MEM vs. IEMG
Compare and contrast key facts about Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF (MEM) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG).
MEM and IEMG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. MEM is an actively managed fund by Matthews. It was launched on Jul 13, 2022. IEMG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index. It was launched on Oct 18, 2012.
Performance
MEM vs. IEMG - Performance Comparison
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MEM vs. IEMG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MEM Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF | 3.72% | 28.31% | 10.11% | 6.92% | 7.30% |
IEMG iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 3.76% | 32.56% | 6.50% | 11.52% | 0.54% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with MEM having a 3.72% return and IEMG slightly higher at 3.76%.
MEM
- 1D
- 3.41%
- 1M
- -9.91%
- YTD
- 3.72%
- 6M
- 6.24%
- 1Y
- 31.37%
- 3Y*
- 15.30%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IEMG
- 1D
- 3.61%
- 1M
- -9.13%
- YTD
- 3.76%
- 6M
- 7.65%
- 1Y
- 33.09%
- 3Y*
- 16.07%
- 5Y*
- 4.37%
- 10Y*
- 8.23%
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MEM vs. IEMG - Expense Ratio Comparison
MEM has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than IEMG's 0.09% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
MEM vs. IEMG — Risk / Return Rank
MEM
IEMG
MEM vs. IEMG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF (MEM) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG). 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.
| MEM | IEMG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.58 | 1.68 | -0.10 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.17 | 2.27 | -0.10 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.34 | -0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.09 | 2.48 | -0.39 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.08 | 9.61 | -1.53 |
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
| MEM | IEMG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.58 | 1.68 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.25 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.42 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.86 | 0.28 | +0.58 |
Correlation
The correlation between MEM and IEMG is 0.94, 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
MEM vs. IEMG - Dividend Comparison
MEM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.43%, more than IEMG's 2.65% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MEM Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF | 3.43% | 3.56% | 7.81% | 0.01% | 0.53% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IEMG iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 2.65% | 2.75% | 3.20% | 2.89% | 2.71% | 3.06% | 1.87% | 3.15% | 2.76% | 2.35% | 2.28% | 2.53% |
Drawdowns
MEM vs. IEMG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MEM drawdown since its inception was -19.10%, smaller than the maximum IEMG drawdown of -38.71%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MEM and IEMG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MEM | IEMG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.10% | -38.71% | +19.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.62% | -13.21% | -1.41% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -35.93% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -38.71% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.70% | -10.08% | -1.62% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.82% | -13.11% | +8.29% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.79% | 3.41% | +0.38% |
Volatility
MEM vs. IEMG - Volatility Comparison
Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF (MEM) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) have volatilities of 10.08% and 10.48%, 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
| MEM | IEMG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.08% | 10.48% | -0.40% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.29% | 14.67% | +0.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.99% | 19.78% | +0.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.62% | 17.91% | -0.29% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.62% | 19.84% | -2.22% |