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EMXF vs. LDEM
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

EMXF vs. LDEM

Last updated Aug 2, 2026
Documentation

EMXF (iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF) and LDEM (iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF) are both Emerging Markets Equities funds from iShares - EMXF tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Choice ESG Screened 5% Issuer Capped Index while LDEM tracks the MSCI EM Extended ESG Leaders 5% Issuer Capped Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, EMXF returned 7.44%/yr vs 2.40%/yr for LDEM. Their correlation of 0.85 means they have usually moved in the same direction. Both charge a 0.16% expense ratio.

Performance

EMXF vs. LDEM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (EMXF) 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, EMXF achieves a 19.42% return, which is significantly higher than LDEM's 3.29% return.

EMXF

1D
0.03%
1M
-2.28%
6M
11.63%
YTD
19.42%
1Y
33.79%
3Y*
17.34%
5Y*
7.44%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
10.05%

LDEM

1D
0.21%
1M
1.22%
6M
-3.13%
YTD
3.29%
1Y
13.51%
3Y*
11.73%
5Y*
2.40%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
4.91%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

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

EMXF

iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF
$687.78K$551.48K$444.06K

LDEM

iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF
$33.47K$44.13K$91.64K

EMXF vs. LDEM - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020
EMXF
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF		19.42%29.40%8.03%6.63%-18.99%4.45%15.65%
LDEM
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF		3.29%32.49%5.87%6.49%-22.46%-2.03%12.91%

Correlation

The correlation between EMXF and LDEM is 0.94, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

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

0.94

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

0.92

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

0.86

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 13, 2020

0.85

The correlation between EMXF and LDEM has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.85 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.

EMXF vs. LDEM - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
EMXF
LDEM

Financial Services

34.8%
24.8%

Technology

32.4%
23.9%

Communication Services

9.3%
9.9%

Consumer Cyclical

6.2%
12.0%

Industrials

6.1%
7.6%

Healthcare

3.9%
3.6%

Consumer Defensive

2.6%
3.4%

Basic Materials

2.5%
6.7%

Real Estate

1.6%
1.4%

Utilities

0.6%
2.5%

Energy

0.0%
4.4%

Financial Services

EMXF
34.8%
LDEM
24.8%

Technology

EMXF
32.4%
LDEM
23.9%

Communication Services

EMXF
9.3%
LDEM
9.9%

Consumer Cyclical

EMXF
6.2%
LDEM
12.0%

Industrials

EMXF
6.1%
LDEM
7.6%

Healthcare

EMXF
3.9%
LDEM
3.6%

Consumer Defensive

EMXF
2.6%
LDEM
3.4%

Basic Materials

EMXF
2.5%
LDEM
6.7%

Real Estate

EMXF
1.6%
LDEM
1.4%

Utilities

EMXF
0.6%
LDEM
2.5%

Energy

EMXF
0.0%
LDEM
4.4%

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 Advanced MSCI EM ETF

iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF

Often compared with EMXF:
EMXF vs. EEMEMXF vs. VXUSEMXF vs. ESGEEMXF vs. SPEMEMXF vs. VSGXEMXF vs. AVEMEMXF vs. SOXX
Often compared with LDEM:
LDEM vs. DIVISLAB.NSLDEM vs. ESGELDEM vs. EEMLDEM vs. FNDELDEM vs. IEMGLDEM vs. AVEMLDEM vs. EIMI.L

Return for Risk

EMXF vs. LDEM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
EMXF
EMXF Risk / Return Rank: 6969
Overall Rank
EMXF Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6767
Sharpe Ratio Rank
EMXF Sortino Ratio Rank: 6464
Sortino Ratio Rank
EMXF Omega Ratio Rank: 6969
Omega Ratio Rank
EMXF Calmar Ratio Rank: 7575
Calmar Ratio Rank
EMXF Martin Ratio Rank: 6868
Martin Ratio Rank
LDEM
LDEM Risk / Return Rank: 2828
Overall Rank
LDEM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2727
Sharpe Ratio Rank
LDEM Sortino Ratio Rank: 2727
Sortino Ratio Rank
LDEM Omega Ratio Rank: 2727
Omega Ratio Rank
LDEM Calmar Ratio Rank: 2929
Calmar Ratio Rank
LDEM Martin Ratio Rank: 2929
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.

EMXF vs. LDEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (EMXF) 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.

EMXFLDEMDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.55
0.65

+0.89

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.14
1.02

+1.12

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.29

1.13

+0.16

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.65

0.97

+1.69

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

8.35

2.61

+5.74

EMXF vs. LDEM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current EMXF Sharpe Ratio is 1.55, which is higher than the LDEM Sharpe Ratio of 0.65. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of EMXF 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

EMXF vs. LDEM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EMXF drawdown since its inception was -33.13%, smaller than the maximum LDEM drawdown of -40.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EMXF and LDEM.

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Drawdown Indicators

EMXFLDEMDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-33.13%

-40.82%

+7.69%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-12.53%

-13.21%

+0.68%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-15.93%

-15.12%

-0.81%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-31.72%

-38.26%

+6.54%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-7.86%

-7.19%

-0.67%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-11.83%

-17.09%

+5.26%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.97%

4.87%

-0.90%

Volatility

EMXF vs. LDEM - Volatility Comparison

iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (EMXF) has a higher volatility of 7.57% compared to iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) at 6.88%. This indicates that EMXF's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier 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

EMXFLDEMDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

7.57%

6.88%

+0.69%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

19.65%

17.06%

+2.59%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

21.48%

19.51%

+1.97%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

22.62%

19.49%

+3.13%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

22.03%

20.92%

+1.11%

EMXF vs. LDEM - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both EMXF and LDEM have an expense ratio of 0.16%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

EMXF vs. LDEM - Dividend Comparison

EMXF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.78%, less than LDEM's 2.97% yield.

PositionTTM202520242023202220212020
EMXF
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF		2.78%3.43%2.92%2.25%2.42%1.87%0.41%
LDEM
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF		2.97%3.26%2.64%3.20%4.93%1.82%1.89%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.94, EMXF and LDEM move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

EMXF has higher volatility (7.57%) compared to LDEM (6.88%). In terms of maximum drawdown, EMXF dropped -33.13% vs LDEM's -40.82%.

On 5-year performance, EMXF leads with 7.44% vs 2.40% for LDEM. Both ETFs have the same 0.16% expense ratio. On volatility, LDEM has been the lower-risk option at 6.88%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, EMXF has performed better with a 7.44% return vs 2.40%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

EMXF and LDEM have the same expense ratio: 0.16% per year.

LDEM has the higher dividend yield at 2.97%, compared with 2.78% for EMXF.

EMXF tracks MSCI Emerging Markets Choice ESG Screened 5% Issuer Capped Index, while LDEM tracks MSCI EM Extended ESG Leaders 5% Issuer Capped Index.

EMXF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.55 vs 0.65), 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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