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IEMG iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Category: Emerging Markets Equities

Inception: 2012-10-18 Issuer: BlackRock, Inc.
Net Assets
$83B
Expense Ratio
0.09 %
# of Holdings
2
Average Daily Volume
11.29M

Fund Overview

The iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) is designed to provide investors with broad exposure to emerging market equities. The fund seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index (IMI), which includes large, mid, and small-cap stocks across 24 emerging market countries. IEMG offers diversified access to sectors such as financials, technology, and consumer goods, making it a core holding for investors seeking growth opportunities in developing economies. With over 2,800 holdings, the ETF provides extensive diversification, reducing single-stock risk while capturing the long-term growth potential of emerging markets.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
N/A
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 2.38 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
7 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the IEMG ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Broad exposure to emerging market equities across large, mid, and small-cap stocks.
  • Low expense ratio (0.09%) compared to many competing emerging market ETFs.
  • Diversification across 24 emerging market countries, reducing country-specific risk.
  • Liquidity and ease of trading due to high assets under management (AUM) and average daily volume.
  • Includes small-cap stocks, providing additional growth potential not found in some competing funds.

Potential Risks

  • Emerging markets are subject to higher political, economic, and currency risks than developed markets.
  • Volatility can be significant due to geopolitical instability or economic downturns in key markets.
  • Concentration risk in certain sectors (e.g., financials and technology) and countries (e.g., China, Taiwan).
  • Performance may lag during periods of US dollar strength, as emerging market assets are often negatively correlated with the dollar.
  • Dividend yields may be lower than some other emerging market ETFs due to broader market-cap coverage.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
+1.42% -0.78% +26.71% +91.19% +57.63% +21.30% +32.79% +7.85% +139.29%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +7.9% +5.8% -9.1% +12.5% +6.3% 0.0% -6.3% +5.3% -0.7% +2.3% - -
2025 +1.5% +0.8% +1.0% +0.4% +4.7% +7.2% +0.5% +2.9% +6.2% +3.6% -1.7% +1.9%
2024 -4.2% +3.9% +2.5% +0.1% +1.8% +2.8% +0.8% +1.0% +5.4% -3.1% -2.4% -1.8%
2023 +8.9% -6.9% +3.0% -0.4% -2.1% +4.6% +6.0% -6.1% -3.0% -3.5% +8.1% +3.9%
2022 -0.5% -3.9% -2.9% -5.9% +0.6% -5.6% 0.0% -1.2% -11.3% -1.5% +14.7% -2.5%
2021 +2.9% +1.4% -0.6% +1.7% +1.8% +1.2% -5.6% +1.4% -3.6% +1.1% -3.7% +1.9%
2020 -5.9% -3.7% -16.9% +7.9% +3.2% +6.7% +8.6% +3.1% -0.9% +1.3% +9.6% +7.1%
2019 +9.6% -1.1% +1.2% +2.2% -7.0% +5.8% -2.4% -3.8% +1.6% +4.4% 0.0% +7.5%
2018 +8.0% -5.7% +0.8% -2.7% -2.3% -4.7% +3.0% -3.3% -1.0% -8.7% +4.7% -3.0%
2017 +6.6% +2.0% +3.5% +1.9% +2.3% +1.1% +5.5% +2.3% 0.0% +3.3% +0.1% +3.7%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
PDD PDD HOLDINGS INC ADR 1.0 %
NU NU HOLDINGS LTD ORDINARY SHARES CLASS A 0.4 %
YUMC YUM CHINA HOLDINGS INC 0.2 %
AU ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI PLC 0.2 %
BEKE KE HOLDINGS INC ADR 0.2 %
BAP CREDICORP LTD 0.1 %
TME TENCENT MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP ADR 0.1 %
SCCO SOUTHERN COPPER CORP 0.1 %
HTHT H WORLD GROUP LTD ADR 0.1 %
QFIN QIFU TECHNOLOGY INC ADR 0.1 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 2 total holdings.

Related ETFs: IEMG vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
AVEM Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF 0.33 % $7.7B 3 Equity
DEM WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund 0.63 % $2.8B 477 Equity
EDIV SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF 0.49 % $631.6M 104 Equity
EEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF 0.72 % $16.6B 1 Equity
EWX SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF 0.65 % $640.7M 3 Equity
FEMS First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund 0.80 % $255.5M 201 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
XSOE WisdomTree Emerging Markets ex-State-Owned Enterprises Fund 0.32 % $1.6B 751 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

IEMG tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index (IMI), a market-cap-weighted index that includes large, mid, and small-cap stocks from 24 emerging market countries. The index is designed to represent approximately 99% of the equity universe in these markets. The fund holds over 2,800 securities, providing broad diversification. It is passively managed and rebalances quarterly to align with the index. The ETF primarily holds common stocks, with no use of derivatives, ensuring direct exposure to the underlying equities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What countries are included in IEMG?

IEMG includes stocks from 24 emerging market countries, such as China, India, Brazil, Taiwan, South Korea, and South Africa, among others.

How does IEMG differ from EEM?

IEMG has a lower expense ratio (0.09% vs. 0.68%) and includes small-cap stocks, whereas EEM focuses only on large and mid-cap stocks.

Is IEMG a good long-term investment?

IEMG can be a good long-term investment for those seeking growth in emerging markets, but investors should be prepared for higher volatility and risk compared to developed market ETFs.

Does IEMG pay dividends?

Yes, IEMG pays dividends, but yields may be lower than some other emerging market ETFs due to its broader market-cap coverage.

Industry Overview

The iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) provides exposure to the dynamic and fast-growing economies of emerging markets. These markets, which include countries like China, India, Brazil, and South Africa, often exhibit higher growth rates than developed economies but come with increased volatility and risk. Investing in emerging markets can offer diversification benefits and long-term growth potential, particularly for investors with a higher risk tolerance. IEMG is a popular choice for those looking to gain broad, cost-effective exposure to this asset class without the need for individual stock selection.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to its closest peer, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM), IEMG offers a lower expense ratio (0.09% vs. 0.68%) and broader market coverage, including small-cap stocks. Another competitor, the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO), tracks a different index (FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index) and excludes South Korea, which is classified as an emerging market by MSCI. IEMG's inclusion of small-caps and lower cost structure make it a compelling choice for long-term investors seeking comprehensive emerging market exposure.

Issuer Overview

iShares, a division of BlackRock, is the world's largest ETF provider, known for its low-cost, index-tracking funds. With a strong reputation for transparency and liquidity, iShares offers a wide range of ETFs covering various asset classes, including equities, fixed income, and alternatives. The firm's expertise in passive investing and global market access makes it a trusted choice for both institutional and individual investors.

Conclusion

The iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) is a cost-effective and diversified way to gain exposure to emerging market equities. Its broad coverage, low expense ratio, and liquidity make it a strong choice for both core and tactical allocations to developing economies. While emerging markets carry higher risks, IEMG's extensive diversification helps mitigate some of these concerns, making it a suitable option for investors with a long-term horizon and higher risk tolerance.

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