WBEIX vs. SFENX

Last updated Aug 1, 2026

WBEIX (William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund) and SFENX (Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund) are both Emerging Markets Equities funds. Over the past 10 years, WBEIX returned 9.39%/yr vs 9.83%/yr for SFENX. Their 0.79 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. WBEIX charges 1.11%/yr vs 0.39%/yr for SFENX.

Performance

WBEIX vs. SFENX - Performance Comparison

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, WBEIX achieves a 18.40% return, which is significantly higher than SFENX's 13.49% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with WBEIX having a 9.39% annualized return and SFENX not far ahead at 9.83%.

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%

SFENX

• 1D: 1.90%
• 1M: 3.71%
• 6M: 5.58%
• YTD: 13.49%
• 1Y: 27.98%
• 3Y*: 17.96%
• 5Y*: 10.51%
• 10Y*: 9.83%
• ALL TIME*: 8.18%

*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)
SFENX Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
WBEIX William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

WBEIX vs. SFENX - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
WBEIX William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund	18.40%	25.18%	10.62%	10.23%	-33.15%	3.23%	40.77%	28.36%	-21.31%	48.82%
SFENX Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund	13.49%	29.19%	12.31%	14.90%	-15.50%	13.91%	-3.01%	19.46%	-9.96%	26.44%

Correlation

The correlation between WBEIX and SFENX is 0.66, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.66
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.70
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.71
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.	0.72
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2009	0.79

The correlation between WBEIX and SFENX shifts across timeframes, from 0.66 (1 year) to 0.79 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

WBEIX vs. SFENX — 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

SFENX

SFENX Risk / Return Rank: 76
SFENX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
SFENX Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
SFENX Omega Ratio Rank: 76
SFENX Calmar Ratio Rank: 83
SFENX Martin Ratio Rank: 67

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. SFENX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund (WBEIX) and Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (SFENX). 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	SFENX	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.36	1.80	-0.44
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.84	2.46	-0.63
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.25	1.32	-0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.83	2.73	-0.90
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.64	8.14	-1.51

WBEIX vs. SFENX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current WBEIX Sharpe Ratio is 1.36, which is comparable to the SFENX Sharpe Ratio of 1.80. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of WBEIX and SFENX, 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. SFENX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum WBEIX drawdown since its inception was -71.18%, which is greater than SFENX's maximum drawdown of -47.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for WBEIX and SFENX.

Drawdown Indicators

	WBEIX	SFENX	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-71.18%	-47.19%	-23.99%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-19.23%	-9.45%	-9.78%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.64%	-16.51%	-3.13%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-40.86%	-29.26%	-11.60%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-43.75%	-39.59%	-4.16%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-15.99%	-3.23%	-12.76%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-21.36%	-12.81%	-8.55%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.30%	3.16%	+2.14%

Volatility

WBEIX vs. SFENX - Volatility Comparison

William Blair Emerging Markets Growth Fund (WBEIX) has a higher volatility of 10.72% compared to Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund (SFENX) at 4.35%. This indicates that WBEIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SFENX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	WBEIX	SFENX	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.72%	4.35%	+6.37%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	23.15%	11.98%	+11.17%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	25.95%	14.34%	+11.61%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.04%	15.56%	+2.48%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.41%	16.79%	+1.62%

WBEIX vs. SFENX - Expense Ratio Comparison

WBEIX has a 1.11% expense ratio, which is higher than SFENX's 0.39% expense ratio.

Dividends

WBEIX vs. SFENX - Dividend Comparison

WBEIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.34%, less than SFENX's 3.46% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SFENX Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity Index Fund	3.46%	3.93%	4.67%	5.00%	5.46%	4.61%	2.95%	3.82%	2.90%	2.37%	2.16%	3.23%
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 SFENX in my portfolio?

WBEIX and SFENX have a correlation of 0.66, 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 SFENX?

WBEIX has higher volatility (10.72%) compared to SFENX (4.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, WBEIX dropped -71.18% vs SFENX's -47.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SFENX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.80 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.