WBEIX vs. EMPTX

Last updated Aug 1, 2026

WBEIX (William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund) and EMPTX (UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund) are both Emerging Markets Equities funds. Over the past 5 years, WBEIX returned 3.57%/yr vs 6.51%/yr for EMPTX. Their correlation of 0.80 means they have usually moved in the same direction. WBEIX charges 1.11%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for EMPTX.

Performance

WBEIX vs. EMPTX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund (WBEIX) and UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund (EMPTX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with WBEIX having a 18.40% return and EMPTX slightly higher at 19.01%.

WBEIX

• 1D: 4.01%
• 1M: -9.30%
• 6M: 8.36%
• YTD: 18.40%
• 1Y: 36.99%
• 3Y*: 18.57%
• 5Y*: 3.57%
• 10Y*: 9.39%
• ALL TIME*: 8.35%

EMPTX

• 1D: 4.95%
• 1M: -3.02%
• 6M: 7.56%
• YTD: 19.01%
• 1Y: 42.03%
• 3Y*: 20.39%
• 5Y*: 6.51%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 7.94%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
EMPTX UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
WBEIX William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

WBEIX vs. EMPTX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
WBEIX William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund	18.40%	25.18%	10.62%	10.23%	-33.15%	3.23%	40.77%	28.36%	-19.98%
EMPTX UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund	19.01%	43.82%	2.51%	8.92%	-25.38%	-9.36%	24.79%	14.98%	0.55%

Correlation

The correlation between WBEIX and EMPTX is 0.86, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.86
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.82
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.84
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 4, 2018	0.80

The correlation between WBEIX and EMPTX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.80 to 0.86 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

WBEIX vs. EMPTX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

WBEIX

WBEIX Risk / Return Rank: 45
WBEIX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 47
WBEIX Sortino Ratio Rank: 41
WBEIX Omega Ratio Rank: 47
WBEIX Calmar Ratio Rank: 45
WBEIX Martin Ratio Rank: 45

EMPTX

EMPTX Risk / Return Rank: 77
EMPTX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
EMPTX Sortino Ratio Rank: 69
EMPTX Omega Ratio Rank: 76
EMPTX Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
EMPTX Martin Ratio Rank: 79

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

WBEIX vs. EMPTX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund (WBEIX) and UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund (EMPTX). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	WBEIX	EMPTX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.36	1.82	-0.46
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.84	2.33	-0.49
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.25	1.33	-0.08
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.83	2.98	-1.15
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.64	9.46	-2.83

WBEIX vs. EMPTX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current WBEIX Sharpe Ratio is 1.36, which is comparable to the EMPTX Sharpe Ratio of 1.82. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of WBEIX and EMPTX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

WBEIX vs. EMPTX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum WBEIX drawdown since its inception was -71.18%, which is greater than EMPTX's maximum drawdown of -46.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WBEIX and EMPTX.

Drawdown Indicators

	WBEIX	EMPTX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-71.18%	-46.03%	-25.15%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.23%	-14.50%	-4.73%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.64%	-15.50%	-4.14%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-40.86%	-38.78%	-2.08%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-43.75%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-15.99%	-9.54%	-6.45%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-21.36%	-18.12%	-3.24%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.30%	4.44%	+0.86%

Volatility

WBEIX vs. EMPTX - Volatility Comparison

William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund (WBEIX) and UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund (EMPTX) have volatilities of 10.72% and 10.24%, 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.

Volatility by Period

	WBEIX	EMPTX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.72%	10.24%	+0.48%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	23.15%	21.53%	+1.62%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	25.95%	23.77%	+2.18%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.04%	20.22%	-2.18%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.41%	19.88%	-1.47%

WBEIX vs. EMPTX - Expense Ratio Comparison

WBEIX has a 1.11% expense ratio, which is higher than EMPTX's 0.19% expense ratio.

Dividends

WBEIX vs. EMPTX - Dividend Comparison

WBEIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.34%, less than EMPTX's 1.61% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
EMPTX UBS Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund	1.61%	1.91%	3.40%	3.20%	3.84%	11.93%	1.50%	2.75%	0.54%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
WBEIX William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund	0.34%	0.41%	0.10%	0.53%	0.16%	21.21%	4.12%	4.31%	14.57%	0.94%	0.45%	1.11%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both WBEIX and EMPTX in my portfolio?

WBEIX and EMPTX have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, WBEIX or EMPTX?

WBEIX has higher volatility (10.72%) compared to EMPTX (10.24%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WBEIX dropped -71.18% vs EMPTX's -46.03%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

EMPTX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.82 vs 1.36), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.