Is JPMorgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Equity ETF (JPEM) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The JPMorgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Equity ETF (JPEM) is a smart beta ETF launched on January 7, 2015, providing broad exposure to the emerging markets category [1] - JPEM is managed by J.P. Morgan and aims to match the performance of the FTSE Emerging Diversified Factor Index [5][6] Fund Characteristics - JPEM has accumulated over $349.73 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in the Broad Emerging Market ETFs space [5] - The fund has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.44%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 4.81% [7] Performance Metrics - As of September 26, 2025, JPEM has returned approximately 15.84% year-to-date and 9.96% over the past year, with a trading range between $48.41 and $59.87 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The fund has a beta of 0.52 and a standard deviation of 12.41% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [11] Holdings and Sector Exposure - JPEM's top holdings include China Construction Bank (1.5% of total assets), Taiwan Semiconductor, and Infosys Ltd, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 10.13% of total assets [8][9] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the emerging markets space include Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG), with VWO having $100.55 billion in assets and IEMG at $109.23 billion, both offering lower expense ratios [13]