WEMG vs IEM - Compare ETFs side by side

At a glance

Comparing WEMG and IEM. WEMG has the lower management fee at 0.35% a year, IEM has the higher 10 years return at 9.1% a year, and WEMG offers the higher at 7.22%.

Lower fee

WEMG 0.35% p.a.

Higher 10 years return

IEM 9.1% p.a.

Higher yield

WEMG 7.22%

Higher risk-adjusted

WEMG Sharpe 0.65 (10y)

Lower volatility

WEMG 10.6% (10y)

Larger fund

IEM $1.7bn

Side-by-side comparison

Metric	WEMG State Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Carbon Aware ETF	IEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
Snapshot
Provider	State Street	iShares
Tracks index	—	MSCI Emerging Markets Index
Categories	EM, Market-Cap, ESG	EM, Market-Cap
Listed since	—	—
Fund size (AUM)	$28m	$1.7bn
Cost & income
Management fee	0.35%	0.71%
Dividend yield	7.22%	1.45%
Franking	0%	0%
Turnover	—	—
Tax drag	2.31%	0.46%
Returns	Tax bracket - adjusts tax drag & net returns
1-year return	11.5% net	24.5% net
3-year return	13.7% net	16.8% net
5-year return	7.2% net	8% net
10-year return	8.8% net	9.1% net
Risk
Volatility (3y)	10%	13.3%
Volatility (5y)	11%	13.7%
Volatility (10y)	10.6%	12.2%
Sharpe ratio (3y)	0.93	0.93
Sharpe ratio (5y)	0.4	0.4
Sharpe ratio (10y)	0.65	0.6
Bid/ask spread	—	—

marks the strongest fund in each row. “net” shows the after-tax return at your selected bracket. “—” means we don’t have that data point yet.

Each fund at a glance

WEMG State Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Carbon Aware ETF

Low-cost: a 0.35% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
High 7.22% income yield — good for investors who want regular cash flow.

Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.32%.

Full WEMG analysis →

IEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

Top-10% returns over 1 year (30th of 308 ETFs we track).

A 0.71% management fee is high and compounds against you over time.

Full IEM analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between WEMG vs IEM?

WEMG and IEM are 2 Australian-listed ETFs we compare side by side. WEMG carries the lower management fee (0.35%). Over 10 years, IEM has delivered the higher total return (9.1% a year). The table above breaks down fees, returns, income and risk for each.

Which has the lower fees - WEMG vs IEM?

WEMG has the lower management fee at 0.35% a year, versus IEM 0.71%.

Which has performed higher - WEMG vs IEM?

Over the past 10 years, IEM has delivered the higher total return at 9.1% a year. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Which pays the higher dividend yield?

WEMG pays the higher at 7.22%. Remember distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate.

Which is the larger and most liquid?

IEM is the larger fund by assets ($1.7bn). Larger funds are typically more liquid and trade on tighter spreads.

Related comparisons

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General information only, generated from each fund's published data — not personal financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Consider your own circumstances or seek licensed advice before investing.