iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM)
Top ETFs · Emerging Markets · data since 2003-04-14 · last close 2026-09-09
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) monthly returns (%)
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8.0 | 5.9 | -9.3 | 12.7 | 7.2 | 0.2 | -6.3 | 4.6 | 2.2 | · | · | · |
| 2025 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 7.1 | 3.6 | -1.8 | 2.2 |
| 2024 | -4.5 | 4.2 | 2.7 | -0.2 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 5.7 | -3.1 | -2.7 | -1.7 |
| 2023 | 9.1 | -7.6 | 3.2 | -0.8 | -2.4 | 4.4 | 6.0 | -6.6 | -3.1 | -3.3 | 7.8 | 3.6 |
| 2022 | -0.0 | -4.3 | -3.4 | -6.1 | 0.6 | -5.2 | -0.3 | -1.3 | -11.5 | -2.0 | 15.6 | -2.6 |
| 2021 | 3.2 | 0.8 | -0.7 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | -6.4 | 1.6 | -3.9 | 1.1 | -4.1 | 1.5 |
| 2020 | -6.2 | -3.8 | -15.8 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 6.6 | 8.3 | 2.9 | -1.0 | 1.4 | 9.0 | 7.1 |
| 2019 | 10.3 | -1.5 | 1.1 | 2.4 | -7.3 | 6.2 | -2.7 | -3.8 | 1.7 | 4.2 | -0.1 | 7.7 |
| 2018 | 8.3 | -5.9 | 0.5 | -2.8 | -2.6 | -4.5 | 3.5 | -3.8 | -0.6 | -8.8 | 4.9 | -3.5 |
| 2017 | 6.7 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 5.8 | 2.4 | -0.0 | 3.3 | -0.4 | 3.8 |
| 2016 | -5.0 | -0.8 | 13.0 | 0.4 | -3.7 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 2.5 | -0.8 | -4.4 | -0.3 |
| 2015 | -0.7 | 4.4 | -1.5 | 6.8 | -4.1 | -2.9 | -6.3 | -8.8 | -3.1 | 6.4 | -2.5 | -3.8 |
| 2014 | -8.6 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 2.8 | -7.8 | 1.4 | -1.5 | -4.0 |
| 2013 | -0.3 | -2.3 | -1.0 | 1.2 | -4.8 | -5.3 | 1.3 | -2.5 | 7.2 | 4.2 | -0.3 | -0.4 |
| 2012 | 11.0 | 5.3 | -3.1 | -1.7 | -10.7 | 5.0 | -0.0 | 0.4 | 5.2 | -0.4 | 1.6 | 6.8 |
| 2011 | -3.8 | -0.0 | 6.3 | 2.7 | -2.9 | -0.9 | -1.0 | -9.3 | -17.9 | 16.3 | -2.0 | -4.3 |
| 2010 | -7.8 | 1.8 | 8.1 | -0.2 | -9.4 | -1.4 | 10.9 | -3.2 | 11.8 | 3.0 | -2.9 | 7.3 |
| 2009 | -9.3 | -6.3 | 16.9 | 15.6 | 15.9 | -2.3 | 11.0 | -1.3 | 10.2 | -3.4 | 7.8 | 3.3 |
| 2008 | -8.9 | 2.0 | -3.8 | 9.1 | 3.2 | -9.3 | -5.5 | -6.3 | -14.7 | -25.6 | -9.8 | 10.3 |
| 2007 | 0.1 | -3.2 | 5.3 | 3.7 | 5.1 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 11.6 | 11.9 | -7.7 | -1.4 |
| 2006 | 14.2 | -3.9 | 2.2 | 6.5 | -11.1 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 1.6 | -0.9 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| 2005 | -0.5 | 9.7 | -7.9 | -1.3 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 7.7 | 1.3 | 8.7 | -6.3 | 5.8 | 6.1 |
| 2004 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 0.6 | -9.8 | 1.2 | 0.9 | -3.6 | 3.5 | 7.0 | 2.9 | 9.9 | 4.8 |
| 2003 | · | · | · | 4.4 | 9.1 | 4.2 | 5.7 | 8.0 | -0.7 | 9.2 | 1.9 | 9.0 |
| Avg | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.6 | -0.5 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 |
Values in %. Current and first-listed months are partial (greyed).
returnsview.com
EEM seasonality — average by calendar month
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has monthly history back to 2003. Its strongest month by median is December — positive in 14 of 23 years, median +3.3%, and higher in 6 of the last 9. November is the soft spot, down in 13 of 23 with a median of -0.3%. Across its full record it has closed 57% of months higher, swings ±6% in an average month and has fallen 66.4% peak to trough.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg | +0.9% | +0.2% | +1.0% | +2.2% | +0.1% | +0.9% | +1.6% | -0.5% | +0.6% | +1.0% | +1.3% | +2.5% |
| Win rate | 48%/23 | 52%/23 | 61%/23 | 67%/24 | 58%/24 | 67%/24 | 62%/24 | 58%/24 | 48%/23 | 61%/23 | 43%/23 | 61%/23 |
Win rate = share of positive months / sample size.
EEM risk & extremes
EEM drawdown & rolling returns
Percent below the all-time high at each month-end — how far underwater the asset was.
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Frequently asked questions
What was iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF's best month?+
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF's strongest completed month on record is March 2009, at +16.86%.
What was iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF's worst month?+
Its weakest completed month on record is October 2008, at -25.58%.
Is iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF up this year?+
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is up 25.82% year to date, measured from its last close before 1 January.
What is iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF's 1-year return?+
+36.40% over the past twelve months, comparing the latest close with the most recent close on or before the same date a year earlier.
What is iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF's biggest drawdown?+
The deepest peak-to-trough fall on record is 66.4%, measured on month-end closes since 2003.
Which calendar month is historically best for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF?+
December has the highest average return across every completed December since 2003. An average is not a forecast.
About iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is an emerging markets business worth about $31 billion. Tracked here from its first session onward — every monthly, quarterly and weekly return on record since 2003, with no gaps filled in and nothing smoothed. And the long game: $100 at its first close here (2003) would be about $891 today.
Did you know?
- Its best month on record was March 2009 at +16.86%; its worst, October 2008 at -25.58%.
Trivia for entertainment — the numbers come from our price data; the jokes don't.