BMay 2011XEM.TO vs XQQ.TO
XEF.TO
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETFForeign Large Cap Equities
55
12.11%
22.44BApr 2013XEM.TO vs XEF.TO
XGRO.TO
iShares Core Growth ETF PortfolioDiversified Portfolio
71
10.58%
4.97BJun 2007XEM.TO vs XGRO.TO
XUS.TO
iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETFS&P 500
73
11.92%
12.94BApr 2013XEM.TO vs XUS.TO
XAW.TO
iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Inde...Global Equities
78
14.12%
4.47BFeb 2015XEM.TO vs XAW.TO

Often Compared With XEM.TO

Investors most often compare XEM.TO with ZEA.TO, VXC.TO, VOO. These 20 comparison targets span 14 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
ZEA.TO
BMO MSCI EAFE Index ETFForeign Large Cap Equities
54
12.12%
13.21BFeb 2014XEM.TO vs ZEA.TO
VXC.TO
Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap ex Canada Index ETFGlobal Equities
77
14.02%
3.45BJun 2014XEM.TO vs VXC.TO
VOO
Vanguard S&P 500 ETFS&P 500
60
8.08%
1.70TSep 2010XEM.TO vs VOO
VFV.TO
Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETFS&P 500
74
11.92%
32.85BNov 2012XEM.TO vs VFV.TO
ZLB.TO
BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETFCanada Equities
51
7.81%
6.18BOct 2011XEM.TO vs ZLB.TO
VSGX
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETFForeign Large Cap Equities, ESG
54
14.58%
6.60BSep 2018XEM.TO vs VSGX
EMHY
iShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETFEmerging Markets Bonds
74
3.44%
601.10MApr 2012XEM.TO vs EMHY
EEM
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETFEmerging Markets Diversified
67
23.56%
31.27BApr 2003XEM.TO vs EEM
ZEQ.TO
BMO MSCI Europe High Quality Hedged to CAD Index E...Europe Equities
23
5.72%
317.20MFeb 2014XEM.TO vs ZEQ.TO
QQQ
Invesco QQQ ETFNasdaq-100
59
15.95%
493.17BMar 1999XEM.TO vs QQQ
VXUS
Vanguard Total International Stock ETFGlobal Equities
55
12.42%
652.30BJan 2011XEM.TO vs VXUS
XEMC.TO
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index ETFEmerging Markets Equities
91
43.39%
—Feb 2023XEM.TO vs XEMC.TO
XID.TO
iShares India Index ETFAsia Pacific Equities
5
-7.66%
137.68MJan 2010XEM.TO vs XID.TO
XEU.TO
iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETFEurope Equities
43
9.61%
687.49MApr 2014XEM.TO vs XEU.TO
VIU.TO
Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America I...International Equity
69
18.03%
10.65BDec 2015XEM.TO vs VIU.TO
VDY.TO
Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index E...Dividend
98
23.93%
7.99BNov 2012XEM.TO vs VDY.TO
IS3S.DE
iShares Edge MSCI World Value Factor UCITS ETFGlobal Equities
97
35.07%
—Oct 2014XEM.TO vs IS3S.DE
QQC.TO
Invesco NASDAQ 100 Index ETF CAD HedgedNasdaq-100
69
20.02%
1.96BMay 2021XEM.TO vs QQC.TO
XSP.TO
iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)S&P 500
50
6.62%
15.52BMay 2001XEM.TO vs XSP.TO
XCH.TO
iShares China Index ETFChina Equities
5
-11.82%
179.08MJan 2010XEM.TO vs XCH.TO

Compare XEM.TO with Any Fund or Stock

Compare XEM.TO with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

 

Diversifiers

Pair XEM.TO with funds that move differently

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to XEM.TO.

Explore XEM.TO Diversifiers