IEF vs. EEM
IEF (iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF) and EEM (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IEF is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index, while EEM is a Emerging Markets Diversified fund tracking the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IEF returned 0.53%/yr vs 9.37%/yr for EEM. At a correlation of -0.20, they often move in opposite directions. IEF charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.72%/yr for EEM.
Performance
IEF vs. EEM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEF achieves a -1.16% return, which is significantly lower than EEM's 20.18% return. Over the past 10 years, IEF has underperformed EEM with an annualized return of 0.53%, while EEM has yielded a comparatively higher 9.37% annualized return.
IEF
- 1D
- -0.11%
- 1M
- -1.19%
- YTD
- -1.16%
- 6M
- -0.96%
- 1Y
- 3.91%
- 3Y*
- 2.43%
- 5Y*
- -1.34%
- 10Y*
- 0.53%
EEM
- 1D
- 1.80%
- 1M
- -3.22%
- YTD
- 20.18%
- 6M
- 22.10%
- 1Y
- 43.51%
- 3Y*
- 20.79%
- 5Y*
- 5.98%
- 10Y*
- 9.37%
IEF vs. EEM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -1.16% | 8.03% | -0.63% | 3.64% | -15.15% | -3.33% | 10.01% | 8.03% | 0.99% | 2.55% |
EEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 20.18% | 33.98% | 6.49% | 8.95% | -20.56% | -3.63% | 17.02% | 18.22% | -15.31% | 37.26% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEF and EEM is 0.25, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.16 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.08 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 15, 2003 | -0.20 |
The correlation between IEF and EEM shifts across timeframes, from -0.20 (all time) to 0.25 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IEF vs. EEM — Risk / Return Rank
IEF
EEM
IEF vs. EEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM). 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.
| IEF | EEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.23 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.40 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.14 | 1.39 | -0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.96 | 3.23 | -2.27 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.79 | 12.20 | -9.41 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IEF | EEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.84 | 2.07 | -1.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.17 | 0.31 | -0.49 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.08 | 0.46 | -0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.37 | +0.13 |
Drawdowns
IEF vs. EEM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEF drawdown since its inception was -23.93%, smaller than the maximum EEM drawdown of -66.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEF and EEM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IEF | EEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -23.93% | -66.43% | +42.50% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -4.07% | -13.52% | +9.45% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -7.74% | -17.29% | +9.55% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.40% | -37.49% | +16.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -23.93% | -39.82% | +15.89% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.80% | -7.13% | -4.67% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.35% | -16.01% | +10.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.40% | 3.58% | -2.18% |
Volatility
IEF vs. EEM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) is 1.51%, while iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) has a volatility of 10.60%. This indicates that IEF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IEF | EEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.51% | 10.60% | -9.09% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.36% | 18.87% | -15.51% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 4.69% | 21.19% | -16.50% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.71% | 19.16% | -11.45% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 6.63% | 20.62% | -13.99% |
IEF vs. EEM - Expense Ratio Comparison
IEF has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than EEM's 0.72% expense ratio.
Dividends
IEF vs. EEM - Dividend Comparison
IEF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.92%, more than EEM's 1.85% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 1.85% | 2.22% | 2.43% | 2.63% | 2.50% | 1.99% | 1.45% | 2.76% | 2.24% | 1.89% | 1.89% | 2.49% |
IEF iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 3.92% | 3.77% | 3.62% | 2.91% | 1.96% | 0.83% | 1.08% | 2.08% | 2.24% | 1.82% | 1.81% | 1.90% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IEF and EEM have a correlation of 0.25, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
EEM has higher volatility (10.60%) compared to IEF (1.51%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEF dropped -23.93% vs EEM's -66.43%.
On 10-year performance, EEM leads with 9.37% vs 0.53% for IEF. On fees, IEF is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, IEF has been the lower-risk option at 1.51%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, EEM has performed better with a 9.37% return vs 0.53%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IEF is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.72% for EEM.
IEF has the higher dividend yield at 3.92%, compared with 1.85% for EEM.
IEF is categorized as Government Bonds, while EEM is Emerging Markets Diversified. IEF tracks ICE U.S. Treasury 7-10 Year Bond Index, while EEM tracks MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net). Their fees differ too: 0.15% for IEF and 0.72% for EEM.
EEM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.07 vs 0.84), 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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