Data as of Oct 28, 2026.
BOXX vs EMB: Differences, Returns & Fees
Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, BOXX returned +4.0% to EMB's −0.4%, and BOXX charges 0.19% to EMB's 0.39%.
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Net assets on Oct 28, 2026: $14.5bn for Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF and $13.2bn for iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF.
Pair scorecard
BOXX costs 0.20 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 4.4 points; BOXX is 1.1 times larger.
| Measure | BOXX | EMB |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +4.0% | −0.4% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its high | 3.5%, high on Jun 29, 2026 | |
| Benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | No index, actively managed | J.P. Morgan EMBI Global Core Index |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.19% | 0.39% |
| Net assets | $14.5bn | $13.2bn |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | not published | |
Side by side
BOXX and EMB on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
BOXX
BOXX is actively managed and tracks no index. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +4.0% with distributions reinvested. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.19% a year.
EMB
EMB tracks the J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned −0.4% with distributions reinvested. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.39% a year. It sat 3.5% below its high of Jun 29, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, BOXX or EMB?
- In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, BOXX returned +4.0% and EMB −0.4%.
- Which is cheaper, BOXX or EMB?
- BOXX is cheaper, by 0.20 percentage points a year. That is about $20 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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ETFIQ, BOXX against EMB, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/boxx-vs-emb
ETFIQ. (Oct 28, 2026). BOXX against EMB. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/any/boxx-vs-emb
[BOXX against EMB (ETFIQ, Oct 28, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/any/boxx-vs-emb)
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