iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF trades at $81.4 (market cap $162.00B), while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $49.43 (market cap $7.73B). The key difference: iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is far larger — about 21× Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund's market cap, and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF for 57 Days and Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund for 70 Days on average.
| IEMG | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $162.00B | $7.73B |
Volume | 13,446,151 | 13,681,146 |
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | — |
52-Week High | $86.00 | $53.67 |
52-Week Low | $64.22 | $42.23 |
Typical Hold Time | 57 Days | 70 Days |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
IEMG is trading at $80.5, down 1.88% over the past 24 hours amid a bearish technical signal. The ETF's technical indicators show selling pressure with moving averages signaling bearish momentum, though oscillators remain neutral. Recent news highlights IEMG's strong performance against emerging market peers, with the fund delivering 35% returns over the past year according to Fool - Investing News on 2026-07-06, though it faces higher volatility than broader international alternatives.
The outlook for IEMG remains mixed with technical weakness offset by strong recent performance in emerging markets. Key risks include concentration in technology sectors (39% weighting) and higher volatility compared to developed market ETFs. Analyst comparisons favor IEMG for emerging market exposure but note cost disadvantages versus competitors like SCHE with its 0.03% expense ratio versus IEMG's 0.09%.
XLB trades at $49.27 with a slight 0.59% daily gain, though technical indicators signal bearish momentum with moving averages and ADX pointing lower. The materials ETF faces headwinds from sector concentration risks, with chemicals comprising 49% of assets and top 10 holdings at 59% exposure. Recent analysis suggests much of the cyclical recovery appears priced in, limiting near-term upside potential despite infrastructure and manufacturing tailwinds.
The outlook remains cautious with technical weakness outweighing fundamental support. Investment opportunity exists in long-term materials exposure through efficient, low-cost ETF structure, but risks include sector concentration, cyclical pressures, and competition from AI-focused investments. Current levels near key support at $48-$49 require monitoring for potential breakdown.
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IEMG tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index, providing broad exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks across over 20 emerging market countries. It is designed as a low-cost core holding for investors seeking diversified growth from economies outside of developed markets.
Read more on IEMG →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging; and construction materials. The fund is non-diversified.
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