IEMG vs VB
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF vs Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares
Last updated: 2026-04-02
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to stocks in emerging market economies with higher growth potential. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 2.63%. Launched in 2012, the fund has a 14-year track record.
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VB) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to small-cap U.S. equities with higher growth potential and volatility. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.33%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VB has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.03% vs 0.09%), saving about $119 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, IEMG has significantly outperformed with a 29.6% return vs 18.4%. Income investors may prefer IEMG for its higher yield (2.6% vs 1.3%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
0 of top 9 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
IEMG Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited!tpe/2330 | 11.60% |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.!krx/005930 | 4.66% |
| Tencent Holdings Limited!hkg/0700 | 3.32% |
| SK hynix Inc.!krx/000660 | 2.75% |
| Alibaba Group Holding Limited!hkg/9988 | 2.22% |
| China Construction Bank Corporation!hkg/0939 | 0.82% |
| Delta Electronics, Inc.!tpe/2308 | 0.76% |
| HDFC Bank Limited!nse/HDFCBANK | 0.75% |
| Reliance Industries Limited!nse/RELIANCE | 0.71% |
| Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.!tpe/2317 | 0.65% |
VB Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Sandisk CorporationSNDK | 1.21% |
| Comfort Systems USA, Inc.FIX | 0.65% |
| Lumentum Holdings Inc.LITE | 0.64% |
| Ciena CorporationCIEN | 0.64% |
| Coherent Corp.COHR | 0.53% |
| Rocket Lab CorporationRKLB | 0.48% |
| NRG Energy, Inc.NRG | 0.44% |
| Bloom Energy CorporationBE | 0.43% |
| EMCOR Group, Inc.EME | 0.42% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VB if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IEMG if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose IEMG if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.