Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
IEMG vs TDEC: how they differ
IEMG and TDEC are measured over different days, and IEMG charges 0.09% against 0.95%.
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December.
| IEMG iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | TDEC FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - December | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Buffer ETF |
| Issuer | iShares | First Trust |
| What it is | Core MSCI Emerging Markets | Defined outcome, 10% on EEM |
| Total return, 1 year | +30.6% | not published |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | not published |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +13.1 pts | not available |
| Expense ratio | 0.09% | 0.95% |
| Holdings | 2695 | not filed |
IEMG in plain words
IEMG is an index equity fund tracking the Core MSCI Emerging Markets. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +30.6% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.09% a year. By its holdings filed for May 31, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 2695 positions, with the top ten at 34.1%. It sat 4.0% below its high of Jun 22, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
TDEC in plain words
EEM had already risen past this fund's cap of +19.8% for the period on Sep 12, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 3.7% as the period runs out. The fund's price can fall 13.6% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, EEM can fall 20.8% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 10.0% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's EEM level. 98 days remained on Sep 12, 2026. On Dec 18, 2026 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Which is cheaper, IEMG or TDEC?
- IEMG charges 0.09% a year and TDEC charges 0.95%, so IEMG is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- Are IEMG and TDEC the same kind of fund?
- No. IEMG is an index ETF and TDEC is a buffer ETF, so they are built for different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and what each actually holds.
Other comparisons
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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, IEMG against TDEC, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/IEMG-TDEC Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources