IEMG vs VOO
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IEMG or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IEMG led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. IEMG is less concentrated, with 32.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | IEMG | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $160.6B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.20% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 2,869 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +20.63%Best | +12.50% |
| 1Y Return | +30.66%Best | +17.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.05%Best | +21.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.95% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,659 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.3%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2012 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2012 to Sep 11, 2026 (13.9 years).
IEMG vs VOO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 13.9 years both funds cover.
IEMG vs VOO Performance
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IEMG returned +30.66% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, IEMG is up 20.63% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, IEMG compounded at +22.05% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +7.95% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.47% annualized vs +4.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IEMG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 14.2% for VOO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -42.2% for IEMG and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IEMG charges 0.09% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $3 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IEMG currently yields 2.20% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of IEMG's money is in holdings VOO also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 2,795 positions we hold weights for in IEMG and 505 in VOO, against full books of 2,869 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IEMG (99.4% of the fund), and 25 for IEMG that do not appear in VOO (1.2%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IEMG | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAL:MBHindustan Aeronautics Ltd | 0.06% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IEMG and VOO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IEMG or VOO?
IEMG has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IEMG or VOO?
Over the past year IEMG returned +30.66% vs +17.58% for VOO, so IEMG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), IEMG annualized +4.87% vs +13.47% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IEMG or VOO?
IEMG has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 14.2% for VOO. Worst drawdown: IEMG -42.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both IEMG and VOO?
IEMG and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, IEMG or VOO?
IEMG yields 2.20% while VOO yields 1.04%, so IEMG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IEMG?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IEMG led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. IEMG is less concentrated, with 32.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.