iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
EEM InternationalUpdated: Jul 4, 2026, 21:17 UTC
Key Metrics
Top 10 Holdings
| Holding | Ticker | Weight | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 2330.TW | 14.74% | |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 005930.KS | 7.83% | |
| SK Hynix Inc | 000660.KS | 6.81% | |
| Tencent Holdings Ltd | 0700.HK | 2.67% | |
| Alibaba Group Holding Ltd Ordinary Shares | 9988.HK | 2.06% | |
| MediaTek Inc | 2454.TW | 1.58% | |
| Delta Electronics Inc | 2308.TW | 1.21% | |
| Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd | 2317.TW | 0.9% | |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Participating Preferred | 005935 | 0.86% | |
| China Construction Bank Corp Class H | 00939 | 0.73% |
Sector Allocation
About This ETF
The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) is a International ETF with an expense ratio (TER) of 0.72% and $30.3B in assets under management., with its largest holdings being Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, SK Hynix Inc. The ETF currently yields 1.77% in dividends. Year-to-date, EEM has returned +17.43%.
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its underlying index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its underlying index. The index is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The underlying index includes large- and mid-capitalization companies and may change over time.
FAQ — EEM
What is the TER of EEM (iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF)?
EEM has a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.72 % per year. That sits above the international category median (0.32 % across 13 peer ETFs). The TER is deducted directly from the fund and lowers your effective return.
What return has EEM delivered?
Performance for EEM: YTD: +17.43 % · 3-year p.a.: +20.84 % · 5-year p.a.: +6.18 %. Over 5 years, EEM underperforms the international category median of +8.56 % by -2.38 pp. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
What are the top holdings of EEM?
The five largest positions in EEM are: 2330.TW, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, 0700.HK, 9988.HK. The full holdings list is updated daily on this page.
Does EEM pay dividends?
EEM has a current dividend yield of 1.77 %. Distributing ETFs pay this out in cash; accumulating versions reinvest it inside the fund. Check the share class on your broker before buying.
Where can I buy or set up a savings plan for EEM?
EEM is available at most major brokers. For a free monthly savings plan from €1, look at Trade Republic, Scalable Capital or Flatex. The broker comparison on this site shows fees, free-savings-plan ETFs and execution exchanges side by side.
What the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) Is
EEM tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, bundling large- and mid-cap companies from across the developing world into a single security. With $28.1B in assets, it is one of the most established vehicles for emerging-market equity exposure. Heavyweights such as Taiwan Semiconductor (14.18%), Samsung Electronics (6.01%) and Tencent dominate the portfolio. For investors, the fund opens broad geographic diversification beyond the U.S. and Europe, offering access to structurally faster-growing regions in a single, liquid trade.
Performance in Context
EEM recently posted a year-to-date return of 22.0%, trading near its 52-week high of $68.96 (52-week low: $45.23). Over three years it delivered an annualized 23.62%, but only 7.12% over five years — a reminder of the asset class's wide swings.
Key drivers include the heavy 36.88% technology weighting, led by the semiconductor boom around Taiwan Semiconductor and SK Hynix, plus financial services at 19.47%. The distribution yield stands at 1.91%. Emerging-market returns remain sensitive to commodity prices, global rate cycles and capital flows, which explains the gap between strong recent results and weaker five-year figures.
Risk Profile
Emerging-market equities are among the more volatile asset classes. Key risks include:
- Currency risk: The fund is priced in USD yet holds securities in local currencies. For euro-area investors this adds a double exchange-rate layer — a weak U.S. dollar or weak EM currencies can erode returns.
- Concentration: Taiwan Semiconductor alone is 14.18% and technology is 36.88%, creating cluster dependencies.
- Geopolitics & regulation: Exposure to China, Taiwan and India carries political and regulatory uncertainty.
The 0.72% expense ratio sits well above cheaper emerging-market alternatives.
Who EEM Suits
The fund fits investors with a long horizon (at least seven to ten years) who want to deliberately add emerging-market exposure to a portfolio otherwise tilted toward the U.S. and Europe, and who can tolerate short-term volatility. Its spread across Asia, Latin America and other regions serves geographic diversification.
It is less suitable for safety-focused investors, for short holding periods, or for cost-sensitive buyers — the 0.72% expense ratio is relatively high. Those seeking a cheaper emerging-market wrapper should review lower-cost alternatives. This is not investment advice.
How It Compares to Peers
Within the emerging-market segment, EEM faces several lower-cost alternatives:
- VWO (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets) and IEMG (iShares Core MSCI EM IMI) track similar markets at a fraction of EEM's 0.72% fee.
- VXUS (Vanguard Total International) combines emerging and developed ex-U.S. markets in one fund.
EEM's strengths are deep liquidity and a long track record, making it popular with active traders. For long-term buy-and-hold investors, VWO or IEMG are often more efficient thanks to their lower fees.
Where can I buy EEM?
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