SPEM vs. EMXF
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) and iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (EMXF).
SPEM and EMXF are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. EMXF is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Choice ESG Screened 5% Issuer Capped Index. It was launched on Oct 6, 2020. Both SPEM and EMXF 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
SPEM vs. EMXF - Performance Comparison
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SPEM vs. EMXF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPEM SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | 0.56% | 25.63% | 11.40% | 10.51% | -17.90% | 1.51% | 11.92% |
EMXF iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF | 3.68% | 29.40% | 8.03% | 6.63% | -18.99% | 4.45% | 15.32% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SPEM achieves a 0.56% return, which is significantly lower than EMXF's 3.68% return.
SPEM
- 1D
- 0.34%
- 1M
- -5.46%
- YTD
- 0.56%
- 6M
- 1.60%
- 1Y
- 22.62%
- 3Y*
- 14.52%
- 5Y*
- 4.36%
- 10Y*
- 8.20%
EMXF
- 1D
- 0.84%
- 1M
- -5.02%
- YTD
- 3.68%
- 6M
- 8.34%
- 1Y
- 30.12%
- 3Y*
- 14.51%
- 5Y*
- 4.42%
- 10Y*
- —
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SPEM vs. EMXF - Expense Ratio Comparison
SPEM has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is lower than EMXF's 0.16% 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%.
Return for Risk
SPEM vs. EMXF — Risk / Return Rank
SPEM
EMXF
SPEM vs. EMXF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) and iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (EMXF). 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.
| SPEM | EMXF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.28 | 1.63 | -0.35 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.79 | 2.21 | -0.42 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.32 | -0.06 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.87 | 2.46 | -0.58 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.12 | 9.50 | -2.38 |
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
| SPEM | EMXF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.28 | 1.63 | -0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.26 | 0.20 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.44 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.21 | 0.36 | -0.15 |
Correlation
The correlation between SPEM and EMXF is 0.87, 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
SPEM vs. EMXF - Dividend Comparison
SPEM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.76%, less than EMXF's 3.31% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPEM SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | 2.76% | 2.77% | 2.78% | 2.80% | 3.38% | 3.14% | 1.92% | 2.94% | 2.34% | 1.12% | 1.51% | 2.40% |
EMXF iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF | 3.31% | 3.43% | 2.92% | 2.25% | 2.42% | 1.87% | 0.41% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
SPEM vs. EMXF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SPEM drawdown since its inception was -64.41%, which is greater than EMXF's maximum drawdown of -33.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPEM and EMXF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SPEM | EMXF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -64.41% | -33.13% | -31.28% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.35% | -12.53% | +0.18% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.94% | -32.89% | +0.95% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.06% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.25% | -8.84% | +0.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.87% | -12.34% | -2.53% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.25% | 3.24% | +0.01% |
Volatility
SPEM vs. EMXF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) is 7.45%, while iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (EMXF) has a volatility of 8.78%. This indicates that SPEM experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EMXF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SPEM | EMXF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.45% | 8.78% | -1.33% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.23% | 13.61% | -1.38% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.79% | 18.57% | -0.78% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.94% | 21.82% | -4.88% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.75% | 21.61% | -2.86% |