iShares Core MSCI EM IMI vs Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets
iShares Core MSCI EM IMI tracks MSCI Emerging Markets IMI and Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets tracks MSCI Emerging Markets. They are realistic alternatives for the same slot in a portfolio, but because the indices are different nobody can tell you in advance which will return more. What can be compared objectively is the cost, the replication method, the domicile and how each one is structured — and that is what this page does.
What each one tracks
This is the underlying difference: they do not follow the same index, so their returns will diverge.
iShares Core MSCI EM IMI
MSCI Emerging Markets IMI
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets
MSCI Emerging Markets
Comparison
| iShares Core MSCI EM IMI | Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets | |
|---|---|---|
| Index | MSCI Emerging Markets IMI | MSCI Emerging Markets |
| TER | 0.18% | 0.18% |
| Hist. return* | ~6% | ~6% |
| Replication | Physical | Physical |
| Distribution | Accumulating | Accumulating |
| Domicile | Irlanda | Irlanda |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Risk | 4/7 | 4/7 |
| ISIN | IE00BKM4GZ66 | IE00BTJRMP35 |
What the fee gap actually costs
Applying the SAME 7% gross return to both and contributing €300/month, the only thing moving the result is the TER. This is not a return forecast: it is how much the fee weighs.
| Horizon | iShares Core MSCI EM IMI | Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | €51,706 | €51,706 | €0 |
| 20 years | €153,776 | €153,776 | €0 |
| 30 years | €355,262 | €355,262 | €0 |
Both fees are effectively identical, so cost should not decide this choice.
Nobody can know which will perform better: they track different indices and past performance is not a prediction. What is objective today is the cost, the replication, the domicile and the distribution policy.
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Create free accountFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between iShares Core MSCI EM IMI and Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets?+
They track different indices: iShares Core MSCI EM IMI follows MSCI Emerging Markets IMI and Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets follows MSCI Emerging Markets. They also differ in cost (0.18% vs 0.18% TER), replication (physical vs physical) and domicile (Irlanda vs Irlanda).
Which one will perform better?+
Nobody can know that: they track different indices, so their returns will diverge, and past index performance is not a prediction. What you can control today is the cost, the tax structure and whether the index actually covers what you want exposure to.
Which one is cheaper?+
Their fees are effectively identical (0.18% vs 0.18%), so cost should not decide this one. Look at index coverage, distribution policy and availability at your broker instead.
Accumulating or distributing?+
Both are accumulating, so on this point there is no difference between them.
Can I hold both?+
Yes. Unlike two funds tracking the identical index, these give you genuinely different exposure, so holding both is not automatically redundant — just be aware you may end up overlapping on the largest companies and doubling your rebalancing work.
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