VWO vs EEM: which was the better investment?
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF against iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 10, 2005 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VWO beat EEM?
It was effectively a tie over the full overlap period (Mar 10, 2005 to Jul 15, 2026): $10,000 grew to $41,550 in VWO and $41,688 in EEM, a difference of under 2%.
What would $10,000 in VWO be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) on Mar 10, 2005 would be worth about $41,550 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 315.5% (6.9% per year). The same $10,000 in EEM would be worth $41,688.
Which was riskier — VWO or EEM?
VWO swung with an annualized volatility of 26.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -67.7%; EEM ran at 27.8% volatility with a -66.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.19 for VWO vs 0.18 for EEM.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 10, 2005 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with VWO vs EEM. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.