GEM vs. VWO
Compare and contrast key facts about Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF (GEM) and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO).
GEM and VWO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. GEM is a passively managed fund by Goldman Sachs that tracks the performance of the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity Index. It was launched on Sep 29, 2015. VWO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Emerging Index. It was launched on Mar 4, 2005. Both GEM and VWO are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: GEM or VWO.
Key characteristics
| GEM | VWO | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 7.82% | 8.13% |
| 1Y Return | 13.97% | 15.00% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -2.99% | -1.77% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 4.17% | 5.32% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.98 | 1.03 |
| Daily Std Dev | 13.34% | 13.81% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.02% | -67.68% |
| Current Drawdown | -14.18% | -12.96% |
Correlation
The correlation between GEM and VWO is 0.97, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
GEM vs. VWO - Performance Comparison
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with GEM having a 7.82% return and VWO slightly higher at 8.13%. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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GEM vs. VWO - Expense Ratio Comparison
GEM has a 0.45% expense ratio, which is higher than VWO's 0.08% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GEM vs. VWO - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF (GEM) and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO). 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.
Dividends
GEM vs. VWO - Dividend Comparison
GEM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.73%, less than VWO's 3.28% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GEM Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF | 1.73% | 2.97% | 2.96% | 3.00% | 1.47% | 3.13% | 2.08% | 1.81% | 1.98% | 0.25% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 3.28% | 3.52% | 4.11% | 2.63% | 1.91% | 3.23% | 2.88% | 2.30% | 2.52% | 3.26% | 2.86% | 2.73% |
Drawdowns
GEM vs. VWO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GEM drawdown since its inception was -37.02%, smaller than the maximum VWO drawdown of -67.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GEM and VWO. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
GEM vs. VWO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF (GEM) is 3.26%, while Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) has a volatility of 3.47%. This indicates that GEM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VWO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.