MEM ETF: What Is It? A Complete Guide to Returns, Fees, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs
The Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF, known as the MEM ETF, selects companies across emerging markets. Review its active management approach, country exposure, and annual distribution structure to help assess the outlook and strategy for emerging market stocks.
What Is the Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF?
The MEM ETF is an active ETF that, rather than replicating a specific index, selects stocks by reviewing the growth potential of emerging market companies and the market environment. It aims for long-term capital growth and offers access to the emerging market equity universe as a whole.
It suits investors who want exposure to the long-term growth potential of emerging market stocks but prefer company selection over index tracking.
It is an ETF managed actively by Matthews International Capital Management.
How Does the Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Index | Not applicable, actively managed selection |
| Management Style | Active company selection |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Adjusted at the manager's discretion |
| Distribution Frequency | Annual distribution |
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% |
| Manager | Matthews International Capital Management |
Matthews International Capital Management builds the portfolio by reviewing the fundamental strength and long-term growth conditions of companies based in emerging markets. The MEM ETF pursues long-term capital growth through a company-selection approach that considers market conditions, relative valuation, and country-level changes together.
- Management that emphasizes company selection over index replication
- Access to a diverse range of countries and sectors across emerging markets
Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF Size and Costs (AUM and Management Fee)
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $52.0M, and the expense ratio is 0.79% per year.
Depending on the manager's judgment, an active ETF may show a stock mix and country weights that differ from an index. Before trading, it is therefore worth checking the management approach, the actual holdings, and the gap between market price and net asset value.
Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF Performance and Trends
Emerging market equities can move differently depending on global growth expectations, commodity demand, currency conditions, and policy changes in major economies. Because the performance of the MEM ETF reflects both the results of company selection and country-level market moves, it is more important to review its investment scope and volatility characteristics than short-term fluctuations.
Demand for emerging market investments can be highly sensitive to global risk appetite, dollar trends, and capital inflow conditions in each country. When market uncertainty rises, price swings in less liquid markets can widen, so it is necessary to check the trading conditions and currency exposure of the MEM ETF together.
Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF Pros and Cons
Its strength is access to emerging markets through company selection, but volatility tied to countries, currencies, and the manager's judgment is a key area to examine.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF Alternative ETFs and Related Products
In the automated comparison table, the DFEM ETF serves as a benchmark for those who value broad emerging market equity coverage and a core character. The DEM ETF reflects a high-dividend orientation, while the DGS ETF shows a direction that combines emerging market small caps with a dividend orientation. The EDIV ETF and the DVYE ETF are similar options that emphasize distributions, so it is necessary to check how the company-selection management of the MEM ETF differs from their distribution objectives. No additional alternatives are included because the candidate list provided was empty.
| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensional Emerging Markets Core Equity 2 ETF | $37.22 | +0.2% | $9.0B | 0.39% | 2.09% | +13.3% | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund | $53.88 | +0.0% | $4.1B | 0.63% | 4.1% | +17.1% | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund | $61.10 | -0.0% | $1.7B | 0.58% | 3.89% | +7.1% | |
| iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | $34.98 | +0.6% | $1.2B | 0.50% | 4.98% | +15.7% | |
| State Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF | $40.36 | -0.2% | $1.2B | 0.49% | 4.33% | +3.7% |
| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSM | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ADR | 0.28% | $418.51 | +1.5% | $2.17T | 26.9 | 0.99% |
| SKHY | SK Hynix Inc ADR | 0.04% | $137.02 | +4.0% | $998.7B | 8.9 | 0.38% |
| BABA | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd ADR | 0.05% | $99.64 | -2.1% | $247.9B | 23.5 | 1.12% |
| ITUB | Itau Unibanco Holding SA ADR | 0.04% | $9.67 | +1.9% | $52.3B | 12.6 | 6.06% |
| HDB | HDFC Bank Ltd ADR | 0.02% | $22.09 | -1.6% | $113.5B | 13.2 | 1.94% |
| UMC | United Micro Electronics ADR | 0.01% | $18.89 | +1.9% | $47.4B | 18.1 | 3.07% |
| PBR-A | Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras ADR | 0.01% | $23.53 | +2.8% | $64.1B | 6.0 | 6.31% |
Matthews Emerging Markets Equity Active ETF Investor Checkpoints
When considering the MEM ETF, rather than looking only at growth expectations for emerging markets as a whole, you should also check the characteristics of active management, country exposure, currency fluctuations, and distribution policy. The gap between market price and net asset value, along with trading conditions, are also items to review before buying.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | Check how the expense ratio affects cumulative returns over a long holding period | Needs review |
| Management Style | Confirm it uses company selection rather than index tracking | Active management |
| Country and Currency Exposure | Review the impact of country-level policies and exchange rate swings | Check volatility |
| Distribution Policy | Review the annual distribution and the possibility of changes in payouts | Needs review |
In emerging market investing, market liquidity, exchange rates, country-level policy changes, and geopolitical variables can all act at the same time. Active management can produce a different performance path from index-tracking products, so investors should first consider whether it fits their tolerance for volatility and investment horizon.
The MEM ETF is a product worth considering for those who want exposure to emerging market stocks while drawing on the manager's company-selection judgment. Because its management style and distribution orientation may differ from index-tracking products, it is advisable to check the similar ETFs in the comparison table, along with cost structure, investment scope, and trading conditions.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of August 16, 2026.