Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
EMB vs LQD: how they differ
EMB and LQD are both bond index funds, and over the year EMB returned more, +2.8% against −2.7%.
iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF and iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF.
| EMB iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF | LQD iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | iShares |
| What it is | J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond | US investment grade bonds |
| Total return, 1 year | +2.8% | −2.7% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | −14.7 pts | −20.2 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.39% | 0.14% |
| Holdings | 681 | not filed |
EMB in plain words
EMB is a bond fund tracking the J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +2.8% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.39% a year.
LQD in plain words
LQD is a bond fund tracking the US investment grade bonds. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned −2.7% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.14% a year. It sat 6.4% below its high of Sep 22, 2021 on Sep 11, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, EMB or LQD?
- In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, EMB returned +2.8% and LQD returned −2.7%, so EMB returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, EMB or LQD?
- EMB charges 0.39% a year and LQD charges 0.14%, so LQD is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, EMB against LQD, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/EMB-LQD Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources