QEMM vs. SPEM

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF (QEMM) and SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM).

QEMM and SPEM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. QEMM is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the MSCI EM Factor Mix A-Series (USD). It was launched on Jun 4, 2014. SPEM is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Emerging Markets BMI. It was launched on Mar 19, 2007. Both QEMM and SPEM 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

QEMM vs. SPEM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF (QEMM) and SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

QEMM vs. SPEM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
QEMM SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF	4.84%	21.92%	4.98%	12.50%	-17.82%	6.34%	9.95%	15.40%	-13.33%	31.50%
SPEM SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.21%	25.63%	11.40%	10.51%	-17.90%	1.51%	14.55%	19.69%	-13.26%	34.82%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, QEMM achieves a 4.84% return, which is significantly higher than SPEM's 0.21% return. Over the past 10 years, QEMM has underperformed SPEM with an annualized return of 7.09%, while SPEM has yielded a comparatively higher 8.16% annualized return.

QEMM

• 1D: 2.95%
• 1M: -6.92%
• YTD: 4.84%
• 6M: 8.64%
• 1Y: 26.47%
• 3Y*: 13.21%
• 5Y*: 4.75%
• 10Y*: 7.09%

SPEM

• 1D: 3.17%
• 1M: -7.13%
• YTD: 0.21%
• 6M: 1.89%
• 1Y: 22.70%
• 3Y*: 14.39%
• 5Y*: 4.29%
• 10Y*: 8.16%

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

QEMM vs. SPEM - Expense Ratio Comparison

QEMM has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than SPEM's 0.11% expense ratio.

QEMM

SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF

SPEM

SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF

Return for Risk

QEMM vs. SPEM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

QEMM

QEMM Risk / Return Rank: 82
QEMM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 81
QEMM Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
QEMM Omega Ratio Rank: 81
QEMM Calmar Ratio Rank: 85
QEMM Martin Ratio Rank: 83

SPEM

SPEM Risk / Return Rank: 74
SPEM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 75
SPEM Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
SPEM Omega Ratio Rank: 74
SPEM Calmar Ratio Rank: 74
SPEM Martin Ratio Rank: 72

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

QEMM vs. SPEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF (QEMM) and SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM). 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.

	QEMM	SPEM	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.54	1.28	+0.26
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.16	1.80	+0.36
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.31	1.26	+0.05
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.56	1.82	+0.74
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	9.33	7.01	+2.33
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

QEMM vs. SPEM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current QEMM Sharpe Ratio is 1.54, which is comparable to the SPEM Sharpe Ratio of 1.28. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of QEMM and SPEM, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	QEMM	SPEM	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.54	1.28	+0.26
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.32	0.25	+0.07
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.43	0.44	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.26	0.21	+0.05

Correlation

The correlation between QEMM and SPEM is 0.86, 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

QEMM vs. SPEM - Dividend Comparison

QEMM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.67%, more than SPEM's 2.77% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
QEMM SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF	4.67%	4.90%	5.17%	4.88%	4.07%	2.35%	2.48%	3.05%	2.86%	2.11%	2.03%	2.14%
SPEM SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	2.77%	2.77%	2.78%	2.80%	3.38%	3.14%	1.92%	2.94%	2.34%	1.12%	1.51%	2.40%

Drawdowns

QEMM vs. SPEM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum QEMM drawdown since its inception was -36.89%, smaller than the maximum SPEM drawdown of -64.41%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QEMM and SPEM.

Drawdown Indicators

	QEMM	SPEM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-36.89%	-64.41%	+27.52%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.40%	-12.35%	+1.95%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-27.55%	-31.94%	+4.39%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-36.89%	-36.06%	-0.83%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.76%	-8.56%	+0.80%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.77%	-14.87%	+4.10%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.85%	3.20%	-0.35%

Volatility

QEMM vs. SPEM - Volatility Comparison

SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets StrategicFactors ETF (QEMM) has a higher volatility of 9.11% compared to SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) at 8.25%. This indicates that QEMM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	QEMM	SPEM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.11%	8.25%	+0.86%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.57%	12.23%	+0.34%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.21%	17.79%	-0.58%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.81%	16.95%	-2.14%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.73%	18.76%	-2.03%