VGE vs IEM: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
IEM comes out ahead on 7 of 10 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Worth about $13,688 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.
VGE vs IEM side by side
| VGE leads on 3, IEM on 7 | VGEVanguard FTSE Emerging Markets Shares ETF | IEMiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | FTSE Emerging Index | MSCI Emerging Markets Index |
| Fund manager | Vanguard | iShares |
| Asset class | International shares | International shares |
| Listed | Nov 2013 | Oct 2007 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.48%✓ | 0.69% |
| AUMfund size | $2.2bn✓ | $1.8bn |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | $35m✓ | −$2.5m |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.07% | 0.05%✓ |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | +1.6% | +3.3%✓ |
| 1 year | +6.0% | +21.2%✓ |
| 3 years p.a. | +13.6% | +19.7%✓ |
| 5 years p.a. | +5.8% | +8.2%✓ |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $10,596 | $12,121✓ |
| 5 years ago | $13,262 | $14,830✓ |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
VGE vs IEM 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 VGE 5 years ago is worth $13,262 today, against $14,830 in IEM. That is $1,568 more in IEM.
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
VGE's lower fee leaves about $13,688 more in your pocket over 20 years.
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.
VGE and IEM overlap
186 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 VGE | % of IEM |
|---|---|---|
| 15.71% | 15.77% | |
| 2.81% | 2.64% | |
| 2.11% | 1.83% | |
| 1.87% | 1.53% | |
| 0.91% | 0.97% | |
| 0.79% | 0.81% | |
| 0.94% | 0.70% | |
| 0.69% | 0.62% | |
| 0.60% | 0.60% | |
| 0.65% | 0.58% | |
| 0.46% | 0.51% | |
| 0.43% | 0.46% |
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 VGE vs IEM 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, VGE or IEM?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers VGE wins on 3 measures and IEM on 7. VGE is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.48% vs 0.69%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $13,688. VGE is the larger fund at $2.2bn vs $1.8bn. IEM has the better 1-year return: +21.2% vs +6.0%.
Which is cheaper, VGE or IEM?
VGE charges 0.48% a year and IEM charges 0.69% a year.
Can I hold both VGE and IEM?
You can, but check how much they overlap. VGE is a international shares fund and IEM is a international shares fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.