IEM vs EMKT: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
EMKT comes out ahead on 6 of 9 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.
IEM vs EMKT side by side
| IEM leads on 3, EMKT on 6 | IEMiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | EMKTVanEck MSCI Multifactor Emerging Markets Equity ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | MSCI Emerging Markets Index | MSCI Emerging Markets Multi-Factor Select Index |
| Fund manager | iShares | VanEck |
| Asset class | International shares | International shares |
| Listed | Oct 2007 | Apr 2018 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.69% | 0.69% |
| AUMfund size | $1.8bn✓ | $839m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | −$2.5m | $22m✓ |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.05%✓ | 0.09% |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | +3.3%✓ | +1.7% |
| 1 year | +21.2% | +39.6%✓ |
| 3 years p.a. | +19.7% | +25.9%✓ |
| 5 years p.a. | +8.2% | +14.7%✓ |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $12,121 | $13,956✓ |
| 5 years ago | $14,830 | $19,892✓ |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
IEM vs EMKT price chart
Both ETFs on one chart as % change. Use the 1D to All buttons to change the period. Price only, so it leaves out distributions · TradingView
What $10,000 invested is worth now
$10,000 put into IEM 5 years ago is worth $14,830 today, against $19,892 in EMKT. That is $5,062 more in EMKT.
Total returns to 30 September 2026, with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage. The price chart above leaves out distributions, so it can look worse. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
What the fees cost you
IEM and EMKT charge the same fee, so fees make no difference between them.
Total fees paid on a $100,000 investment, assuming a 7% a year return before fees. Illustration only: it ignores tax, brokerage and differences in returns.
IEM and EMKT overlap
36 companies appear in both funds. Overlap is the share of the portfolio that is the same in both, counting the smaller weight of each shared company.
| Biggest shared holdings | % of IEM | % of EMKT |
|---|---|---|
| 15.77% | 13.71% | |
| 6.95% | 8.92% | |
| 5.17% | 7.12% | |
| 0.97% | 1.09% | |
| 2.64% | 0.94% | |
| 0.34% | 2.34% | |
| 1.83% | 0.32% | |
| 0.26% | 1.60% | |
| 0.21% | 2.10% | |
| 0.17% | 1.73% | |
| 0.17% | 0.18% | |
| 0.17% | 1.58% |
Add more ETFs and see the overlap in Compare ETFs →
Best-endeavours estimate. Built from each issuer's published holdings, which may be weeks or months old, may cover only part of a fund (some publish only their top 10) and are matched by company name. Figures may be incomplete or inaccurate. Check the issuer's website and PDS before relying on them. General information only.
Get the full IEM vs EMKT report
- Every holding of each ETF: the top 50 companies, with sectors and countries
- Exactly which companies they share, and how much of each
- Fees in dollars over 10, 20 and 30 years
- Every metric side by side, including the index each tracks
- ★ FREE BONUSIs now a good time to invest? The Market Health-O-Meter
FAQs
Which is better, IEM or EMKT?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers IEM wins on 3 measures and EMKT on 6. IEM is the larger fund at $1.8bn vs $839m. EMKT has the better 1-year return: +39.6% vs +21.2%. EMKT has the better 3-year return: +25.9% a year vs +19.7%.
Which is cheaper, IEM or EMKT?
IEM charges 0.69% a year and EMKT charges 0.69% a year.
Can I hold both IEM and EMKT?
You can, but check how much they overlap. IEM is a international shares fund and EMKT is a international shares fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.