iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) Performance
IEMG total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +13.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +14.9% total return
- 5 years
- +6.6% a year
- 10 years
- +8.1% a year
- Since first price
- +5.7% a year since 2012
IEMG trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | IEMG total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −7.9% | −7.9% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −3.5% | −3.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −0.3% | −1.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +13.6% | +12.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +14.9% | +12.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +79.6%+21.6%/yr | +64.5% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +37.6%+6.6%/yr | +19.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +117.4%+8.1%/yr | +65.8% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionOct 22, 2012 | +118.2%+5.7%/yr | +54.2% | — | — | — |
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: IEMG vs SPY
From Oct 22, 2012: IEMG grew to $21,821, SPY to $67,369.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
IEMG returns by calendar year
7 of 13 full years positive. Best 2017 (+37.4%), worst 2022 (−20.0%). 2026 is year to date.
IEMG annual returns table
| Year | IEMG | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +13.6% | −13.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +32.6% | −14.7% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +6.5% | −9.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +11.5% | −12.4% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −20.0% | −31.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −0.6% | −14.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +17.9% | −34.7% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +17.8% | −12.3% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −14.9% | −26.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +37.4% | −4.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +10.3% | −9.9% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −14.3% | −27.9% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −3.4% | −17.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | −2.8% | −17.5% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
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.
IEMG largest drawdowns
Now 11.9% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2018 | −38.7% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.8 years |
| Feb 16, 2021 | −37.1% | Oct 24, 2022 | Jul 17, 2025 | 1.7 years | 4.4 years |
| Sep 5, 2014 | −34.4% | Jan 20, 2016 | Jul 12, 2017 | 1.4 years | 2.9 years |
| Jan 2, 2013 | −17.5% | Jun 24, 2013 | Jun 10, 2014 | 6 months | 1.4 years |
| Jun 22, 2026 | −13.8% | Jul 29, 2026 | not yet | 37 days | 4 months so far |
| Feb 25, 2026 | −13.2% | Mar 30, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | 33 days | 51 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
IEMG risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +23.0% | +8.7% | +8.8% | +6.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 17.2% | 16.9% | 16.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.17 | 0.37 | 0.45 | 0.36 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.16 | 0.59 | 0.69 | 0.55 |
| Best month | +12.5% | +14.7% | +14.7% | +14.7% |
| Worst month | −9.1% | −11.3% | −16.9% | −16.9% |
| Best 12 months | +51.6% | +51.6% | +62.4% | +62.4% |
| Worst 12 months | +6.5% | −29.8% | −29.8% | −29.8% |
| Positive months | 75% | 58% | 60% | 57% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.80 | 0.74 | 0.77 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.66 | 0.67 | 0.70 | — |
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.
IEMG rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 157 | −29.8% | +7.0% | +62.4% | 64% |
| 3-year (a year) | 133 | −8.6% | +4.6% | +24.3% | 73% |
| 5-year (a year) | 109 | −2.7% | +4.6% | +14.7% | 90% |
| 10-year (a year) | 49 | +1.1% | +3.6% | +10.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
IEMG performance overview
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) returned +14.9% over the past year and +8.1% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +5.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $21,821. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −38.7%, from Jan 26, 2018 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 8 months to get back to the old high. IEMG finished 7 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2017 (+37.4%) and the worst 2022 (−20.0%). Volatility has been 16.5% a year.
Related: IEMG chart, IEMG holdings, IEMG dividends. See the IEMG overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
IEMG performance FAQ
What is the IEMG return over the past year?
IEMG returned +14.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 12.0%.
What is the average annual return of IEMG?
IEMG has returned +6.6% a year over 5 years, +8.1% a year over 10 years, +5.7% a year since October 22, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in IEMG be worth?
$10,000 invested in IEMG at its first recorded close on October 22, 2012 would be worth about $21,821 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for IEMG?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −20.0%. The best was 2017 at +37.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of IEMG?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −38.7% between January 26, 2018 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on November 16, 2020, 8 months after the bottom.
How volatile is IEMG?
Over the past 3 years IEMG had an annualized volatility of 15.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.17 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).