IGRO vs. FDEM

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

IGRO (iShares International Dividend Growth ETF) and FDEM (Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IGRO is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index (Net), while FDEM is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IGRO returned 9.24%/yr vs 9.38%/yr for FDEM. Their 0.69 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. IGRO charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for FDEM.

Performance

IGRO vs. FDEM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares International Dividend Growth ETF (IGRO) and Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor ETF (FDEM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IGRO achieves a 12.57% return, which is significantly lower than FDEM's 14.53% return.

IGRO

• 1D: -0.91%
• 1M: 2.78%
• 6M: 8.51%
• YTD: 12.57%
• 1Y: 23.88%
• 3Y*: 16.37%
• 5Y*: 9.24%
• 10Y*: 9.13%
• ALL TIME*: 9.42%

FDEM

• 1D: 0.14%
• 1M: -1.28%
• 6M: 6.08%
• YTD: 14.53%
• 1Y: 28.23%
• 3Y*: 18.72%
• 5Y*: 9.38%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 8.19%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
FDEM Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor ETF	$2.80M	$2.66M	$4.40M
IGRO iShares International Dividend Growth ETF	$3.88M	$3.27M	$3.72M

IGRO vs. FDEM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
IGRO iShares International Dividend Growth ETF	12.57%	25.03%	7.78%	15.38%	-12.72%	9.94%	7.71%	13.64%
FDEM Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor ETF	14.53%	26.75%	9.34%	17.26%	-13.11%	-3.52%	8.87%	5.60%

Correlation

The correlation between IGRO and FDEM is 0.59, 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.	0.59
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.61
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.67
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 28, 2019	0.69

The correlation between IGRO and FDEM has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.59 to 0.69 - a consistent structural relationship.

IGRO vs. FDEM - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IGRO	FDEM
Financial Services	36.2%	15.8%
Healthcare	14.4%	-
Industrials	12.9%	4.3%
Consumer Defensive	9.4%	6.6%
Utilities	7.1%	0.0%
Technology	6.7%	39.5%
Consumer Cyclical	5.9%	10.7%
Basic Materials	3.1%	2.6%
Energy	2.2%	6.7%
Communication Services	1.7%	9.4%
Real Estate	0.3%	4.5%

Return for Risk

IGRO vs. FDEM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

IGRO

IGRO Risk / Return Rank: 79
IGRO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 83
IGRO Sortino Ratio Rank: 83
IGRO Omega Ratio Rank: 83
IGRO Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
IGRO Martin Ratio Rank: 75

FDEM

FDEM Risk / Return Rank: 55
FDEM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 54
FDEM Sortino Ratio Rank: 51
FDEM Omega Ratio Rank: 56
FDEM Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
FDEM Martin Ratio Rank: 56

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.

IGRO vs. FDEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares International Dividend Growth ETF (IGRO) and Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor ETF (FDEM). 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.

	IGRO	FDEM	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.93	1.28	+0.64
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.73	1.78	+0.95
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.24	+0.11
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.42	2.14	+0.28
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.41	6.60	+2.80

IGRO vs. FDEM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IGRO Sharpe Ratio is 1.93, which is higher than the FDEM Sharpe Ratio of 1.28. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IGRO and FDEM, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

IGRO vs. FDEM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IGRO drawdown since its inception was -36.25%, which is greater than FDEM's maximum drawdown of -33.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IGRO and FDEM.

Drawdown Indicators

	IGRO	FDEM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-36.25%	-33.65%	-2.60%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.00%	-12.70%	+2.70%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-11.13%	-16.04%	+4.91%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-25.98%	-25.82%	-0.16%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-36.25%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.91%	-7.94%	+7.03%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.61%	-8.77%	+3.16%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.56%	4.10%	-1.54%

Volatility

IGRO vs. FDEM - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares International Dividend Growth ETF (IGRO) is 3.45%, while Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor ETF (FDEM) has a volatility of 7.53%. This indicates that IGRO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FDEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	IGRO	FDEM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.45%	7.53%	-4.08%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.75%	19.27%	-8.52%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.59%	21.14%	-8.55%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.92%	16.93%	-3.01%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.58%	18.32%	-1.74%

IGRO vs. FDEM - Expense Ratio Comparison

IGRO has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than FDEM's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

IGRO vs. FDEM - Dividend Comparison

IGRO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.64%, less than FDEM's 3.05% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
FDEM Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor ETF	3.05%	3.23%	4.05%	4.41%	3.95%	2.71%	1.84%	2.39%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
IGRO iShares International Dividend Growth ETF	2.64%	2.51%	2.44%	2.79%	2.69%	2.27%	2.41%	2.65%	2.97%	2.43%	1.18%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IGRO and FDEM in my portfolio?

IGRO and FDEM have a correlation of 0.59, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, IGRO or FDEM?

FDEM has higher volatility (7.53%) compared to IGRO (3.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IGRO dropped -36.25% vs FDEM's -33.65%.

Which ETF is better, IGRO or FDEM?

On 5-year performance, FDEM leads with 9.38% vs 9.24% for IGRO. On fees, IGRO is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, IGRO has been the lower-risk option at 3.45%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, IGRO or FDEM?

Over the 5-year period, FDEM has performed better with a 9.38% return vs 9.24%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, IGRO or FDEM?

IGRO is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for FDEM.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IGRO or FDEM?

FDEM has the higher dividend yield at 3.05%, compared with 2.64% for IGRO.

What is the main difference between IGRO and FDEM?

IGRO is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while FDEM is Emerging Markets Equities. IGRO tracks Morningstar Global ex-US Dividend Growth Index (Net), while FDEM tracks Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Fidelity. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for IGRO and 0.25% for FDEM.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

IGRO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.93 vs 1.28), 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.