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EMXC iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF

Category: Emerging Markets Equities

Inception: 2017-07-18 Issuer: BlackRock, Inc.
Net Assets
$14.5B
Expense Ratio
0.25 %
# of Holdings
646
Average Daily Volume
2.8M

Fund Overview

The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF (EMXC) provides investors with exposure to a broad range of emerging market equities, excluding companies based in China. This ETF tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index, which includes large- and mid-cap stocks across multiple emerging market countries, such as Taiwan, South Korea, India, and Brazil. By excluding China, EMXC offers a way to invest in emerging markets while mitigating risks associated with China-specific regulatory, geopolitical, or economic factors. The fund is designed for investors seeking diversified emerging market exposure with a focus on other high-growth economies.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
N/A
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 2.19 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
12 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the EMXC ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Diversified exposure to emerging markets outside of China, reducing concentration risk.
  • Tracks a well-established index (MSCI Emerging Markets ex China) with transparent methodology.
  • Provides access to high-growth economies like India, Taiwan, and South Korea.
  • Lower exposure to geopolitical and regulatory risks associated with China.
  • Competitive expense ratio compared to actively managed emerging market funds.

Potential Risks

  • Emerging markets are generally more volatile than developed markets due to political and economic instability.
  • Excluding China means missing out on one of the largest and fastest-growing emerging markets.
  • Currency fluctuations in local markets can impact returns for U.S. investors.
  • Liquidity risks may arise in less-developed markets included in the fund.
  • Sector concentration in technology and financials could lead to higher volatility.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
+0.14% +2.66% +51.95% +119.95% +90.22% +36.88% +34.82% +3.62% +145.77%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +9.8% +9.8% -10.3% +15.8% +11.0% +1.8% -10.0% +6.6% +0.9% +2.2% - -
2025 +1.7% -3.3% +0.9% +3.0% +4.4% +7.8% -0.5% +1.0% +6.4% +7.0% -1.5% +4.1%
2024 -2.4% +3.3% +3.1% -2.0% +0.9% +4.9% +1.7% +0.7% +0.7% -3.6% -1.9% -2.3%
2023 +7.2% -5.6% +2.7% +1.2% +0.9% +4.0% +4.0% -5.2% -2.8% -3.3% +9.7% +6.0%
2022 0.0% -3.2% -0.8% -6.3% -0.1% -11.4% +4.7% -1.5% -10.1% +4.7% +9.9% -5.2%
2021 +0.3% +1.6% +2.6% +1.6% +3.0% +0.7% -2.0% +2.9% -3.6% +0.2% -2.9% +4.2%
2020 -5.6% -7.3% -20.8% +10.2% +4.1% +5.9% +7.5% +0.7% -0.2% -1.0% +14.1% +10.0%
2019 +8.6% -1.9% -0.1% +2.1% -4.5% +5.5% -2.8% -4.6% +3.1% +3.7% -0.4% +7.0%
2018 +6.4% -4.6% +0.2% -1.1% -5.9% -4.2% +5.4% -3.3% +0.4% -7.6% +3.1% -1.5%
2017 - - - - - - - +1.6% -0.7% +3.3% -0.1% +3.4%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
NU NU HOLDINGS LTD ORDINARY SHARES CLASS A 0.6 %
BAP CREDICORP LTD 0.2 %
SCCO SOUTHERN COPPER CORP 0.1 %
XP XP INC CLASS A 0.1 %
BVN COMPANIA DE MINAS BUENAVENTURA SAA ADR 0.0 %
CPXTF CP AXTRA PUBLIC 0% 0.0 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 646 total holdings.

Related ETFs: EMXC vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
EDEN iShares MSCI Denmark ETF 0.53 % $211.8M 45 Equity
EEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF 0.72 % $16.6B 1 Equity
EPI WisdomTree India Earnings Fund 0.87 % $3.1B 413 Equity
EWT iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF 0.59 % $4.4B 90 Equity
EWY iShares MSCI South Korea ETF 0.59 % $2.9B 84 Equity
EWZ iShares MSCI Brazil ETF 0.59 % $3.3B 45 Equity
IEMG iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF 0.09 % $83B 2 Equity
INDA iShares MSCI India ETF 0.62 % $8.9B 158 Equity
SCHE Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF 0.11 % $9.4B 2 Equity
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF 0.07 % $111.7B 4 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

EMXC tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index, a market-cap-weighted index that includes large- and mid-cap stocks from emerging markets outside of China. The index methodology ensures diversification across countries and sectors, with periodic rebalancing to reflect changes in market capitalization and composition. The fund primarily holds common stocks of companies in technology, financials, and consumer sectors. It is passively managed, meaning it seeks to replicate the index's performance rather than outperform it, resulting in lower expense ratios compared to actively managed funds. Rebalancing occurs quarterly to maintain alignment with the index.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does EMXC exclude China?

EMXC excludes China to reduce exposure to risks such as regulatory changes, geopolitical tensions, and economic instability specific to China, while still providing access to other high-growth emerging markets.

What are the top country exposures in EMXC?

As of the latest data, EMXC's largest country exposures include Taiwan, South Korea, India, and Brazil, with significant allocations to technology and financial sectors.

How does EMXC differ from EEM or IEMG?

EMXC excludes Chinese stocks, whereas EEM and IEMG include them. This makes EMXC a better fit for investors looking to avoid China-specific risks while maintaining broad emerging market exposure.

Is EMXC a good long-term investment?

EMXC can be a good long-term investment for those bullish on emerging markets outside China, but investors should be prepared for higher volatility compared to developed market funds.

Industry Overview

The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF (EMXC) offers investors exposure to emerging market equities while excluding Chinese companies. Emerging markets are known for their higher growth potential compared to developed economies, driven by factors like urbanization, rising consumer demand, and technological advancements. However, they also come with increased risks, including political instability, currency volatility, and regulatory challenges. By excluding China, EMXC provides a way to capitalize on growth in other key emerging markets like Taiwan (semiconductors), South Korea (technology), and India (consumer and IT services). This approach may appeal to investors looking for emerging market exposure but wary of China-specific risks.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to broader emerging market ETFs like EEM or IEMG, EMXC excludes Chinese equities, which can be beneficial for investors concerned about China's regulatory environment or geopolitical tensions. Unlike SCHE, which includes China, EMXC provides a purer play on other high-growth emerging markets. Additionally, EMXC's expense ratio is competitive with other iShares emerging market funds, making it a cost-effective choice for targeted exposure. Investors seeking country-specific exposure might consider funds like EWY (South Korea) or INDA (India), but EMXC offers broader diversification across multiple emerging markets.

Issuer Overview

iShares, a division of BlackRock, is the world's largest ETF provider, known for its broad range of index-tracking funds. With trillions in assets under management, iShares offers investors reliable, low-cost access to various asset classes, including equities, fixed income, and alternatives. The EMXC ETF is part of iShares' extensive emerging markets lineup, providing investors with targeted exposure while maintaining the firm's reputation for liquidity and transparency.

Conclusion

The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF (EMXC) is a compelling option for investors seeking diversified emerging market exposure while avoiding China-specific risks. With its low-cost structure, transparent index-tracking approach, and focus on high-growth economies like Taiwan, South Korea, and India, EMXC provides a strategic way to capitalize on emerging market opportunities. However, investors should be mindful of the inherent volatility and risks associated with emerging markets.

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