LDEM vs. VWO
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO).
LDEM and VWO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. LDEM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI EM Extended ESG Leaders 5% Issuer Capped Index. It was launched on Feb 5, 2020. 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 LDEM 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.
Performance
LDEM vs. VWO - Performance Comparison
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LDEM vs. VWO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LDEM iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF | -0.25% | 32.49% | 5.87% | 6.49% | -22.46% | -2.03% | 15.59% |
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 0.54% | 25.60% | 10.59% | 9.25% | -17.98% | 1.26% | 15.54% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, LDEM achieves a -0.25% return, which is significantly lower than VWO's 0.54% return.
LDEM
- 1D
- 3.27%
- 1M
- -7.84%
- YTD
- -0.25%
- 6M
- 0.54%
- 1Y
- 23.06%
- 3Y*
- 11.73%
- 5Y*
- 1.19%
- 10Y*
- —
VWO
- 1D
- 3.11%
- 1M
- -6.97%
- YTD
- 0.54%
- 6M
- 1.72%
- 1Y
- 22.75%
- 3Y*
- 13.73%
- 5Y*
- 3.84%
- 10Y*
- 7.63%
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LDEM vs. VWO - Expense Ratio Comparison
LDEM has a 0.16% expense ratio, which is higher than VWO's 0.08% 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%.
Return for Risk
LDEM vs. VWO — Risk / Return Rank
LDEM
VWO
LDEM vs. VWO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) 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.
| LDEM | VWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.19 | 1.28 | -0.09 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.71 | 1.81 | -0.10 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.26 | -0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.77 | 1.85 | -0.08 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.40 | 7.12 | -0.72 |
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
| LDEM | VWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.19 | 1.28 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.06 | 0.22 | -0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.40 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.22 | 0.25 | -0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between LDEM and VWO is 0.92, 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.
Dividends
LDEM vs. VWO - Dividend Comparison
LDEM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.26%, more than VWO's 2.68% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LDEM iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF | 3.26% | 3.26% | 2.64% | 3.20% | 4.93% | 1.82% | 1.89% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 2.68% | 2.79% | 3.20% | 3.52% | 4.11% | 2.63% | 1.91% | 3.23% | 2.88% | 2.30% | 2.52% | 3.26% |
Drawdowns
LDEM vs. VWO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum LDEM drawdown since its inception was -40.82%, smaller than the maximum VWO drawdown of -67.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for LDEM and VWO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| LDEM | VWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.82% | -67.68% | +26.86% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.21% | -12.23% | -0.98% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.17% | -32.80% | -6.37% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -36.39% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.37% | -8.41% | -1.96% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.72% | -15.93% | -1.79% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.65% | 3.18% | +0.47% |
Volatility
LDEM vs. VWO - Volatility Comparison
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) have volatilities of 8.07% and 8.17%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| LDEM | VWO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.07% | 8.17% | -0.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.06% | 12.26% | +0.80% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.39% | 17.83% | +1.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.95% | 17.21% | +1.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.76% | 19.18% | +1.58% |