VWO vs. LDEM
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM).
VWO and LDEM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VWO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Emerging Index. It was launched on Mar 4, 2005. 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. Both VWO and LDEM 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
VWO vs. LDEM - Performance Comparison
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VWO vs. LDEM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 0.84% | 25.60% | 10.59% | 9.25% | -17.98% | 1.26% | 15.54% |
LDEM iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF | 0.01% | 32.49% | 5.87% | 6.49% | -22.46% | -2.03% | 15.59% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWO achieves a 0.84% return, which is significantly higher than LDEM's 0.01% return.
VWO
- 1D
- 0.30%
- 1M
- -5.29%
- YTD
- 0.84%
- 6M
- 1.39%
- 1Y
- 22.71%
- 3Y*
- 13.84%
- 5Y*
- 3.90%
- 10Y*
- 7.66%
LDEM
- 1D
- 0.26%
- 1M
- -6.02%
- YTD
- 0.01%
- 6M
- 0.18%
- 1Y
- 23.36%
- 3Y*
- 11.83%
- 5Y*
- 1.24%
- 10Y*
- —
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VWO vs. LDEM - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWO has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than LDEM'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
VWO vs. LDEM — Risk / Return Rank
VWO
LDEM
VWO vs. LDEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM). 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.
| VWO | LDEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.28 | 1.21 | +0.07 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.80 | 1.73 | +0.07 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.24 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.89 | 1.77 | +0.12 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.18 | 6.32 | +0.86 |
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
| VWO | LDEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.28 | 1.21 | +0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.23 | 0.07 | +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 | 0.25 | 0.22 | +0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between VWO and LDEM 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
VWO vs. LDEM - Dividend Comparison
VWO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.68%, less than LDEM's 3.25% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
LDEM iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF | 3.25% | 3.26% | 2.64% | 3.20% | 4.93% | 1.82% | 1.89% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
VWO vs. LDEM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWO drawdown since its inception was -67.68%, which is greater than LDEM's maximum drawdown of -40.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWO and LDEM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWO | LDEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.68% | -40.82% | -26.86% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.23% | -13.21% | +0.98% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.80% | -39.17% | +6.37% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.39% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.13% | -10.14% | +2.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.93% | -17.72% | +1.79% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.22% | 3.70% | -0.48% |
Volatility
VWO vs. LDEM - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) have volatilities of 7.41% and 7.25%, 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
| VWO | LDEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.41% | 7.25% | +0.16% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.26% | 13.06% | -0.80% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.83% | 19.39% | -1.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.21% | 18.95% | -1.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.18% | 20.75% | -1.57% |