Head-to-head over the 11-year window both funds have in common (2015-10-26 → 2026-10-23): VWO (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF) vs IEMG (iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF) — total return with dividends reinvested, both starting at $10,000 on the same date.
On risk-adjusted return, IEMG came out ahead of VWO —
but the gap is only half the story. Drawdown and yield often matter more.
VWO vs IEMG — the numbers
| Metric | VWO | IEMG |
|---|---|---|
| CAGR | 7.1% | 8.0% |
| Volatility | 19.3% | 20.4% |
| Sharpe | 0.45 | 0.48 |
| Sortino | 0.60 | 0.63 |
| Max drawdown | -36.4% | -38.7% |
| Dividend yield | 2.14% | 2.37% |
| $10k → today | $21,341 | $23,338 |
Compared over the exact period both funds existed, so the window is shorter than 10 years when one fund is newer. Past performance doesn't predict the future — try your own dates in the tool.