VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMBX) Performance
EMBX total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +1.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +4.8% total return
- 5 years
- +4.8% a year
- 10 years
- +4.8% a year
- Since first price
- +3.4% a year since 2012
EMBX trailing returns vs AGG, TLT, SPY
| Period | EMBX total return | Price only | U.S. bonds (AGG) | 20+ yr Treasuries (TLT) | S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −0.7% | −1.1% | +0.9% | +1.5% | −1.0% |
| 3 months | −1.0% | −2.4% | −0.4% | −1.0% | +3.2% |
| 6 months | −1.2% | −4.1% | −1.5% | −3.8% | +7.8% |
| YTD | +1.9% | −2.3% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 1 year | +4.8% | −1.0% | −1.1% | −6.9% | +14.4% |
| 3 years | +38.0%+11.3%/yr | +11.1% | +16.6%+5.2%/yr | +9.7%+3.1%/yr | +87.4%+23.3%/yr |
| 5 years | +26.7%+4.8%/yr | −11.4% | −0.8%−0.2%/yr | −32.5%−7.6%/yr | +79.3%+12.4%/yr |
| 10 years | +60.6%+4.8%/yr | −20.3% | +14.0%+1.3%/yr | −18.7%−2.0%/yr | +315.9%+15.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 9, 2012 | +61.3%+3.4%/yr | −37.0% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: EMBX vs AGG
From Jul 9, 2012: EMBX grew to $16,132, AGG to $12,662.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
EMBX returns by calendar year
8 of 13 full years positive. Best 2025 (+18.8%), worst 2015 (−13.4%). 2026 is year to date.
EMBX annual returns table
| Year | EMBX | Largest drop | AGG | TLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +1.9% | −5.2% | −1.0% | −3.4% | +12.3% |
| 2025 | +18.8% | −3.8% | +7.2% | +4.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +3.1% | −5.1% | +1.3% | −8.1% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +11.0% | −7.0% | +5.7% | +2.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −7.2% | −19.4% | −13.0% | −31.2% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | −4.3% | −6.2% | −1.8% | −4.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +11.6% | −25.1% | +7.5% | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +13.1% | −6.0% | +8.5% | +14.1% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −6.2% | −10.0% | +0.1% | −1.6% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +12.0% | −3.7% | +3.6% | +9.2% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +6.5% | −4.6% | +2.4% | +1.2% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | −13.4% | −15.7% | +0.5% | −1.8% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +2.1% | −10.3% | +6.0% | +27.3% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | −4.3% | −14.9% | −2.0% | −13.4% | +32.3% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
EMBX largest drawdowns
Now 3.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 2020 | −25.1% | Mar 23, 2020 | Jul 30, 2020 | 31 days | 5 months |
| Jun 9, 2021 | −24.1% | Oct 21, 2022 | Aug 9, 2024 | 1.4 years | 3.2 years |
| May 9, 2013 | −21.5% | Jan 20, 2016 | Jul 25, 2019 | 2.7 years | 6.2 years |
| Jul 29, 2019 | −6.0% | Aug 30, 2019 | Dec 26, 2019 | 32 days | 5 months |
| Sep 30, 2024 | −5.7% | Jan 13, 2025 | May 9, 2025 | 3 months | 7 months |
| Feb 25, 2026 | −5.2% | Mar 30, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | 33 days | 51 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 5% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
EMBX risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +10.4% | +4.6% | +4.8% | +3.3% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.0% | 9.6% | 11.4% | 10.7% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.84 | 0.15 | 0.27 | 0.21 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.42 | 0.22 | 0.37 | 0.28 |
| Best month | +5.8% | +10.1% | +10.4% | +10.4% |
| Worst month | −3.8% | −6.4% | −19.9% | −19.9% |
| Best 12 months | +19.0% | +19.0% | +34.6% | +34.6% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.1% | −19.7% | −19.7% | −19.7% |
| Positive months | 69% | 60% | 62% | 59% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.36 | 0.39 | 0.45 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.64 | 0.64 | 0.60 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
EMBX rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 160 | −19.7% | +5.6% | +34.6% | 66% |
| 3-year (a year) | 136 | −6.6% | +2.6% | +14.7% | 67% |
| 5-year (a year) | 112 | −2.4% | +2.9% | +7.9% | 85% |
| 10-year (a year) | 52 | −0.3% | +2.1% | +5.8% | 98% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
EMBX performance overview
VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMBX) returned +4.8% over the past year and +4.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +3.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $16,132. Over the same year U.S. bonds (AGG) returned −1.1%.
The deepest decline was −25.1%, from Feb 21, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 4 months to get back to the old high. EMBX finished 8 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+18.8%) and the worst 2015 (−13.4%). Volatility has been 10.7% a year.
Related: EMBX chart, EMBX dividends, EMBX bond profile. See the EMBX overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
EMBX performance FAQ
What is the EMBX return over the past year?
EMBX returned +4.8% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 1.0%.
What is the average annual return of EMBX?
EMBX has returned +4.8% a year over 5 years, +4.8% a year over 10 years, +3.4% a year since July 9, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in EMBX be worth?
$10,000 invested in EMBX at its first recorded close on July 9, 2012 would be worth about $16,132 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for EMBX?
The worst calendar year was 2015, with a total return of −13.4%. The best was 2025 at +18.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of EMBX?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −25.1% between February 21, 2020 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on July 30, 2020, 4 months after the bottom.
How volatile is EMBX?
Over the past 3 years EMBX had an annualized volatility of 7.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.84 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).