Data as of Oct 28, 2026.
IEMG vs TSEP: Differences, Returns & Fees
Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, IEMG returned +15.3% to TSEP's +9.3%, and IEMG charges 0.09% to TSEP's 0.95%.
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Net assets on Oct 27, 2026: $150.4bn for iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and $18m for FT Vest Emerging Markets Buffer ETF - September.
Pair scorecard
IEMG costs 0.86 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 6.0 points; IEMG is far larger, $150.4bn against $18m.
| Measure | IEMG | TSEP |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +15.3% | +9.3% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its high | 10.1%, high on Jun 22, 2026 | |
| Benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index (IMI) | EEM |
| The outcome period | ||
| Room to the cap | 31.5% | |
| Buffer left, in index points | 4.8% of 10.0% | |
| Days left in the period | 324 | |
| Period ends | Sep 17, 2027 | |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.09% | 0.95% |
| Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026 | $150.4bn | $18m |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | not published | |
| In the S&P 500, by weight | 0% | |
| Top ten holdings, share of the fund | 32.7% | |
Side by side
IEMG and TSEP on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
IEMG
IEMG tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +15.3% with distributions reinvested, against +16.3% for its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.09% a year. By its holdings published by its issuer for Oct 27, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 2,857 positions, with the top ten at 32.7%. It sat 10.1% below its high of Jun 22, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.
TSEP
From its price on Oct 28, 2026, the fund can gain about 31.5% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 4.8% of the 10.0% buffer still sits below today's EEM level. 324 days remained on Oct 28, 2026. On Sep 17, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Are IEMG and TSEP in the same category?
- IEMG is a stock ETF and TSEP is a buffer ETF, so they do different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and holdings.
- Which returned more over the last year, IEMG or TSEP?
- In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IEMG returned +15.3% and TSEP +9.3%.
- Which is cheaper, IEMG or TSEP?
- IEMG is cheaper, by 0.86 percentage points a year. That is about $86 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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ETFIQ, IEMG against TSEP, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iemg-vs-tsep
ETFIQ. (Oct 28, 2026). IEMG against TSEP. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iemg-vs-tsep
[IEMG against TSEP (ETFIQ, Oct 28, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iemg-vs-tsep)
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