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DSI vs. LDEM
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

DSI vs. LDEM

Last updated Aug 4, 2026
Documentation

DSI (iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF) and LDEM (iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - DSI is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, while LDEM is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the MSCI EM Extended ESG Leaders 5% Issuer Capped Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, DSI returned 12.38%/yr vs 2.20%/yr for LDEM. Their 0.60 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. DSI charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.16%/yr for LDEM.

Performance

DSI vs. LDEM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF (DSI) and iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, DSI achieves a 12.46% return, which is significantly higher than LDEM's 4.06% return.

DSI

1D
1.97%
1M
2.00%
6M
10.56%
YTD
12.46%
1Y
23.30%
3Y*
20.53%
5Y*
12.38%
10Y*
15.02%
ALL TIME*
10.75%

LDEM

1D
0.75%
1M
1.98%
6M
-2.84%
YTD
4.06%
1Y
14.36%
3Y*
12.64%
5Y*
2.20%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
5.02%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

DSI

iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF
$16.78M$14.31M$16.21M

LDEM

iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF
$34.08K$42.01K$92.23K

DSI vs. LDEM - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020
DSI
iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF		12.46%18.03%22.38%28.51%-21.71%31.32%14.96%
LDEM
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF		4.06%32.49%5.87%6.49%-22.46%-2.03%16.30%

Correlation

The correlation between DSI and LDEM is 0.72, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.72

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.60

Correlation (5Y)
Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.

0.60

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 12, 2020

0.60

The correlation between DSI and LDEM shifts across timeframes, from 0.60 (5 years) to 0.72 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

DSI vs. LDEM - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
DSI
LDEM

Technology

42.1%
23.9%

Communication Services

12.1%
9.9%

Financial Services

10.4%
24.8%

Industrials

8.8%
7.6%

Consumer Cyclical

8.0%
12.0%

Healthcare

7.4%
3.6%

Consumer Defensive

4.0%
3.4%

Real Estate

2.6%
1.4%

Basic Materials

2.2%
6.7%

Energy

1.5%
4.4%

Utilities

0.9%
2.5%

Technology

DSI
42.1%
LDEM
23.9%

Communication Services

DSI
12.1%
LDEM
9.9%

Financial Services

DSI
10.4%
LDEM
24.8%

Industrials

DSI
8.8%
LDEM
7.6%

Consumer Cyclical

DSI
8.0%
LDEM
12.0%

Healthcare

DSI
7.4%
LDEM
3.6%

Consumer Defensive

DSI
4.0%
LDEM
3.4%

Real Estate

DSI
2.6%
LDEM
1.4%

Basic Materials

DSI
2.2%
LDEM
6.7%

Energy

DSI
1.5%
LDEM
4.4%

Utilities

DSI
0.9%
LDEM
2.5%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF

iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF

Often compared with DSI:
DSI vs. SPYDSI vs. VOODSI vs. FSLEXDSI vs. VTIDSI vs. XSUS.TODSI vs. QQQDSI vs. SPYG
Often compared with LDEM:
LDEM vs. EMXFLDEM vs. DIVISLAB.NSLDEM vs. ESGELDEM vs. EEMLDEM vs. FNDELDEM vs. IEMGLDEM vs. AVEM

Return for Risk

DSI vs. LDEM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
DSI
DSI Risk / Return Rank: 6565
Overall Rank
DSI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6868
Sharpe Ratio Rank
DSI Sortino Ratio Rank: 6767
Sortino Ratio Rank
DSI Omega Ratio Rank: 6666
Omega Ratio Rank
DSI Calmar Ratio Rank: 5858
Calmar Ratio Rank
DSI Martin Ratio Rank: 6666
Martin Ratio Rank
LDEM
LDEM Risk / Return Rank: 3131
Overall Rank
LDEM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3030
Sharpe Ratio Rank
LDEM Sortino Ratio Rank: 2929
Sortino Ratio Rank
LDEM Omega Ratio Rank: 3030
Omega Ratio Rank
LDEM Calmar Ratio Rank: 3232
Calmar Ratio Rank
LDEM Martin Ratio Rank: 3232
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

DSI vs. LDEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF (DSI) and iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

DSILDEMDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.62
0.74

+0.88

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.27
1.13

+1.15

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.29

1.15

+0.14

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.12

1.09

+1.03

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

8.22

2.95

+5.28

DSI vs. LDEM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DSI Sharpe Ratio is 1.62, which is higher than the LDEM Sharpe Ratio of 0.74. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DSI and LDEM, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

DSI vs. LDEM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DSI drawdown since its inception was -54.23%, which is greater than LDEM's maximum drawdown of -40.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DSI and LDEM.

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Drawdown Indicators

DSILDEMDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-54.23%

-40.82%

-13.41%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-11.05%

-13.21%

+2.16%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-20.58%

-15.12%

-5.46%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-28.36%

-38.26%

+9.90%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-34.10%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

-6.49%

+6.49%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.48%

-17.09%

+9.61%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.84%

4.89%

-2.05%

Volatility

DSI vs. LDEM - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF (DSI) is 4.96%, while iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) has a volatility of 6.84%. This indicates that DSI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LDEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

DSILDEMDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.96%

6.84%

-1.88%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

11.78%

16.91%

-5.13%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

14.48%

19.55%

-5.07%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

18.14%

19.50%

-1.36%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.75%

20.92%

-2.17%

DSI vs. LDEM - Expense Ratio Comparison

DSI has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than LDEM's 0.16% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

DSI vs. LDEM - Dividend Comparison

DSI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.86%, less than LDEM's 2.95% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
DSI
iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF		0.86%0.92%1.03%1.19%1.39%0.99%1.22%1.40%1.63%1.28%1.51%1.46%
LDEM
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF		2.95%3.26%2.64%3.20%4.93%1.82%1.89%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

DSI and LDEM have a correlation of 0.72, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

LDEM has higher volatility (6.84%) compared to DSI (4.96%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DSI dropped -54.23% vs LDEM's -40.82%.

On 5-year performance, DSI leads with 12.38% vs 2.20% for LDEM. On fees, LDEM is cheaper at 0.16% per year. On volatility, DSI has been the lower-risk option at 4.96%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, DSI has performed better with a 12.38% return vs 2.20%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

LDEM is cheaper with a 0.16% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for DSI.

LDEM has the higher dividend yield at 2.95%, compared with 0.86% for DSI.

DSI is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while LDEM is Emerging Markets Equities. DSI tracks MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, while LDEM tracks MSCI EM Extended ESG Leaders 5% Issuer Capped Index. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for DSI and 0.16% for LDEM.

DSI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.62 vs 0.74), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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