SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) Performance
SPEM total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +7.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +7.4% total return
- 5 years
- +5.6% a year
- 10 years
- +7.6% a year
- Since first price
- +5.3% a year since 2007
SPEM trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | SPEM total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −5.4% | −5.4% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −1.6% | −1.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −0.2% | −1.2% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +7.2% | +6.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +7.4% | +4.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +66.8%+18.6%/yr | +53.6% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +31.3%+5.6%/yr | +12.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +108.7%+7.6%/yr | +62.0% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +138.6%+6.0%/yr | +64.3% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMar 23, 2007 | +176.9%+5.3%/yr | +73.2% | — | — | — |
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: SPEM vs SPY
From Mar 23, 2007: SPEM grew to $27,693, SPY to $75,673.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
SPEM returns by calendar year
11 of 18 full years positive. Best 2009 (+72.4%), worst 2008 (−49.2%). 2026 is year to date.
SPEM annual returns table
| Year | SPEM | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +7.2% | −11.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +25.6% | −14.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +11.4% | −9.0% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +10.6% | −11.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −17.9% | −28.9% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +1.5% | −12.7% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +14.5% | −33.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +19.7% | −10.3% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −13.3% | −25.6% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +34.8% | −4.3% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +11.7% | −10.3% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −15.3% | −27.3% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −0.6% | −16.8% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | −1.8% | −16.7% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +18.0% | −18.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −18.9% | −29.3% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +18.8% | −16.8% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +72.4% | −24.2% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −49.2% | −62.7% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
SPEM largest drawdowns
Now 7.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2007 | −64.4% | Nov 20, 2008 | Sep 3, 2014 | 1.1 years | 6.8 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −36.1% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 9, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.8 years |
| Sep 5, 2014 | −34.9% | Jan 20, 2016 | Jul 12, 2017 | 1.4 years | 2.9 years |
| Feb 17, 2021 | −33.4% | Oct 24, 2022 | Oct 7, 2024 | 1.7 years | 3.6 years |
| Jul 23, 2007 | −17.9% | Aug 16, 2007 | Sep 19, 2007 | 24 days | 58 days |
| Oct 7, 2024 | −17.6% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jun 9, 2025 | 6 months | 8 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
SPEM risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +18.8% | +7.2% | +8.2% | +5.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.5% | 14.6% | 15.4% | 20.1% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.18 | 0.31 | 0.44 | 0.30 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.23 | 0.48 | 0.67 | 0.45 |
| Best month | +9.2% | +13.7% | +13.7% | +18.7% |
| Worst month | −7.1% | −9.8% | −16.6% | −25.4% |
| Best 12 months | +34.0% | +34.0% | +57.1% | +92.8% |
| Worst 12 months | +11.1% | −27.2% | −27.2% | −54.3% |
| Positive months | 72% | 58% | 60% | 56% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.62 | 0.61 | 0.69 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.67 | 0.65 | 0.69 | — |
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.
SPEM rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 224 | −54.3% | +7.8% | +92.8% | 64% |
| 3-year (a year) | 200 | −8.5% | +4.2% | +32.2% | 78% |
| 5-year (a year) | 176 | −5.1% | +4.4% | +16.5% | 85% |
| 10-year (a year) | 116 | +0.8% | +3.8% | +10.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
SPEM performance overview
SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) returned +7.4% over the past year and +7.6% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +5.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $27,693. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −64.4%, from Oct 31, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008, and it took 5.8 years to get back to the old high. SPEM finished 11 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+72.4%) and the worst 2008 (−49.2%). Volatility has been 20.1% a year.
Related: SPEM chart, SPEM holdings, SPEM dividends. See the SPEM overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
SPEM performance FAQ
What is the SPEM return over the past year?
SPEM returned +7.4% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 4.6%.
What is the average annual return of SPEM?
SPEM has returned +5.6% a year over 5 years, +7.6% a year over 10 years, +5.3% a year since March 23, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in SPEM be worth?
$10,000 invested in SPEM at its first recorded close on March 23, 2007 would be worth about $27,693 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for SPEM?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −49.2%. The best was 2009 at +72.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of SPEM?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −64.4% between October 31, 2007 and November 20, 2008. It recovered to the old high on September 3, 2014, 5.8 years after the bottom.
How volatile is SPEM?
Over the past 3 years SPEM had an annualized volatility of 11.5% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.18 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).