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Here’s some good options in an otherwise tough category

00:00 Introduction

00:58 iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF EEMV

01:50 Vanguard Emerging Markets ETF VWO

02:32 iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF IEMG

ETFs in the diversified emerging markets category don’t earn the same high marks as their counterparts in the US large blend or foreign large blend categories. Emerging markets ETFs tracking broad market indexes earn Average process pillar ratings, while the process ratings for their US and developed market counterparts often land at Above Average or High.

Much of the reason is that this is one of the few categories where active managers have demonstrated an advantage. Emerging market ETFs also have to contend with unique risks that are largely absent in developed markets. Geopolitical risks like the war between Russian and Ukraine, or sanctioned Chinese companies are two examples that have surfaced in recent years. And some governments have the ability to influence the underlying businesses to achieve political objects that don’t always benefit public shareholders.

But there are some good index-tracking options to consider for the long run.

The first emerging markets ETF is Silver-rated iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Min Vol Factor ETF, which trades under the ticker E-E-M-V.

It’s still exposed to geopolitical risks and potential government interference, but it takes some of the edge off by systematically targeting less risky stocks and combining them in a way that’s designed to cut back on volatility. It’s best to think of this strategy as less sensitive to the market’s ups and downs. That means it tends to outperform the broader emerging markets universe during drawdowns, but it will likely underperform during bull markets.

Over the long run, that give and take tends to wash out. So far, its long-term total return has weighed in similar to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. And the consistency with which it has followed its expected performance pattern bodes well for its future risk-adjusted performance.

The next two ETFs for today are similar in a lot of ways with one important difference. Bronze-rated Vanguard Emerging Markets ETF, ticker V-W-O, and Bronze-rated iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, ticker I-E-M-G, both capture the entire emerging markets universe for less than ten basis points per year in fees.

Despite those similarities, each ETF applies a slightly different filter to the markets that it classifies as emerging. VWO punts on Korean stocks because it tracks an index from FTSE that classifies

South Korea as a developed market. At the same time, IEMG includes Korean stocks because they meet MSCI’s emerging market criteria.

What’s important to realize is that neither ETF is better than the other. Both are great long-term options. But the subtle differences in country classification is an important distinction to consider, especially when pairing these ETFs with a developed market mutual fund or ETF that you may hold in your portfolio. As a general rule, each ETF should be paired with its developed markets counterpart. That means VWO should be matched with an ETF that’s tracking a FTSE index, and IEMG will play best with one tracking an MSCI index. That will prevent overweighting or underweighting countries like South Korea in your broader investment portfolio, and help you get the most from their diversification potential.

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